Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Response to Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Readings

Critical Response on Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Both Douglass and Jacobs were inspirational icons for the African-Americans in American history. Their contributions to the abolition of slavery and liberalism of the African-American race in the U.S. are very notable and important too; not only for honor but also important to American literature. They both lived during the period of the Antebellum (1820 - 1865) when the abolition of slave trade was a big issue in the country. At this time, most writers were writing on the subject of slavery. The works of Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave respectively, were narratives of†¦show more content†¦He further narrates events that aided him being a man growing through a life of slavery. One very notable similarity between him and Jacobs is their persistence and refusal to give up on their quest for freedom. Also another example that should be taken from Douglass is that even after getting caught trying to escape and jailed afterward, he went forward to device another plan in order to gain his freedom which he finally got. Douglass’ freedom I would say is a reward for determination and refusal to give up. He fought hard to make sure his people were not looked down on but rather seen as important in the society. He showed his love for his people in his narrative by not giving full details of his escape so as not to jeopardize another person’s plan. In conclusion, as afore mentioned, these narratives are inspirational pieces which are of no doubt of the highest credibility and authenticity. They were meant to have some specific functions in the society; as to influence, motivate and inspire people. Indeed these narratives are good pieces of literature. These writers both existed during the same era and a time when the abolishment of slavery was a well discussed topic in the country. Their pieces were meant to be examples of good literature and also to influence people to fight against slavery andShow MoreRelatedResponse to Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Readings1204 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Response on Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Both Douglass and Jacobs were inspirational icons for the African-Americans in American history. Their contributions to the abolition of slavery and liberalism of the African-American race in the U.S. are very notable and important too; not only for honor but also important to American literature. They both lived during the period of the Antebellum (1820 - 1865) when the abolition of slave trade was a big issue in the country. At this timeRead MoreEssay about Fredrick Douglas And Harriet Jacobs1717 Words   |  7 Pages Keeping the slaves illiterate hindered them from understanding the world around them. Slave owners knew this. The slaves who were able to read and write always rebelled more against their masters. Frederick Douglass, author of A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, were prime examples. Both slaves had been taught how read and write at a young age, and both gained their freedom by escapi ng to the northern statesRead MoreFredrick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs1757 Words   |  8 Pages Keeping the slaves illiterate hindered them from understanding the world around them. Slave owners knew this. The slaves who were able to read and write always rebelled more against their masters. Frederick Douglass, author of A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, were prime examples. Both slaves had been taught how read and write at a young age, and both gained their freedom by escaping to the northern statesRead MoreThe History of American Literature3501 Words   |  15 Pagesestablishing a writing community in Philadelphia. In 1727 he and a group of friends established a mens reading club in Philadelphia called the Junto . Members shared printed works and discussed topics of the day. Such reading and discussion clubs became an important part of American culture. Women organized literary circles in the 1750s and 1760s. These groups, known as salons, resembled mens reading clubs. They also encouraged members to compose their own work, mainly poetry, but very few of these Response to Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Readings Critical Response on Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Both Douglass and Jacobs were inspirational icons for the African-Americans in American history. Their contributions to the abolition of slavery and liberalism of the African-American race in the U.S. are very notable and important too; not only for honor but also important to American literature. They both lived during the period of the Antebellum (1820 - 1865) when the abolition of slave trade was a big issue in the country. At this time, most writers were writing on the subject of slavery. The works of Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave respectively, were narratives of†¦show more content†¦There was no much liberty given to slaves at this time as feelings of love were not allowed to mature in the hearts of slaves. The continuous change of masters/mistresses built in the slaves mixed emotions towards their owners and masters. Freedom, what every (at least most if not all) slave looked forward to was pushed farther away from them. Hence every slave’s attempt to escape from slavery would always have a tragic end. Jacobs’ perception of freedom was different from what other slaves saw as freedom. The common practice was to work hard and buy your freedom from your master but because she was enlightened, she did not accept that as a good way to gain freedom. From my own point of view, Jacobs did not just want to gain her freedom for just her sake but she tried to abolish some of the practices that misinterpret man’s status. Jacobs’ love for humanity was what she was fighting for. No wonder she had mixed feelings of happiness and unhappiness when her freedom was bought, happiness in the sense that she was free at last but she was unhappy because at the end, she was still treated as a property and not as a human, as it ought to be. Jacobs’ main inspiration for such actions she t ook might have come from the fact that she did not want her children to continue living as slaves, and for this I think she fought so hard. Harriet Jacob’s narrative is both inspiring and exemplary to other slaves in existence and yet unborn. This story shows theShow MoreRelatedResponse to Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Readings1192 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Response on Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass Both Douglass and Jacobs were inspirational icons for the African-Americans in American history. Their contributions to the abolition of slavery and liberalism of the African-American race in the U.S. are very notable and important too; not only for honor but also important to American literature. They both lived during the period of the Antebellum (1820 - 1865) when the abolition of slave trade was a big issue in the country. At this timeRead MoreEssay about Fredrick Douglas And Harriet Jacobs1717 Words   |  7 Pages Keeping the slaves illiterate hindered them from understanding the world around them. Slave owners knew this. The slaves who were able to read and write always rebelled more against their masters. Frederick Douglass, author of A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, were prime examples. Both slaves had been taught how read and write at a young age, and both gained their freedom by escapi ng to the northern statesRead MoreFredrick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs1757 Words   |  8 Pages Keeping the slaves illiterate hindered them from understanding the world around them. Slave owners knew this. The slaves who were able to read and write always rebelled more against their masters. Frederick Douglass, author of A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, were prime examples. Both slaves had been taught how read and write at a young age, and both gained their freedom by escaping to the northern statesRead MoreThe History of American Literature3501 Words   |  15 Pagesestablishing a writing community in Philadelphia. In 1727 he and a group of friends established a mens reading club in Philadelphia called the Junto . Members shared printed works and discussed topics of the day. Such reading and discussion clubs became an important part of American culture. Women organized literary circles in the 1750s and 1760s. These groups, known as salons, resembled mens reading clubs. They also encouraged members to compose their own work, mainly poetry, but very few of these

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