Chapter 10 Frederick Douglass

[brook...@gmail.com]

The purpose of Chapter 10 was for Frederick to reignite the flame of freedom within himself and his fellow slaves. In this chapter, Frederick stands up for himself and mends his broken spirit, and after a period of hiatus from his push towards freedom, it becomes a part of himself again. He plans his escape with his fellow escapes, gets close to it, and the plan is shattered by his master and other white men.

"How a man is made a slave; a slave made a man."

[elizabeth.smith.24]

"Those beautiful vessels robed in purest white so delightful to the eye of freemen, were to me so many shrouded ghosts, to terrify and torment me with thoughts of my wretched condition."

Analysis to come

[sian.barry]

“I felt as I never felt before. It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of freedom” (290).

In chapter 10, Frederick Douglass is transformed from a man to a slave and from a slave into a man. This excerpt is a metaphor used by Douglass to depict the reigniting of his few expiring embers of freedom, after his fight with Mr. Covey. Here, he gains the courage to rise up against his slaveholder who had been suppressing his sense of humanity and turning him into a slave once again. With this rhetorical device, Douglass compares slavery to death and freedom to heaven. He successfully characterizes the rekindling of his desire for freedom as a glorious resurrection from the slavery, emphasizing the horrors and evils of slavery in this genius comparison.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[katherine...@gmail.com]

“My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place; and I now resolved that, however long I may remain in slave form, the day had passed forever when I could be slave in fact.” (Page 290)

                In this passage, Frederick Douglass explains how his skirmish with Mr. Covey had reignited his purpose to become a free man again. By standing up for himself against his oppressor, Douglass felt like a true man again, a feeling that Covey had previously stripped from him. Here, he uses polysyndeton to explain that he would not rest until he finally gained his freedom.  The lack of conjunctions in this sentence emphasizes his point by giving passion to his language and making his statement seem more definitive. He also uses antithesis by saying “long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place”. This device is so effective because it shows that not only did his mentality improve, but he was able to rid himself of any fears and inhibitions when it came to escaping and achieving his goal of freedom.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[elizabeth.smith.24]

"Those beautiful vessels robed in purest white so delightful to the eye of freemen, were to me so many shrouded ghosts, to terrify and torment me with thoughts of my wretched condition."

In chapter 10, Douglass emphasizes the point that the longer he is enslaved, the more he wants his freedom. As he stands by the Chesapeake Bay watching the boats with their white sails sail by, he reflects on the way that these boats seem to flaunt the fact that they are free. Using the above metaphor, Douglass states that to a freeman the sails of the boats symbolize prosperity and trade, while to him they only seem to rub in his face that he is not free. After this realization, Douglass begins to think about freedom more and more. This color white is also symbolic of new beginnings, something that Douglass desperately wants throughout the chapter.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[Mikaela Litchfield]

"But, by this time, I began to want to live upon free land as well as with Freeland" (pg 297)

Analysis will come later

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[isabella.cuan]

"I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one" (Douglass 308).

In the end of chapter 10, Douglass describes his time spent on the ship-yard owned by Mr. Walter Price. He explains how after he learned to calk, he sought his own employment, made his own contracts, and collected the money which he earned; his lifestyle was significantly more comfortable than before. However, he emphasizes another source of irony in slavery when he mentions the quote above on page 308: "I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one." It is interesting how he presents this idea that whenever his condition was improved, rather than also increasing his contentment, it only increased his desire to be free. Most unacquainted with slavery would presume that the slave would be temporarily pleased in his situation, grateful knowing that things could be ten times worse. However, it was entirely the opposite for slaves because like Douglass said earlier, having the knowledge to read and write was sometimes more of a curse than a blessing. He believed that in order for a slave to be content, they must be ignorant without containing the power of reason. They must not be exposed to a world other than slavery and most of all, if they are convinced that slaveholding is a righteous practice, they will never have the burning passion to escape like Douglass did. 

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[Liz Anderson]

"Their minds had been starved by their cruel masters. They had been shut up in mental darkness. I taught them, because of my delight of my soul to be doing something that looked like bittering the condition of my race."

 

page 296

 

Frederick describes the slaves which attended his Sabbath school classes. He describes them as being starved mentally by those who have oppressed them. A hunger for knowledge was prevelant amongst all slaves due to their inability to think for themselves for the majority of their lives. He uses metaphors to illustrate just how much has been taken from them, and their thirst for literacy.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[Julie Daniels]

“To live upon free land as well as with Freeland” (297). 

