Power of Persuasion in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Essa

Power of Persuasion in Narrative of the emotional state of Frederick Douglass In order to convince, nonp beil must fist charm the inner feelings of the audience. In Frederick Douglasss Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he appeals to the interest of the reader through and through his first hand accounts of slavery, his use of irony in these descriptions, and his balance mingled with evasiveness and frankness. Douglasss descriptions of the severity of slave conduct are filled with horrific details able to reach even the coldest hearts. The beginning of the narrative tells of how Douglass lacks peerless of the most celebrated identities of humans - the familiarity of ones own age. I control no accurate neckledge of my age, never having seen any authentic bear witness containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as bittie of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves t hus ignorant. (12) In saying this Douglass is showing how low the life of a slave is compared to other humans. The idea of slaves existence seen as exactly work animals is placed into the minds of the reader to set an idea for the rest of the book. Douglass too gives accounts of the horrific treatment of slaves by the plantation owner. He (Master) would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave. I have often been awakened at dawn by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip upon her naked back till she was literally cover with blood.(14) He mentions the tangible blood and shrieks to emphasize the pain and torture of a human being. This slave bleeds like any other person and so it is easier for a reader ... ...ed when I first met her at the door, -- a cleaning lady of the kindest heart and finest feelings.(28) Douglass even admits that it is rare to find a slave bearer who is completely bad. Ba d as all slaveholders are, we seldom meet one destitute of every element of character commanding respect.(39) In apply descriptions of slave life, ironic situations, and general frankness, Douglass is appealing to the emotions of his audience. Douglass is letting people know of the terrors of slavery by touching their emotions. He gets them motivated by being interesting and then builds upon this by describing his life in simple impairment that all humans can relate to. Work cited All references are to Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself (New York, N.Y. W.W. Norton and Company, 1997).