Slavery Argumentative Essay

Words: 789
Pages: 4

“It struck me with awful force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass … I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld.” (Excerpt 1) Douglass wanted the people to understand how the slaves felt. He wanted to change the minds of people who weren’t against slavery. Frederick knew he could abolish slavery by speaking on behalf of all the slaves. Douglass’ audience consisted of Northerners who either supported slavery or wanted an end to it. Throughout the entire story, Douglass wanted the readers to understand how slavery was terrible for the slaves. As well as, helping them understand how slavery corrupted the slaveholders.
Defenders of slavery claimed that society
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It was as if the slaveholders were pictured as normal human beings. Douglass argues that the slaveholders were changed greatly by the act of slavery. He wanted to show how the slaveholders were converted into foul human beings. Frederick describes one of his mistresses, Mrs.Auld, as an example of their demon ways. “The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.” (Poetic Tools) This vividly describes how the slaveholders were double-sided. Douglass also explained what and how the slaveholders got a hold of a whip. “ He would at times take great pleasure in whipping a slave...No words, no tears, no prayers from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose.” (Excerpt 1) This illustrates that the slaveholders gained a sense of satisfaction when they saw a slave being physically violated. The slaveholders thought that their behavior was normal because of who they “owned”. The defenders of slavery always thought that the slaveholders were regular people that cared about others. They didn’t even get a glimpse of what they were capable of when they got a hold of a whip. The defenders