Slavery - Frederick Douglas
Vasquez 1
Francisco Vasquez
Professor Rachel D. Williams
English 103 Section 1020
March 6th, 2014
Like Paint to a Canvas: Words to a Story In writing, much like in painting, the act in itself is, in simplest terms, the transfer of image/thought from the writer/painter to its reader, its spectator, us. And in writing just like in painting, the image is conveyed by showing us the components, bringing the mood into the room we are sitting in, taking us there to same mind setting that the writer/painter is in. In painting the image/symbol is deciphered in actuality, on a physical creation, but in writing we are painted an image not on canvas but in our minds. Just like some art works create a heavy impression to the eye, a novel like Frederick Douglas’s “Narrative of The Life of An America slave” creates such an impression in the mind. The masterful use of imagery and symbolism employed by Frederick Douglas in this novel achieves the type of emotion the greatest works by any artist at his peak would evoke on those who witness its beauty. Both techniques are combined in Frederick Douglass’s “Narrative of an American Slave” to such a brilliant level, that audiences in years since its initial publishing have revered it as one of the most moving tales that births compassion and humanity in its reader and exemplifies what one man can do. “Narrative of the life of an American Slave” is just what the title presents. The life story, in words and thoughts of a great man Frederick Douglass, who in his lifetime was able to transcend the unjust conditions he was born into, and was able to go on and become a tale of what the human condition can achieve when true desire for life flourishes, even in the darkest and dampest conditions of existence. Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass is the embodiment of the conditions upon which this “Great Nation” was built upon. Born not a person with a future to decide, but born a slave with a future
Vasquez 2 already written for
Francisco Vasquez
Professor Rachel D. Williams
English 103 Section 1020
March 6th, 2014
Like Paint to a Canvas: Words to a Story In writing, much like in painting, the act in itself is, in simplest terms, the transfer of image/thought from the writer/painter to its reader, its spectator, us. And in writing just like in painting, the image is conveyed by showing us the components, bringing the mood into the room we are sitting in, taking us there to same mind setting that the writer/painter is in. In painting the image/symbol is deciphered in actuality, on a physical creation, but in writing we are painted an image not on canvas but in our minds. Just like some art works create a heavy impression to the eye, a novel like Frederick Douglas’s “Narrative of The Life of An America slave” creates such an impression in the mind. The masterful use of imagery and symbolism employed by Frederick Douglas in this novel achieves the type of emotion the greatest works by any artist at his peak would evoke on those who witness its beauty. Both techniques are combined in Frederick Douglass’s “Narrative of an American Slave” to such a brilliant level, that audiences in years since its initial publishing have revered it as one of the most moving tales that births compassion and humanity in its reader and exemplifies what one man can do. “Narrative of the life of an American Slave” is just what the title presents. The life story, in words and thoughts of a great man Frederick Douglass, who in his lifetime was able to transcend the unjust conditions he was born into, and was able to go on and become a tale of what the human condition can achieve when true desire for life flourishes, even in the darkest and dampest conditions of existence. Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass is the embodiment of the conditions upon which this “Great Nation” was built upon. Born not a person with a future to decide, but born a slave with a future
Vasquez 2 already written for