Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Ethos Essay
In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Frederick Douglass, in chronological order, tells the reader about his life as a slave. Douglass begins with him learning the ABC’s from his mistress, then how he began to learn how to read and write. During this time, he understands that “learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing” (Douglass 334). He argues that not knowing one is suffering is prefered over knowing one is suffering and forced to stand by. Douglass uses ethos as he builds up his credibility in his narrative by writing the horrible accounts he faced himself. By using a clear and direct style, he makes it easier for the audience to understand and feel the emotions towards his circumstances.
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In the narrative, Douglass describes the conditions of the Hamiltons’ slaves. He goes into detail about how Mrs. Hamilton whipped her slaves with a heavy cowskin. Not only were they whipped, but “they were kept nearly half-starved” (Douglass 332). These detailed descriptions of the cruel treatment towards the Hamiltons’ slaves. He uses details, further supporting his pathos. He vividly describes the day his brother was taken by Master Andrew; “...[Master Andrew ] took my little brother by the throat, threw him on the ground, and with the heel of his boot stamped upon his head till the blood gushed from his nose and ears” (Douglass 337). Both the description of the Hamiltons’ slaves and the detail of his little brother appeals to the pathos strongly supported in the narrative. If he believed that these circumstances were “normal” because of the lack of education, he might not have written it with so much emotion. These emotions justify that he was aware of these cruel punishments due to his knowledge. Reading the narrative, the reader can clearly see all three strategies used in order to establish credibility, provide reasoning, and activate emotions inside the reader. The more dominant strategy, pathos, gets the reader to consider the feelings they might not have felt before reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. It brings up the anger they
In the narrative, Douglass describes the conditions of the Hamiltons’ slaves. He goes into detail about how Mrs. Hamilton whipped her slaves with a heavy cowskin. Not only were they whipped, but “they were kept nearly half-starved” (Douglass 332). These detailed descriptions of the cruel treatment towards the Hamiltons’ slaves. He uses details, further supporting his pathos. He vividly describes the day his brother was taken by Master Andrew; “...[Master Andrew ] took my little brother by the throat, threw him on the ground, and with the heel of his boot stamped upon his head till the blood gushed from his nose and ears” (Douglass 337). Both the description of the Hamiltons’ slaves and the detail of his little brother appeals to the pathos strongly supported in the narrative. If he believed that these circumstances were “normal” because of the lack of education, he might not have written it with so much emotion. These emotions justify that he was aware of these cruel punishments due to his knowledge. Reading the narrative, the reader can clearly see all three strategies used in order to establish credibility, provide reasoning, and activate emotions inside the reader. The more dominant strategy, pathos, gets the reader to consider the feelings they might not have felt before reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. It brings up the anger they