My Bondage And My Freedom Frederick Douglass Analysis Essay

Analysis of the Autobiography of Fredrick Douglas

Fredrick Douglas has been the most influential man of his time. He was a great example, not only for the slaves but for all men. We all know him as a fugitive slave, who has come to occupy so conspicuous a position, both as a writer and a speaker. His most famous work was probably his autobiography," My Bondage and My Freedom." Some critics attacked the book for being unauthentic, not believing that a black man could have produced such articulate piece of literature. It details the incidents of his experience on the slave plantation of Maryland, where he was born, of his subsequent escape, and of his public career in England and the northern States. The writer has very efficiently captured the view of the horrible pit of slavery. His main purpose is to persuade people in accepting the fact that slaves have no less right to be treated with respect than any other human. Douglas uses various literary techniques for accomplishing this purpose. We shall analyze some of these techniques including sensory details, facts, opinions, examples, and figurative language to understand what role
He gives another good example here, "She had to work to treat me as a thing destitute of moral and intellectual nature." This example gives a more clear view of the state of mind of different members of society at that time and the affect of slavery on them. Another example given by him that is related to the same idea was, "It was not an easy matter to induce her to think and to feel that the curly- headed boy, who stood by her side,……..sustained to her only the relation of chattel." These examples are very important for, they evoke a great emotion inside the reader and compel him to think how harsh it was for most people at that time to deal with