From Life and Times of Frederic Douglass, Essay Example

Discuss. Frederic Douglass’s narrative style in “From Life and Times of Frederic Douglass” and comment what makes it different from the other narratives of for example Phyllis Wheatly “On being brought from Africa to America” or that of Olaudah Equaino “The Interesting narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”. ( please use the Norton Anthology of African American Literature to read “From Life and Times of Frederic Douglass pages 474-483 only)

The narrative of Frederic Douglass provides a distinct indication on how the slavery of the Black Americans have lead towards the most drastic measures incurred by the lords to make sure that their slaves would remain under their care and their control. He vividly provides a distinct picture that describes each situation including that of the manner by which the white ‘lords’ made sure that the learning process that their slaves gain is controlled. They are not given the chance to realize what they can actually do with their lives and their skills. This is quite different from the bearings of the writing of Olauda Equiano entitled The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano because of the fact that this author takes on the chance to develop a narrative out from the religious background of slavery and how it became a tool of control that the lords used over the slaves.

Discuss some of the hypocrisies that Douglass points out in his narrative.

The most compelling hypocrisy that that Douglass presents in his narrative is the supposed protection that the white lords place upon their slaves, as if showing them that they care for their welfare when they actually just want to keep them as properties. Douglass intended to make a distinct description how even religious festivities become a source of entertainment for the lords, with their slaves being the ones who entertain them. In a way, he imposes that the supposed ‘good elements’ in the society then were even used twistedly to control slavery as well.