Accounts of slavery, slaves, America, freedom, abolition of slavery
Slavery accounts for one of the most disappointing errors in the history of America. Due to the lack of education maintained by slaves, few recordings from the perspective of a slave are available today. The Classic Slave Narratives edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. provides 4 different recollections of life prior to the abolition of slavery. Each narrative is expressed from a firsthand account. Olaudah Equiano, Mary Prince, and Frederick Douglass each provide credible accounts of daily slave life. The narratives include stories of slaves that managed to gain their freedom. Through each tale, the reader is offered insight regarding the and experiences of slaves. Two stories share comparable accounts of life during slavery. The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano and the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass are comparable through detailed examination.
[...] Two stories share comparable accounts of life during slavery. The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano and the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass are comparable through detailed examination. The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano Olaudah Equiano provided the firsthand experience of an individual going from freedom to slavery. Equiano grew up as a free man in Africa. Olaudah was born in 1745 in Essaka, located in the African province of Eboe. (Equiano) His recollection of life in Africa is remarkable. [...]
[...] He compares the treatment of slaves to animals. Differences Frederick Douglas did not reveal experience of being free prior to slavery. This is because Frederick Douglas was born into slavery on Colonel Lloyd's plantation. Unlike Equiano, Frederick Douglas had to learn what slavery was from an internal perspective. Equiano was previously knowledgeable of slavery. He had a full understanding of the struggles he could potentially face. Frederick Douglas did not learn about life outside of slavery until he went to Baltimore and learned to read. [...]
[...] However, certain points reveal different views by each narrator. Their views regarding Christianity, initiation into slavery, and life after slavery are almost completely different. Nevertheless, the accounts reveal the wide range of people affected by slavery and their different assessments regarding slavery. Works Cited Douglass, Frederick. "Narrative ofthe life ofFrederick Douglass." The Classic Slave Narratives (1995). Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Broadview Press Gates, Henry Louis. The classic slave narratives. Vol New Amer Library, 1987. [...]
[...] However, Equiano did contest the enslavement of Africans by Europeans. He specifically contested the argument that Africans deserved enslavement because they were uncivilized. Nevertheless, Equiano relives his abduction. He was captured by two men and a woman. Upon being captured, Equiano was purchased by Michael Henry Pascal. Equiano served as Pascal's aid throughout the Seven Years War. Olaudah eventually saved up enough money to buy his freedom and focus on different aspects of life. Frederick Douglass' narrative went directly from slavery to freedom. [...]
[...] Equiano served as an overseer on a plantation in Jamaica. Frederick Douglas would never return to perpetuate the enslavement of other humans. It is clear that Frederick wanted a complete change in his lifestyle, while Equiano only wanted a change in status. In conclusion, Frederick Douglas and Olaudah Equiano provide two comparable accounts of life during slavery. They reveal striking similarities with almost identical points of view. Multiple ownership, desire for freedom and education, and cruel treatment are among the commonalities between the stories. [...]
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