Frederick Douglass- fiercely making his case

  Eloquently, through his writing, Douglass was able to communicate the truth behind slavery. Through stories and descriptions, he was able to address the misconceptions many pro-slavery people held during that period. He addresses arguments such as enslaved people singing music because they were happy, enslaved people not talking badly about their master because they thought he was good, and enslaved people in the city seemingly being treated well. Addressing these points from a first-hand perspective gives Douglass more credibility than most. However, many speculated that since he was enslaved, he was uneducated; however, his straightforward reasoning and precise diction counter this argument. Douglass describes Mr. Plummer as saying, “No words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victims, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose” (Douglass 58). How Douglass writes not only shares the reality of slavery during his time period but also can share the feelings of the enslaved people, humanizing the situation. He was able to use situations that were universally understood by African Americans and white people participating or not participating in slavery, such as family, eating, clothing, and being cold. By using these universal ideas, more people would be able to connect emotionally to the writing. 

Another way Douglass enhances his writing is through comparisons, such as similes and metaphors. He can demonstrate the juxtaposition between enslaved people and slave owners on plantations and people living in the cities. In chapter three, Douglass writes, “To describe the wealth of Colonel Lloyd would be almost equal to describing the riches of Job” (Douglass 61). Douglass places this comparison after describing the punishments enslaved people faced for trying to eat fruit and the allowances of enslaved people. This shows that the slave owners were cruel, not because they had no option, but simply because they could keep their extravagant lives. Soon after, Douglass describes the particularly cruel lives of the enslaved children, saying, “The children were then called, like so many pigs, and like so many pigs they would come and devour the mush” (Douglass 63). This simile alludes to the fact that the enslaved people were treated with the same value as the animals rather than more similarly to other human beings. This same notion is similarly repeated earlier in the chapter as the treatment of the horses is described as more elaborate and comfortable than that of the enslaved people. By using comparisons, I believe the reader has a more jarring reaction to the text. The language used by Douglass also allows any reader to visualize the scenarios he is describing. Overall, Douglas can create a strong argument for the abolitionist movement and defend his experiences against the pro-slavery activists.