Examples Of Irrationality Of Slavery

The Irrationality of Slavery In the 19th century, the nation was in the midst of one of the most heated debates in its short history, one that fractured the nation from the inside out. The issue that divided and alienated common countrymen was that of slavery; many in the South supported the institution on the grounds that slavery was actually beneficial – both for the economy and the slave – while many in the North, separate from the bias resulting from a dependency on slavery, argued that it was an outdated, unnecessary, and immoral system that was beneficial to none. One of the most influential pieces of literature to support the abolitionist movement was Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, published in 1845

He began this chunk of the chapter with a simple truth common to all slaves, one that served as an explanation for why slaves never told the truth about their condition: “a still tongue makes a wise head” (31; ch. 3). The matter-of-fact tone of this adage starkly contrasted with the absolute absurdity of the statement; this disparity forced the readers to question why anyone living in such horrid conditions would abstain from sharing the truth, bringing them to the conclusion that nothing but slavery as it was at the time could hold so many tongues still. Of course, Douglass explains that the immediate backlash from telling the truth convinced many to simply stay silent, but after a time, slaves eventually forget that, as fellow human beings, they have the innate right to speak. This twisted mindset that slaves had to embrace in order to escape punishment spilled over into other arenas as well; it was not uncommon for slaves to quarrel over whose master was better. In fact, when “Colonel Lloyd’s slaves met the slaves of Jacob Jepson, they seldom parted without a quarrel about their masters” (32; ch. 3). Douglass’ anecdote provided evidence to support his assertion that slaves often fought over the relative merits of their masters, adding to his argument’s ethos and establishing credibility. The substance of the anecdote also added to his argument by showcasing a harmful effect of slavery; its inconsistencies distorted the slaves’ view of the world, causing them to debate over their masters’ relative goodness and consider even the most basic of mannerisms to be indicative of a kind master. Though the readers obviously knew the true nature of the slave owners from the previous accounts of Frederick Douglass, the fact that slaves were so far