Violence In Frederick Douglass

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The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, is an autobiography that gives a look into slavery and Douglass’s own experience. The novel starts off with an insight into how Douglass became a slave and tells his story of escaping, featuring his many owners and masters and the challenges he endures throughout it. Throughout the novel Douglass is exposed to violence at a young age and soon experiences it first-hand. Violence is one of the many reasons why slaves attempted to runaway. Douglass’s experience impacted him physically but also mentally. Before Douglass experienced violence he was exposed to the nature of reading and writing. Reading and learning captivated Douglass and he yearned for more. When Douglas runs …show more content…
He was introduced to violence at a young age as many slaves are. He spent his days doing labor that was hard and strenuous. When he didn’t complete the task properly he would be poorly punished. One of the many masters that punished him and tried to “break him” was referred to Master Mr.Covey in The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, Mr.Covey tried breaking Douglass’s spirit and his hope by the punishment of whippings. Mr.Covey was one of the first master that truly punished Douglass for his “lack” of misunderstanding. Douglass had been at previous homes where he did not experience whippings first-hand, though, he did see them occur which is already scarring enough. “I had been at my new home but one week before Mr.Covey gave me a very severe whipping, cutting my back, causing the blood to run, and raising ridges on my flesh as harge as my little finger.”-(35). In the text it gives a brief description of Douglass’s first whipping encounter with Mr.Covey. The text shows fear and how little empathy was shown towards slaves. Furthermore it shows the fear and pain not only Douglass experienced but what other slaves may have too. Poor treatment towards slaves was very common and caused many slaves to either runaway, attempt to hurt their masters, or in some rare cases committing suicide. A taste of violence kept the slaves scared while allowing the owners to state their …show more content…
It gives a look into what slavery was like and how greatly it impacted many people. Douglass portrays a well written autobiography that present his challenges, weaknesses, and hope. Sharing experience of his whippings to sharing stories of how reading and writing captivated him. Many slaves ran away due to violence and how scarring it was, also the damage it did mentally and physically. As stated in the novel Douglass experienced violence at a young age and later first-hand. Violence caused Douglass to become enraged and even get into a quarrel with his former owner. There was a change in him after he won the fight. Violence gave him a taste a freedom that he longed for, as many slaves do. Though Douglass was exposed to the ability to learn and teaching reading and writing to others. It was not a strong enough motivation to escape that violence had over him. Reading and writing was an advantage in his escape but violence is what drove Douglass to his escape. Being under pressure to follow commands and reserving several whippings a day was enough to motivation to drive anyone over the edge. Reading and writing did make Douglass happy but it didn’t give Douglass a taste of freedom like violence did, after Douglass fought back and won. Douglass was a smart man who helped many people after his escape and continued to fight for his freedom and others,
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