Defenders of slavery claimed that society …show more content…
It was as if the slaveholders were pictured as normal human beings. Douglass argues that the slaveholders were changed greatly by the act of slavery. He wanted to show how the slaveholders were converted into foul human beings. Frederick describes one of his mistresses, Mrs.Auld, as an example of their demon ways. “The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.” (Poetic Tools) This vividly describes how the slaveholders were double-sided. Douglass also explained what and how the slaveholders got a hold of a whip. “ He would at times take great pleasure in whipping a slave...No words, no tears, no prayers from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose.” (Excerpt 1) This illustrates that the slaveholders gained a sense of satisfaction when they saw a slave being physically violated. The slaveholders thought that their behavior was normal because of who they “owned”. The defenders of slavery always thought that the slaveholders were regular people that cared about others. They didn’t even get a glimpse of what they were capable of when they got a hold of a whip. The defenders