Frederick Douglass Analysis
Slaves express their feelings toward enslavement by singing. As most slaves cannot read or write, they use music as an outlet for their experiences. For example, Colonel Lloyd's slaves regard selection for work at the Great House Farm as one of the highest privileges, and the chosen slaves "exultingly" sing about the farm on their journey there (Douglass 951). Singing with happiness and pride reflects the honor and enthusiasm a slave feels from receiving this prestigious opportunity. While these songs seem fully positive, slaves convey both the "highest joy" and the "deepest sadness" through them (Douglass 951). Together, joy and sadness create a paradox. Slaves already express joy through their satisfaction of gaining a position at the Great
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Frederick Douglass, who could not understand a slave's song while enslaved, feels "ineffable sadness" while listening to the songs (Douglass 951). At first glance, slaves themselves seem to understand the depth of their songs the best, yet Douglass only understands after leaving the life of slavery. As a freed outsider, he has other perspectives about slavery, not just the one he had as a slave, and he can comprehend the melancholy cries of the slaves. Within these songs, the cries have "soul-killing" effects that reach the "chambers of [one's] soul" (Douglass 952). Oxford English Dictionary defines a soul as "the principle of intelligence, thought, or action in a person," regarded as "an entity distinct from the body" ("soul"). Namely, the harshness of slavery not only hurts the physical body but also the spiritual mind of slaves by damaging the foundation of their ability to think and act. Listening to this harshness of slavery as an outsider brings sadness into the listener's soul. Passing through the spiritual barrier reveals the sorrowful song's soul-killing meaning that one unaccustomed to the songs cannot understand. People who do not understand the messages of a slave's song supposedly have "no flesh" in their "obdurate" hearts (Douglass 952). Unless one has an empty heart, which refuses to sympathize with others, anyone who experiences the music of slaves can feel the sadness that radiates from their lives. Therefore, one can only understand a slave by listening to them singing in
Frederick Douglass, who could not understand a slave's song while enslaved, feels "ineffable sadness" while listening to the songs (Douglass 951). At first glance, slaves themselves seem to understand the depth of their songs the best, yet Douglass only understands after leaving the life of slavery. As a freed outsider, he has other perspectives about slavery, not just the one he had as a slave, and he can comprehend the melancholy cries of the slaves. Within these songs, the cries have "soul-killing" effects that reach the "chambers of [one's] soul" (Douglass 952). Oxford English Dictionary defines a soul as "the principle of intelligence, thought, or action in a person," regarded as "an entity distinct from the body" ("soul"). Namely, the harshness of slavery not only hurts the physical body but also the spiritual mind of slaves by damaging the foundation of their ability to think and act. Listening to this harshness of slavery as an outsider brings sadness into the listener's soul. Passing through the spiritual barrier reveals the sorrowful song's soul-killing meaning that one unaccustomed to the songs cannot understand. People who do not understand the messages of a slave's song supposedly have "no flesh" in their "obdurate" hearts (Douglass 952). Unless one has an empty heart, which refuses to sympathize with others, anyone who experiences the music of slaves can feel the sadness that radiates from their lives. Therefore, one can only understand a slave by listening to them singing in