Frederick Douglass Arguments Against Injustice

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Douglass’s Argument Against Injustice In the Diary of Anne Frank, one could argue that Jews endured a great deal of suffering. Anne Frank is able to appeal to the reader’s emotions by describing her firsthand encounter of the cruelty and describing the absurdity of the entire situation with her gut-wrenching writing. Frederick Douglass, in his autobiography, Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, is able to utilize some of these same tactics in his argument. The readers of both of the stories are able to sympathize with Frank and Douglass and agree with them on their stances against major societal issues. In chapter one, through effective development of language, tone, and persuasion tools, Douglass argues that slaves are treated unfairly and …show more content…
Douglass recalls often awakening at the “dawn” of day by the most “heartrending shrieks” of his aunt (20). Douglass writes about one of his most vivid memories; the first time he ever witnessed this “horrible exhibition” (20). Douglass recounts only being a “child” when he was “doomed to be a witness” at the “entrance of hell to slavery” when he saw his aunt being tied up and beaten until “red blood came dripping to the floor” (20, 21). Douglass states that this is a memory he “never shall forget… whilst (he) remembers any thing” (20). This powerful statement proves just how traumatizing this moment was for him, creating a horrifying tone. It is clearly very sad and horrifying to think about witnessing a family member being beaten nearly to death as only a small child. This scene he recreates illuminates the true cruelties found in slavery. Because he is able to make slavery sound so cruel, the reader is more likely to adhere to his beliefs. No one could argue that a child should witness this kind of brutality. Douglass also refers to slavery as the “gates of hell” to imply that slavery is the most miserable, painful, undesirable thing imaginable. This helps contribute to the horrific, terrifying, depressing tone he is trying to establish. One can infer that being a child growing up with this trauma and witnessing, and even experiencing, this brutality daily causes a great deal of distress and despair. Douglass utilizes his bone-chilling story to add to his overall pitiful tone that he is trying to use to help convince the readers that slavery is indeed painful and
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