Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Book Analysis

đź“ŚCategory: Books
đź“ŚWords: 420
đź“ŚPages: 2
đź“ŚPublished: 31 January 2022

In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, important moments during the development of the young Frederick Douglass show the importance secular values to the slave-holding South. The secularism in question is how the enslaved people are only valued based on their significance to the material wealth of their enslavers like any other piece of property. An event that details secularism is when a young Douglass must go back to his home farm in order to be valued and divided like any of the other property on the farm.

The way in which the enslaved people are lined up alongside the other property of their enslavers’ show the secularism, as the enslaved people are treated like the other non-human chattel. Douglass notes this and makes comments on it. Douglass narrates, “We were all ranked together at the valuation. Men and women, old and young, married and single, were ranked with horses, sheep, and swine. There were horses and men, cattle and women, pigs and children, all holding the same rank…” (1028). The description of the valuation is the clearest example of the enslaved people being treated as any other property would be. The ranking and valuing of human people shows the secularism of the scene as only the material wealth that comes from the enslaved people is taken into consideration. Also, the comparison of the farm animals within the quote demonstrates how there is no intrinsic value placed on any enslaved people just because they are human. Value is only placed on the physicality or skillset someone enslaved might have. The only attribute being valued is how effectively an enslaved person can generate wealth for the owner. This also connects to how property is divided as they are separated based on these values assigned to them. Secularism is present within this as this division based on assigned values overlooks familiar bonds and relationships. The focus on material profit that fuels the valuation of the enslaved people shows the prominence of a secular mindset among enslavers within the Narrative. 

The separation of property between owners that occurs directly after valuation also shows how the secular takes prominence during slavery. As Douglass describes the division of the enslaved people, the purely business point of view of the recipient of the enslaved people is seen. Douglass states, “Our fate for life was to be decided. We had no more voice in that decision than the brutes among whom we were ranked. A single word from the white men was enough… to sunder the dearest friends…” (1028). Like the former quote, a comparison of the enslaved to brutes is made. This comparison is made again in order to emphasize the lack of humanity being afforded to those enslaved.

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