Comparison of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe - Essay Example

Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe Many and scholars have published books and articles on slavery and slave trade. With the trend increasing in the 17th and 18th century, it became an issue of interest. In essence, slavery in America began in the year 1619 when African slaves were brought to give support in the production of profitable crops such as tobacco, coffee, cotton, tea leaves, and many other crops. The slaves lived in either large or small plantation. According to the authors, most of the masters or slave owners had a minimum of 50 slaves, hence made sure that their slaves are not self dependant, but depended on them in everything such as food shelter and even their freedom. They were not allowed to read, write and even to worship, hence the freedom of movement was limited and restricted. However, a movement led by free blacks such as Frederick Douglass and white supporters such as Harriet Beecher Stowe gained strength to abolish slavery. Based on the above argument, this essay will analyse the contrast between the writer Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe, bringing out how they brought out the sufferings of the slaves, and how they were toured to the extent of escaping. From the book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe, it is evident that the book was written during the slavery period. In the book, Stowe explains how the character Elizabeth finds herself in a position where her master wants to trade her boy. To Elizabeth, this meant total separation. The pain of complete separation is completely unbearable to Elizabeth. As a result, she decides to escape from her master. Though her son could walk, she did not dare to let him walk as she feared losing him, hence wrapped him on her bosom and escaped. She walked all night with the determination of leaving behind all familiar figures such as buildings, farms, and even people. She carried with her some packed cakes and apples that helped her when hungry hence managed through the journey. Evidently, Elizabeth endures suffering through her journey of escaping from Egypt through the frozen river. At some point, the author presents her unable to eat as she had grown very weak. Despite her feet becoming sore and painful, she continues with her journey. This journey is a clear evidence of how slavery caused unbearable living. Though it is arguable that Elizabeth sought ways of seeing herself out of the situation, her life appears completely miserable. The bleeding of her as she ran to flee from Loker after being suspected of escaping is a good proof of how the author presents slavery as a miserable life. Frederick Douglass, the writer of the (1818-1895) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, 1845, was much influenced by the slavery in his writing. First and for most, Frederick Douglass was an ex-slave, therefore, he bases on the suffering of the slaves. Douglass lived with his master, whom to many appeared like his father. He was separated with his mother at a very young age. Then, newborns were separated from their mothers at their 12th month. The mothers would be taken far away from to another farm where they would work as slaves in the field. Similarly, Douglass mother was separated from her son, but would make sure that she travelled at night to see him. The author presents how slaves were tortured in their work. Moreover, the writer gives the clearest image of how the slaves were treated by their masters. He shows us how the overseer in charge of the slaves ill-treated them to an extent of slashing women’s head. There is similar torture of slaves in Douglass work as he shows how they were whipped to a point that they even shed blood. The writer shows cruelty in the masters as they even whipped the slaves on their wounds. When Douglass was at his old master, he also witnessed such cruelty happen to Aunt Hester. This is when her clothes were ripped off after she was accused of disobedience and being in the company of Lloyd’s Ned. The rate at which the slaves were tortured appeared completely inhuman as presented by both writers. Aunt Hester, despite being a woman, was beaten to a point that she shed blood and even abused, "Now, you d--d b--h, Ill learn you how to disobey my orders!" . Freedom in both works never existed. For instance, during this period, the slaves were not given the freedom of worship. Douglass outlines how slaves were denied the chance of worshiping. When St. Michael decided to open a Sabbath school where slaves would learn about the New Testament, the unexpected happened. Arms were used to against them and warned passed against holding such meetings despite being held for a good intention. This is because the master was so cruel and misinterpreted the bible. The tying up of a lame woman and the striking using a very heavy cow skin till she bled was completely out of order. To make it worse, the author presents how after the act she misquotes a Bible verse in page 76 saying "He that knoweth his masters will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." In conclusion, though the writers seem to share a common thought, they differ from each other in ideologies. For instance, Stowe’s message that comes out of the work is the evil act of slavery. From her point of view, the activity should not have been carried on. Further to this, she mostly uses ideas of how slavery activities were conducted because she was not a slave. This therefore means that she did not have first hand information on slavery like does Fredrick. Ideally, she seeks to convey a message specifically to the white people that they may change their act and stop slavery. On the other hand, Douglass writes to the slaves who were influenced by the slavery and at some point given the authority over their fellow slaves. In his work, he tries to bring out the painful scenes of beatings and whipping slaves experienced from their masters who at some point they were their fellow slaves. This to him, as a slave, was not right, especially for those fellow slaves who had been promoted, who he write to address. Nevertheless, both writers write to discourage the bullying acts that took place in this era. Read More