Niko Depratto

Mrs. Carroll
09/13/18

Frederick Douglass’s Development of a Theme

Frederick Douglass was a former slave, abolitionist, public speaker, and writer. He wrote
an autobiography in 1845 titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and in the first few
chapters there is a common theme of oppression. Douglass goes into detail about slavery and
what African Americans endured during the 1800’s. As he talks about these topics he
simultaneously develops his theme through the use of personal experiences. In these experiences
he gives examples of unjust slave treatment.
One personal experience Douglass talks about to develop his theme is the treatment of his
Aunt Hester. He explains how she went out with a friend and because her master was jealous, he
whipped her for it. “Aunt Hester…had been found in company with Lloyd’s Ned; which
circumstance, I found from what he said while whipping her, was the chief offence” (16). This
shows the oppression of slaves because they are not allowed to enjoy themselves unless their
master is contempt with what they are doing. It is not their choice on what they want to do,
instead they are limited to what they are allowed to do. Another personal experience Douglass
has is his interaction with his mother. He says, “I was not allowed to be present during her
illness, at her death, or burial” (14). The separation Douglass had from his mother during the last
moments of her life certainly show an unjustified control over him that easily develops his theme
of oppression.
Besides the physical treatment of slaves, Douglass also develops his theme through other
examples of oppression. This includes slaves not taking action against their masters and the
consequences they faced for when they did. He talks about how slaves were blamed for things
that they no control in. “To all these complaints, no matter how unjust, the slave must answer
never a word” (22). This shows clear control and suppression of slaves and their ability to speak
for themselves. On the following page he discusses the punishment for slaves who verbally
defended themselves or gave their opinion. “For having found fault with his master, he was now
to be sold to a Georgia trader...forever sundered, from his family and friends” (23). Slaves were
shown a lack of regard for their thoughts and their relationships because they had the supremacy
of their masters constantly above them.
All in all, Frederick Douglass shows how slaves experienced oppression and develops his
theme of it early in his book. He does this by sharing personal experiences of unfair slave
treatment. The reason he gives personal experiences is so that the reader can see slavery through
his eyes. During the time the book was published it was common to believe that the most slaves
had to go through was manual labor. Douglass’s strategy of connecting with the reader greatly
helped his goal of convincing people to share his views on slavery. This is similar to other
entertainment mediums like the movie Fruitvale Station; which helped people to better
understand the discrimination of African Americans in modern day America. Frederick Douglass
and his autobiography helped start conversations about oppression and discrimination; two major
issues that are still talked about today.