Final answer:
The term "wild beasts" signifies the ferocity and inhumanity of the treatment Frederick Douglass endured as a slave, suggesting he was dehumanized and subjected to a brutal, animalistic force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "look like a man who had barely escaped a den of wild beasts" vividly captures the extreme condition of Frederick Douglass, a man who suffered the brutality of slavery. The term wild beasts is a powerful choice of words as it connotes ferocity and inhumanity, underscoring the savage treatment he endured and resonates with the harsh reality of the oppressive slavery system. It draws a parallel between wild beasts, who act on instinct and without moral restraint, and the treatment that the enslaved endured, suggesting they were subjected to a primitive, unstoppable, and brutal force. Moreover, the comparison highlights the denial of Douglass's humanity, showing that he was treated as less than human, much like someone who must fight against nature's most dangerous creatures to survive.