Argument 1: Slavery is a bad institution for everyone

Douglass in his narrative shows that slavery does affect not only the slaves but also the slaveholders. The slaveholders have corrupt powers over the slaves, which has a detrimental effect on their moral health. The use of Pathos, in this case, is important in that it raises awareness to the whites about the atrocities faced by the slaves. Douglass evokes pity in the hearts of the slaveholders by describing the first-hand effects of slavery to the slave owners. Atrocities such as rape and adultery perpetrated by slaveholders threaten the unity of the slave owners’ families. A good example of corrupt power is the description of Sophia Auld. Her irresponsible power to hold slaves leads to her transformation from a woman with ideas to a demon that does not care. By using illustration such as that of Sophia, Douglass portrays to the whites why the abolishment of slavery is necessary for the good of the whole society.

 Argument 2: Ignorance is a tool used to keep people in slavery

The slaveholders prolong slavery by maintaining ignorance among the slaves. The slaves are led to believe that slavery is natural. The whites believe that blacks are incapable of being part of the civil society and thus should serve as workers. The use of logos is significant here in that Douglass portrays how slaves are kept ignorant by being denied basic facts about themselves. It reveals how reading and writing would be important to the slaves. Access to literacy would offer the slaves a sense of capability thus questioning the right of the slaveholders to keep them as slaves. The slaves are denied basic facts such as paternity and date of birth. Through this, the slave owners are able to maintain power over the slaves from their birth onwards. The Southern slaveholders, for example, use the slaves’ lack of reading and writing skills to keep the rest of America unaware of slavery in the south.

 Argument 3: Knowledge is the path to freedom and independence

In that the slaveholders keep the slaves away from education and knowledge, the slaves should strive to get knowledge in pursuance of freedom. The use of Ethos here is significant in that it portrays the cultural beliefs and characteristics of the slaveholders. The slaveholders have a belief that education ruins the slaves. Ruining, in this case, is enlightenment. Douglass learns this idea from one of his masters Hugh Auld who went to the extent of forbidding his wife from coaching Douglass on writing and reading since knowledge ruins the slaves. Douglas presents his self-gained education as the primary means to his freedom. However, he is not illumined that education automatically makes slaves free rather he acknowledge that education makes slaves aware of the injustice of slavery. Slaves are able to recognize themselves as men and not slaves. This awakening brings suffering in that once slaves are enlightened; they focus on loathing their masters since physical escape is still not possible.

 
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