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Rylee Kopchak
Miss Burke
Honors English 11
December 9, 2016

The Effects of Physical Oppression on Frederick Douglass


Frederick Douglass faced many challenges throughout his journey from slavery to
freedom. As a young man, he overcame hardships through perseverance and determination to
become his own master. His time spent as a slave shaped him into a strong, courageous man.
After his escape, Douglass dedicated his life to the abolitionist movement and became an
influential speaker and writer. However, before he became the prominent African American civil
rights activist we know today, Frederick Douglass was treated inhumanely as a slave. Slave
owners were often cruel, regarded their slaves as property, and punished them with severe
whippings. The physical abuse and punishments inflicted upon Frederick Douglass greatly
impacted his self-empowerment, as he witnessed the brutal mistreatment of his fellow slaves,
was broken by Mr. Covey, and was callously beaten by white southerners while working at the
ship-yard.
Frederick Douglass was first affected by the cruelness of slaveholders and their barbarous
actions indirectly. As a young child, Frederick was treated rather well and had not yet witnessed
the bloody scenes that occurred on the plantation. He remained ignorant until one night he saw
his master, Captain Anthony, whip his Aunt Hester until she was covered in blood. Douglass
explained the emotions he felt after watching such brutality by writing, It struck me with awful
force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was
about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle, (Douglass 23). This was the first time that

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Frederick realized the horrors of slavery and the unwavering savagery of his masters. Because of
his close relationship with fellow slaves, witnessing his friends and family face severe
punishment affected Douglass personally. Another display of the inhumane treatment of slaves
occurred at the valuation and division of Captain Anthonys slaves after his unexpected death.
Douglass expressed his anxiety over the possibility of becoming property of an ill-tempered
slaveholder: Master Andrewa man who, but a few days before, to give me a sample of his
bloody disposition, 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 60). Slaveholders used physical abuse to intimidate and demand respect from their
slaves. Because Douglass cared so deeply for others, the sight of their anguish filled him with
pain. Frederick hated being controlled by a master, however, his anger was subdued by the
overwhelming fear of suffering under the lash.
Because Douglass was disobedient and had differences with his former owner, he was
sent to live with one of the most ruthless masters in Maryland, Mr. Covey. This was the
beginning of Douglasss work as a field-hand, and he was forced to labor from before the sun
rose, until after it set in the evening. In addition to working tirelessly, Frederick was frequently
beaten and whipped by Mr. Covey. Douglass explained how he was affected by the grueling
physical demand and abuse by writing, Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in
body, soul, and spirit. 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! (Douglass 74). The time spent
with Mr. Covey diminished Douglasss strength, desire to learn, and overall happiness. While
working on Mr. Coveys plantation, Frederick Douglass became sick and could barely stand, let

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alone work under tough conditions. Mr. Covey, however, did not permit a slave to stop working,
and as Douglass explains, after looking at me awhile, [Mr. Covey] asked me what was the
matter. I told him as well as I could, for I scarce had strength to speak. He then gave me a
savage kick to the side, and told me to get up. I tried to do so, but fell back in the attempt,
(Douglass 77). Frederick was run-down and could not handle the arduous labor forced upon
him. Despite being extremely ill, Mr. Covey unrelentingly demanded more out of Douglass
when he had nothing left. While at Mr. Coveys Frederick changed as a person and nearly lost
hope; however, instead of allowing his master to defeat him, he left even stronger and more
determined than ever.
Prejudice and racism spread beyond the plantation, as non-slaveholding southerners also
viewed African American slaves as lesser beings. Frederick Douglass encountered such racism
while working at a ship-yard in Baltimore. Frederick wisely used his time at the ship-yard to
further his education by learning to read words scattered throughout the workplace. Douglass
describes how this opportunity was taken away from him by writing, This was my school for
eight months; and I might have remained there longer, but for a most horrid fight I had with four
of the white apprentices, in which my left eye was nearly knocked out, and I was horribly
mangled in other respects, (Douglass 101). There was no way for Douglass to fight back or
protect himself, as he was largely outnumbered. In addition, no other workers stepped in to stop
the fight or help Frederick in any way. Douglass recalls, All this took place in sight of not less
than fifty white ship-carpenters, and not one interposed a friendly word; but some cried, Kill the
damned nigger! Kill him! Kill him! He struck a white person. I found my only chance for life
was in flight, (Douglass 102). After yet another brutal beating, Fredericks spirits were crushed.
He had lost his place of learning and way of working outside of his masters home. Nothing was

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ever done regarding the vicious fight, as in the south the life of a colored man was viewed as
insignificant and no blame could be put on a white man.
The physical abuse Frederick Douglass encountered limited his independence by
instilling fear within him. Slaves were forced to obey their masters, as they knew the
repercussions of disobedience would be severe. They were afraid to speak out against their
masters, despite the horrible conditions they faced. Many slaves accepted their fate and dealt
with the struggles and pain of plantation life, but Frederick Douglass was different. His biggest
fear was not his master, but rather the thought of remaining a slave for the entirety of his life. He
was incompetent and would not let being born into slavery determine his future. Although
Douglass was oppressed in many ways, physically being the most damaging, he would not let
anything deter him from his quest for freedom. Throughout his life he was challenged with new
obstacles, however the one thing that remained constant was his unwavering desire to become a
free man.

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