Final answer:
The phrase 'And with a sympathetic touch unbinds' can be interpreted in various ways, including both literal and metaphorical senses, depending on the context. While it could denote an act of physical untying, in literature, it often symbolizes compassion or tender care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "And with a sympathetic touch unbinds" can serve various interpretations depending on the context in which it is used. Often in literature, such expressions can be metaphorical, suggesting an act of compassion or understanding, depicting an individual's tenderness or care in a figurative sense. However, it can also be taken as a literal action, where someone literally unties or removes bindings. Without additional context, it's ambiguous whether this phrase is a metaphor, a literal description, an expression of tenderness or if it alludes to a specific historical or literary act.
Based on the other examples provided, such as Douglass describing the compassionate acts of a person or how a healing touch is gently administered, we can deduce that the phrase leans towards a metaphorical interpretation, reflecting the gentleness and caring actions of one person towards another. Literary devices such as these encourage the reader to make new connections and meanings, hence enriching the narrative and the reader's experience.