Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
...stated that the slaves had had severe beatings that had to do with blood. For example, he wrote, “I have seen Mr. Severe beat a woman, and not care that her children were watching. She bled for half an hour at a time. He seemed to take enjoyment in doing this.” This only states that there actually was cruel behavior towards the slaves. It does not, however stress the pains that were endured. This is bad because no sympathy can be erected. Frederick Douglass made some of his overseers seem good, simply because that one was nicer than another one. He stated, “Mr. Hopkins replaced Mr. Severe. He was not as strict as Mr. Severe, so everyone called him a good overseer, eventhough he still beat us.” This shows that just because someone was less severe than someone else that that person is good, when in fact, he is not. He also gives excuses for the behaviors of his masters. Mr. Douglass said, “My master, probably torn by witnessing the tortures inflicted upon the slaves, have made him an austere and strict man.” This tells us that it was not his masters fault for being the way he is, but in fact the fault of whoever made him witness such horrible events. ...