Packet Response

In the days of slavery most slaves were not able to read or write because it was illegal. However, two exceptions of this were Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs. They were the authors of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas. An American Slave” and “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”. Both of their stories are similar in that they tell the story of a young slave who has been through incredibly tough times. They both use logos and ethos in their stories to make their point clear.

Both Frederick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs are credible because they have experienced first hand what it was like to be a slave. You get the story from their point of view and not from down the grapevine. This made their story more effective because you could feel their emotions and be able to not exactly understand what they were going through, but you would be able to capture the image they were trying to portray. Wendell Phillips’ and L. Maria Child’s prefaces in the beginning also give their stories more credibility. This was needed especially in the old days because you needed a Caucasian person to vouch for you or your book could not be published. So because of this it gave people even more reason to trust the author’s books.

Ethos is also a very large part of their books. They don’t want people to feel sorry for them but they do want people to understand what they went through, the pain and suffering they had to endure while being a slave. In Douglass’ Narrative he describes a scene that is absolutely horrifying. “I’ll learn you how to disobey my orders!” and after rolling up his sleeves, he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to the floor. I was so terrified and horror-stricken at the sight, that I hid myself in a closet, and dared not venture out till long after the bloody transaction was over.” (Narrative Page 12) This quote is saddening and horrifying, its impossible to believe that something so cruel could have happened, but it did everyday. Jacobs’ too went through tough times. Though the reader might not get as emotional as he would over Douglass’ troubles they still are unbelievable. “He sprung upon me like a tiger, and gave me a stunning blow.”… “You have tried to kill me…”… “He met me with a blow” (Incidents Pages 816-818). Although she wasn’t seriously hurt you can tell that she is very unhappy and is in an unhealthy atmosphere.

Caucasian authors have vouched for African American slave writers because that was the only way their story would get published. Having a Caucasian person help with the story makes it seem less realistic you don’t feel that same since of astonishment that this was what was happening to slaves in that day and age. The ethos doesn’t appeal to you as much. The author’s primary audience is the Caucasian population of that time. The reason they were writing to them is because most African Americans could not read or write and even if they could it was illegal. Also, they might have written it because they wanted the world to know how badly the slaves were being treated.