Corruption Of Power Throughout 'The Narrative Of Fredrick Douglass'

Sabrina Rotondo 1
Tellinghuisen Period 6
AP Language and Composition
Explotation of Power Throughout “The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass”

John Alcton, an English Catholic historian, politician, and writer spoke these words of practicality, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. As was spoken in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. This statement made by Alcton is saying that if one adds power to a character, the character changes for the worst. Corruption of power is a common motive in the Narrative of Fredrick Douglass and demonstrates a multitude of examples of it’s repercussions
on humanity. Commonly, when one recollects acts of corruption of power, they might recollect political corruption, an illegal act by an officeholder. It’s often exploited by the media and viewed as morally wrong. Considering that political corruption of power is the most frequently referred to, it’s easy to see the effects it has on humanity. (I.e.: unstable government or problems within regions) Corruption often occurs because it’s in human nature. It’s simple to take the easy way out and gain personal benefits by any means possible.
Similarly in Douglass’ narrative, corruption of power is demonstrated through slavery, which is also perceived as morally erroneous. Douglass’ narrative seeks to educate society about the many effects of slavery, a major theme being the damaging effects of slavery on slaveholders. Douglass mentions the thoughts of many slaveholders of temptations of adultery and rape. For the duration of the Narrative, idealistic characters are reformed into cruel and heartless human beings due to their corruption of power with the use of rhetoric and stylistic writing.
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Douglass 's use of parallel construction, stylistics, and word choice (diction) establish his crediblity (ethos) to his abolitionist audience he is addressing in this narrative. Educated audiences know he is self-educated, and his stylistic sophistication further impresses them.
Douglass ' diction and syntax create an emotional appeal for the reader. Douglass’ narrative uses numerous rhetorical appeals and stylistics to engage the reader and educate his audience.
The irresponsibility of power had a very harmful effect on the slaveowner’s moral health. "Thus is slavery the enemy of both the slave and the slaveholder." (Douglass 31). Douglass firmly believed that slavery was not only bad for the slaves, but their owners as well. A precedent establishing the authority of the slave owners would be this use of parallel syntax by Douglass; “He was just proud enough to demand the most debasing homage of the slave, and quite servile enough to crouch himself at the feet of the master. He was ambitious enough to be contented with nothing short of the highest rank of overseers, a perseving enough to reach the height…” (44) Douglass uses this parallelism in this instance for emphasis on the character of Mr. Gore. It helps to forsee the character of Mr. Gore to be a cruel master, and further establishes authority of the owners over their slaves.
Furthermore, Douglass now uses juxtaposition to show the changes of the character Sophia Auld. At first, Sophia Auld appears to be sweet and innocent, Douglass describes her as, “a woman of the kindest heart and finest feelings. ... I was utterly astonished at her goodness.”and he also claimed that the slaves were put to ease at her presence. However, the 3 enthusiasm and liking towards Mrs. Auld fade under the influence of slavery. Her smiles become eyes “red with rage,” and Mrs. Auld 's innocent voice soon becomes one of “harsh and horrid discord.” It begins when Mrs. Auld starts teaching Frederick his ABC’ s and Mr. Auld finds out. The master of the house forbids his wife from educating Frederick. “A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master – to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world.” Mr. Auld says. Sophia becomes bitter and cruel, a prime demonstration of how her corruption of power under the prestige of slavery has made a change for the worst. Previously, Sophia had no intentions of treating Frederick or any slave for that matter, any less than a human being. As time passes, the effects of slavery cause her to grow into her position as a stereotypical slave owner and pursue absolute power over the slaves.
A quote that represents the stylistic portion of Douglass’ writing is “ Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” (Huffington Post).
Although this quote is not from the narrative, it was said by Frederick Douglass in one of his most recognized speeches. This quote even holds true today in certain portions of society. This shows the underlying effects of slavery because it exposes the ignorance of most slave owners and how it lead to the miserable lifestyle of the
slaves.
The stylistics of Douglass’ writing represent an emotional appeal caused by the corruption of power. “Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rain without thunder and
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lightning; they want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”(78) This citation states the sentimental effects of slavery, moral and physical, due to the extortion of influence. Therefore it has been established that with the use of rhetoric and stylistics , Douglass implements evidence of the corruption of power due to slavery.
Parallelism and pathos help to underline his main argument, which is how slavery corrupts the mind of a human into abusing their capabilities. Douglass describes his experiences in a way that lets audiences feel what Douglass felt. For example, Douglass recounts the experience of watching the slaveholder whip his aunt until she was covered in blood and the pleasure the slaveholder seemed to take in it. The graphic description of her abuse makes readers feel the same anger Douglass must have
experienced.
Frederick Douglass wrote three of the most highly regarded autobiographies of the 19th century, one being “The Narrative of Frederick Douglass”. These were the methods he used to influence and impact the society against slavery in the abolitionist movement. His theme was relevant and his writing encouraged the readers to think and change. Frederick Douglass ' memoir "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" has long been praised for it’s superior skill with rhetoric, the art of persuasion. By clearly establishing his credibility and connecting with his audience, Douglass uses numerous rhetorical devices and stylistics to argue for the immorality of slavery.

Works Cited
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of Frederick Douglass. N.p.: Center for Learning, 2005. Print.
Cadet, Danielle. "Frederick Douglass Quotes Still Hold Significance Centuries Later." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.