Question

narrative of the life of frederick douglass reread lines 243-253 what effect might this description have had on douglass readers?

Answer 1

Frederick Douglass's descriptions in his autobiography would have had a powerful impact on readers by evoking empathy, revealing the brutal reality of slavery, and highlighting the psychological torture endured by slaves. These passages could foster an abhorrence for slavery and support for abolition, as well as challenge misconceptions about the intellectual capabilities of enslaved individuals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The lines 243-253 from the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" likely had a profound effect on Douglass's readers. The description he gives of his contemplation about freedom and his fate while standing on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay is deeply affecting. Through his eloquent language and powerful narrative, Douglass conveys the agony and the internal struggle he endured as an enslaved individual dreaming of freedom. This kind of vivid and personal account would have invoked empathy and a clearer understanding of the brutal reality of slavery for his contemporaries. It demonstrates the mental tortures alongside the physical hardships that slavery inflicted on its victims.

Douglass's narrative serves to humanize the enslaved, contrasting sharply with the dehumanization inherent in the practice of slavery. His depiction not only arouses sympathy but also generates an abhorrence for the institution of slavery among his readers. This was critical in garnering support for the abolitionist movement. By sharing his thoughts and feelings, Douglass elucidates the psychological impact of slavery, revealing how it suppressed the natural human instinct for freedom and intellectual development.

Moreover, Douglass's autobiographical narrative was a groundbreaking work that refuted the common misconception that enslaved individuals did not possess the intellectual capacity for deep reflection and articulate self-expression. The readers would have been struck by the clarity and intelligence with which Douglass wrote, igniting a call to action against the moral abomination that was slavery in America at the time.

Answer 2

He says that he wants to become a free man in those lines, as he says "from the tomb of slavery to the heaven of freedom." This means that he felt pleasure and longed to become free as soon as Master Hugh would actually be not aware. As for Covey, he was a sneaky slaveholder.