Theme Of Corruption In Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an African-American writer, social-reformer, and statesman. Douglass became an abolitionist leader after escaping slavery and beginning to write perceptive stories about his life as a slave. To truly make the end of slavery a reality, Douglass persuaded the people of America by using the power of a pen. Frederick Douglass persuaded his audience against slavery by using imagery, metaphors to sickness, and the juxtaposition of the North and the South.
Douglass used imagery to move his readers by sharing the brutally vivid descriptions of being a slave. He went on to say, “I have often been awakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip …show more content…
An example of this “contagion” is stated, “That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of the harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.” (Douglass 5) This quote shares the thoughts and actions of a kind northern housewife turned into a southern slave owner. Douglass intensified the sight of a slaveowner sick in the head, to make sure all Northerners shy away from ever owning a slave themselves. What really hit his readers was the idea that this corruption of the brain could affect them personally. This saved families from letting any of their daughters marry men in the South. By using metaphors, Frederick Douglass got the North to want to fight against the wrong actions committed by the people of the …show more content…
Not only did he become a national abolitionist leader, but he showed that a slave can have formal diction, be proper, and become successful. He shared the big picture that the folks of the South were enslaving people who are just as capable of normal life as them, and it was wrong. Douglass is successful in his attempts of convincing the readers that slavery must be stopped by using diction and truthfulness in this story. Frederick Douglass persuaded his readers against slavery by using imagery, metaphors to corruption, and the juxtaposition of the North vs. the
Douglass used imagery to move his readers by sharing the brutally vivid descriptions of being a slave. He went on to say, “I have often been awakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip …show more content…
An example of this “contagion” is stated, “That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of the harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.” (Douglass 5) This quote shares the thoughts and actions of a kind northern housewife turned into a southern slave owner. Douglass intensified the sight of a slaveowner sick in the head, to make sure all Northerners shy away from ever owning a slave themselves. What really hit his readers was the idea that this corruption of the brain could affect them personally. This saved families from letting any of their daughters marry men in the South. By using metaphors, Frederick Douglass got the North to want to fight against the wrong actions committed by the people of the …show more content…
Not only did he become a national abolitionist leader, but he showed that a slave can have formal diction, be proper, and become successful. He shared the big picture that the folks of the South were enslaving people who are just as capable of normal life as them, and it was wrong. Douglass is successful in his attempts of convincing the readers that slavery must be stopped by using diction and truthfulness in this story. Frederick Douglass persuaded his readers against slavery by using imagery, metaphors to corruption, and the juxtaposition of the North vs. the