Socratic Seminar Online #3: Frederick Douglass #1

     Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist, orator, and writer. He spoke and wrote about his past struggles as a former slave in the North and becoming a firsthand spokesperson on the abolition of slavery. Douglass had to write to appeal his audience of white men and women and he did so effectively that his message reached many people. In Douglass' narrative, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he showcases his ability to appeal to his white audience through his use of pathos and imagery.
     In the beginning, Douglass writes about his first week at Mr. Covey's field. Tasked with driving oxen, all was going well until the "oxen took fright" and "expected every moment that my brains would be dashed out against the trees." After completing his task, he reported everything that happened to Mr. Covey and "fierceness of a tiger" he whipped Douglass. Towards the end of the story, Douglass describes another experience, one that changed his life. After falling ill and collapsed on the floor whilst doing his job, Mr. Covey then strikes Douglass' head with hickory slat, a heavy blow, his blood ran freely. He crawls away from Mr. Covey's plantation in search for his original owner and asks Master Thomas if he could protect him, unfortunately he thought of Mr. Covey as a good man and already has a contract to keep Douglass there for one year, so Douglass had to go back. The next morning he goes back and finds himself hiding from Covey. He stays a night at another slave's place, Sandy Jenkins, who gives with a root that would "render it impossible for Mr. Covey, or any other white man, to whip" him. He takes it and heads over to Mr. Covey again  who tries to injure Douglass again. But with the resolve to fight, he successfully holds off Mr. Covey and manages to make him step away. He had not been whipped then and at the end, he says that "I remained a slave four years afterwards. I had several fights, but was never whipped."
     Douglass writes of his experiences being a slave with great detail, or just enough to illicit an emotional response from the reader. Douglass used his story of being a young, slave boy almost getting killed to appeal to the white women of the audience, and his vivid detail makes that appeal a lot more effective.
     Douglass became one of the most strongest orators of his time through his ability to appeal to his audience with his use of imagery and pathos. He earned his level of respect amongst women through his involvement with women's suffrage as well as being on the same level as women who wanted a voice in the government, his narratives made him one of the most influential figures in the abolitionist movement.