At this point in the story, Fredrick is living with Master Freeland and is overwhelmed with the thought of freedom. He uses this pun as a way to further emphasize how it is constantly on his mind and he is determined to achieve it. He is no longer content with being a slave and working for another master no matter how good he might be and this desire is forcing his closer and closer to freedom. 

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[Dylan Panicucci]

"My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!" (284)

Douglass was talking about what happened to him when he was broken by Mr. Covey.  Douglass uses metaphor to compare slavery to a dark night.  Douglass does this because when he is broken he loses his desire to learn, thus slavery keeps someone intellectually in the dark and without enlightenment.  Education was Frederick's path to freedom and how he remained optimistic and rebellious even in slavery.  Now without this intellectual enlightenment, Frederick becomes a man transformed into a brute, a man made a slave.

[mdsaba1126]

On page 299, Douglass says, “In coming to a fixed determination to run away, we did more than Patrick Henry, when he resolved upon liberty or death. With us it was doubtful of liberty at most, and almost certain death if we failed.” Here he uses an allusion to the famous quote of Henry, “Give me Liberty or give me death.” He uses this reference in order to let the reader know of the dangers that the escaping slaves would face and compare it to the American Revolution. This gives the reader a good idea of the slaves’ predicament and an excellent reference to some emotions that they are feeling. This allusion also allows Douglass to compare himself to one of the great revolutionary leaders from the American Revolution. And just like, those great Americans, all that he wants is freedom from his oppressors.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[Alexandra Chin]

"This battle with Mr.Covey was the turning-point in my career as a slave" (Douglass 290)

Here Douglass is describing the aftermath of his battle with Covey. He uses a euphemism of calling the slavery that he was forced to be under as a child a career rather then the gross crime that he had been speaking of since the beginning of this autobiography. The is used to imply that now slavery might be optional and that he has a chance of becoming a free man, which he does become. 

[stephen.voc]

"The holidays are part and parcel of the gross fraud, wrong, and inhumanity of slavery" (292).

     This statement made by Douglass is purely ironic.  After learning that the slaves had breaks for holidays, one would think that perhaps the slave owners were not all that cruel.  However, this misconception is immediately cleared up by Douglass later on in the paragraph, as he describes the dark ulterior motives of the masters in giving the slaves holidays and enjoyable items, such as alcohol.  By allowing slaves to experience some freedom and drink in excess, the slave owners simultaneously drunken them to the point of incoherence and thus make them want to be controlled.  Cunning tactics such as these are part of the reason why Douglass loathes slave owners, especially "pious" ones, as much as he does.  This passage is yet again an example of Douglass citing reasons why slavery is so inhumane and making his readers want to jump on the abolitionist bandwagon in the process.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[merstriolo]

“These holidays serve as conductors, or safety-valves, to carry off the rebellious spirit of enslaved humanity. But for these, the slave would be forced up to the wildest desperation; and woe betide the slaveholder, the day he ventures to remove or hinder the operation of those conductors! I warn him that, in such an event, a spirit will go forth in their midst, more to be dreaded than the most appalling earthquake.”

Here Douglass explains that the slaveholders give the slaves a taste of freedom by letting them unleash their riotous spirit during the holidays, so that their masters can contain them and manage them the rest of the year. Thus, he compares the holidays to safety-valves, to ensure that the slaves will not rebel because they will no longer, according to slave owners, see freedom as appealing. This will ultimately appease building tensions and “disgust the slave with freedom” (292). From my understanding, it also goes on to explain that slave owners are best advised to grant the slaves these short periods of freedom because, as he explains in the metaphor comparing the spirit of the slaves and an appalling earthquake, the slaves will be inclined, and justifiably so (as if they aren't already), to rebel.  

[Mikaela Litchfield]

"But, by this time, I began to want to live upon free land as well as with Freeland" (pg 297)

Frederick Douglass uses a clever syllepsis to demonstrate his lack of content for his enslavement. He mentions that he thinks Freeland is the most human of his masters because he is not religious, which presents an ironic contradiction. The audience can see that, because of Douglass’ learning how to read and write, he no longer is complacent about situation and wants a change. He fiercely craves freedom and is finally willing to take the steps to achieve it.  

