Rhetorical Devices in Frederick Douglass

Rhetorical Devices in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs wield control over their audience because of the nature of the autobiography. Autobiographical works are biased in that only one point of view is presented, and that is the point of view of the protagonist. In the case of slave narratives, the tales recounted were often regarded with suspicion. Slaves were second class citizens as it was, and when stories …

…the human spirit, Douglass can control how he is represented to his audience. If Douglass can control how he is represented, he can also wield control over his reader. Because of the nature of the autobiography, the reader is left with only the lone point of view, that of the protagonist. Douglass uses this fact to his advantage and shapes the reactions of his audience in however way serves his narrative and its message best.