Frederick Douglas

Frederick Douglass September 3, 1838 marks the first day of freedom for Frederick Douglass. On this first day from the “wretchedness” of slavery, Douglass felt the “blessedness of freedom.” However, he soon finds that his free life will not always be blessed. Through figures of speech and syntax, Douglass conveys both a blessed and excited state of mind and an insecure and lonely state of mind. When questioned about his feelings upon becoming free, Douglass’s response …

…monsters” who swallow “helpless fish.” These men are not just enemies. Douglass’s words illustrate it these men in a more intense way. Frederick Douglass conveys an excited sate of mind as well as a lonely, excited state of mind. Although he is free from slavery, he is not free from the world. He asks the reader to sympathize with him, but to so, he says, requires living as a “toil-worn” and whip-scarred fugitive slave.”