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote:

[grace miller]

“He trembled like a leaf. This gave me assurance, and I held him uneasy, causing blood to run where I touched him with the ends of my fingers.” (289)

 

As Fredrick Douglas describes his act of rebellion and desperation he uses a simile to describe how at that moment the roles were flipped and he had the power. Shortly before this quote he says that he resolved to fight “from whence came the spirit [he] [doesn’t] know.” His disgust with slavery and desperation for freedom came through and with that the roles were reversed for one short moment, which gave him the hope to go on.   

--
 
 

[Ben Skalla]

"I then presented an appearance enough to affect any but a heart of iron" (page 287) 

This quote from chapter ten is in reference to when Frederick Douglass arrived at master's store on his way to file a complaint and to ask for protection.  This was after Douglass had taken multiple heavy blows from Mr. Covey, because he had stopped working after he had grown dizzy no longer had the strength to stand.  Douglass had then decided that his best option was to walk the seven miles to St. Michael's.  Over the course of this journey, Douglass cut his feet with every step, while still bleeding from being hit by Mr. Covey.  This quote is a metaphor that describes Douglass's appearance by the time he got to his destination.  His body, clothes, and hair were all covered with blood.  Douglass is saying that his appearance spoke for itself.  Still, Master Thomas decided it was necessary for Douglass to remain living with Mr. Covey for the year.  

[Orion Farr]

"Sunday was my only leisure time. I spent this in a sort of beast-like stupor, between sleep and wake, under some large tree. At times I would rise up, a flash of energetic freedom would dart through my soul, accompanied with a faint beam of hope, that flickered for a moment, and then vanished. I sank down again, mourning over my wretched condition. I was sometimes prompted to take my life, and that of Covey, but was prevented by a combination of hope and fear. My sufferings on this plantation seem now like a dream rather than a stern reality." 

This excerpt shows the true horror of slavery, a fate worse than death to Douglass, his mind was shattered and his will to survive has almost been destroyed. The demeaning position as a slave as well as the constant beatings and whippings has pushed him to the limit, and he uses Antithesis to show his hopelessness. "At times I would rise up, a flash of energetic freedom would dart through my soul, accompanied with a faint beam of hope, that flickered for a moment, and then vanished." He explains how sometimes he felt the urge for freedom once more, but that idea is quickly crushed by the realization of the situation that he is in. This hopelessness soon fades to anger and the idea to rebel against slavery.

[rippeyrachel]

"I was made to drink the bitterest dregs of slavery" (283)

In this quote, Frederick uses a metaphor, and also emotive language to describe his horrific experience while living with Mr. Covey. The experience he had there broke him down to the point where he could not even read or be intellectual. The quote above is extremely graphic in the sense that Frederick approached the worst possible experience one who is bound in slavery could experience. 

[Randy May]

"I suppose I looked like a man who had escaped a den of wild beasts, and barely escaped" (Douglass 287).

In this quote, Douglass is describing what he looked like after being beaten and abused by Mr. Covey and than walking seven miles to the his master's store. He walked these seven miles covered in dirt and blood, from head to toe, and also completely exhausted. Douglass uses appeal to pity in this quote by descrbing how horribly he had looked after being abused. Yet, no matter how battered and bruised Douglass may have looked, his master still ordered him to stay with Mr. Covey.

 

[OliviaPasserini]

On page 292 Douglass writes "Thus, when the slave asks for virtuous freedom, the cunning slaveholder, knowing his ignorance, cheats him with a dose of vicious dissipation, artfully labelled with the name of liberty"

This quote shows how horrible slaveholders were to their slaves. Slaveholders would trick slaves into drinking so that they could laugh at them when they are drunk. They would make slaves seem like they were experiencing some freedom in being allowed to drink, but really they were being poisoned with alcohol. This appeal to pity that Douglass uses shows readers how slaves were stripped of all dignity and hope. They slaves were not only slaves to their masters at that point, they were slaves to alcohol.

[jamiemelville1]

"If at any one time of my life more than another, I was made to drink the bitterest dregs of slavery, that time was during the first six months of my stay with Mr. Covey."

Frederick Douglass uses a few different devices fallacies here, most prominently including appeal to pity, appeal to emotive language, and metaphor. He really supersaturates these words with emotive language to express his treatment. The image he projects is achieved through a metaphor that gives off that pitiful feeling, as well as chills at the words "bitterest dregs of slavery" showing that all cruel aspects of slavery were inflicted upon him.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 12:07:59 PM UTC-4, brook...@gmail.com wrote: