Essay Lincoln and Douglass

Submitted By dswidan
Words: 1251
Pages: 6
Open Document
Similarities of Compassion Between Douglass's “Learning to Read and Write”, and Lincoln's “Gettysburg Address”

Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln had many similarities between them. Even though they were born into completely different circumstances, Douglass and Lincoln both shared a strong compassion for other people. Frederick Douglass was an African-American and was born into slavery around 1817. With a difficult upbringing into slavery, he still became one of the strongest orators of his time, mostly on antislavery. Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809, was already considered free in the United States because of his color, but also became a strong orator in his time including the success of being the 16th President, on the eve of the Civil War. One of his most highly considered compassions was his fight to abolish slavery in the United States.
In Frederick Douglass's “Learning to Read and Write”, the way he speaks of his mistress is very compassionate. By teaching him the alphabet, his mistress is the one who started his path to literacy. During the time period of slavery, she was looked at wrongfully for educating a slave and treating one like a human being. “In compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by anyone else”. “To her satisfaction, education and slavery were incompatible”. Although she is stopping him from learning, it seems he is placing her up on a pedestal for opening up his pathway to education. Douglass shows compassion when he describes how Mistress Hugh was before she became under the influence of slavery, “A kind and tender-hearted woman”, and “There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach”, he is referring to her as warm and tender, showing compassion for her. Douglass has so much compassion in his writing. The words he chose to use in this next quote about Mistress Hugh makes you feel with emotion how hard she fell to depravity from a “lamb-like” innocence as a result of slavery, “Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and lamb-like disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness”. Using the words “tender heart” shows soft and warm, compassion. “Her tender heart became stone”, hard and cold, evil like.
When Douglass speaks of the little white boys whom he became friends with, you can see the compassion he has for them. He would use bread “to bestow upon the hungry little urchins” and in return they would give him “that more valuable bread of knowledge”. If he didn't have compassion towards the poor and hungry then he would have used something different to trade for knowledge. Douglass says, “I am Strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, a testimonial of the gratitude and affection I bear them; but prudence forbids—not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them”. He is showing compassion for their feelings by not wanting to embarrass them. Another sign of compassion that Douglass showed was helping the Irishmen unload a scow of stone even though he was never asked to do so. When helping them, one of them asked him if he was a slave for life and he responded back with a simple “yes, he was”. This deeply affected the Irishmen, as Douglass noted. Showing compassion for the white man in the days of slavery showed what a strong character Douglass was. Douglass has such a compassionate powerful appeal to emotion in the way he uses his diction. There came a point when Douglass felt that learning to read was more of a curse than a blessing. He felt like it showed him his “wretched condition, without the remedy”. Opened his eyes “to the horrible pit, but no ladder upon which to get out”. Not only is he describing how he felt, but also making the audience/reader feel emotional pity for him by the way
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Lincoln and Douglass

Compare And Contrast Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are shown as heroes because of their struggle for others freedom. Lincoln guided and led the U.S. to victory in the Civil War; he saw hope for the future and strived to reach it. He tried not only to bring the Union back together, but to also free the slaves and allow them to make their own decisions. Lincoln defended and supported freedom throughout the Civil War, as Phineas D. Gurley says, “ but the cause he so ardently loved, so ably, patiently, faithfully…

Words 250 - Pages 1

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’ goals were indeed not met. Yes, slavery was abolished and yes the nation was unified but there’s still a lack in equality and justice for all men. We still have racism in this world till today. It started when slavery became known and it went through the reconstruction years and the 20th and 21st century. Every day, people come face to face with racism as it still lurks in the streets of our world. Just because of the color of their skin, they are ridiculed…

Words 237 - Pages 1

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were both heroic men who used their lives for the greater good of everyone. Even though they had gone through many struggles on the way, they wholeheartedly spoke out to receive liberty and freedom for themselves and others. Lincoln, for example, died in defending for our country. “ Not for himself only, not for us only, but for all people in all their coming generations ” (SP. 68). This quote further explains that Lincoln didn't only fight for his liberty…

Words 326 - Pages 2

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are heroic because they both put the lives of others before their own by using both their words and actions to inspire others. Lincoln inspired people to stand up for their country during the Civil War when he led his country to greatness. Continually, Lincoln was not concerned with only himself or even this generation but “for all people in all their coming generations” (SB pg 68). He did not just focus on how his actions would effect the country now, but rather…

Words 307 - Pages 2

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are heroes because they both did various things to help others which ended up helping their country's future. Moreover, Douglass is also a hero because he was a voice of anti-slavery and also inspired others to keep persevering even when times get hard; “But I remained firm, and, according to my resolution, on the third day of September, 1838, I left my chains” (SB, pg. 71). This was an example of heroism because it shows how Douglass kept trying to get slavery…

Words 260 - Pages 2

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are highly considered as great demonstrations of determination and confidence in today's and previous societies because hardships and challenges they faced going through their quest to abolish slavery. Furthermore, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass have very similar traits to as they both had the same goals of the complete abolishment of slavery. There has been many sources from speeches to poems to autobiographies to show their determination and coherence…

Words 286 - Pages 2

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are heroic because they both put the lives of others before their own by showing determination, courage, and bravery. Lincoln showed determination during the Civil War and leading his country to greatness. For example, he wanted what was best for the country rather than him or even his generation, “Not for himself only, not for us only, but for all people in all their coming generations” (SB pg. 68). Additionally, he also fought for everyone, no matter who you…

Words 274 - Pages 2

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are truly heroic for their continuous devotion and patriotism towards liberty and freedom for all people. Both are now dead however all people will remember Abraham Lincoln and “the cause he so ardently loved, so ably, patiently, faithfully represented and defended--not for himself only but for all people in all their coming generations, till time shall be no more--that cause survives his fall, and will survive it” (SB p.68). Lincoln constantly was finding a…

Words 191 - Pages 1

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass dedicated dedicated their public lives to fight for liberty in the Civil Rights movement. “Abraham Lincoln sacrificed his own life, his own liberty for the benefit of our country.”(pg.68 sb ).Lincoln try to guide the country the best he could .(as mentioned in sb pg.68 ) but died trying. “Though our beloved president is slain, our beloved country is saved.” Frederick Douglass worked for freedom and liberty for our country as well. As mentioned in (page…

Words 229 - Pages 1

Similarities Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas are both heroic because they are both very brave heroic men who spoke out for freedom and liberty. They both made a huge impact during the slavery era, but they still can inspire us in a way to becoming better people, and to do the right things for yourself and everyone. Lincoln inspired us to never give up on your dreams and treat others with respect; For example when it came to the day of Lincoln’s passing, ,most people were happy with the choices he made for…

Words 248 - Pages 1