The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 abolished slavery in the United States. However, before this proclamation was put into action, slaves would attempt to escape their dark lives by running to the Free states up north. Many were successful including Frederick Douglass, a well-known former slave, who recounts his escape in the given passage. Douglass skillfully controls language, including figurative language and syntax, to relay his emotions after the draining journey to readers.
Douglass often makes comparisons so that readers are able to relate or imagine his situations and emotions. As soon as he arrived in New York, he felt “like one who escaped a den of hungry lions.” Most know the sensation of great relief or of a heavy weight being lifted off of their shoulders and can relate to Douglass. This forms a bond between the writer and audience, drawing them in further into the experience. Also, the comparison of the slave states to a den of hungry lions allows us to infer just how brutal and savage the south as to slaves. Douglass was happy when he stepped into the Free State, but that relief was quickly dispelled by insecurity and mild paranoia.
He trusted no one, a motto he took on as a slave. The fear of being captured by slave hunters or his fellow men was like that of a prey’s with a “hideous crocodile” about to seize upon it. The scene of Douglass being cornered by other men easily pops up in our minds as we read this line in the passage. Douglass also incorporates diction into his writing. He uses strong words describing himself as a “trembling and half-famished fugitive” instead of passive words like shaking or hungry. These stronger words leave a greater impression on the reader’s mind because he or she is able envision a more powerful and evoking scene.
While diction is about individual words, syntax is focused on groups and clusters of them, which contribute to the meaning and purpose of a piece of writing. In Douglass’ recount, there is a sentence that spans over twenty lines, only broken up by dashes and commas, leaving the reader with barely any break. As Douglass is writing that sentence his anger builds just as the sentence continuously builds upon itself.
Within the sentence, there are parallel structures and repetition, which puts more emphasis on the words and the passion and power behind them. In the long sentence, he continuously repeated “in the midst of plenty, yet… in the midst of houses, yet… in the midst of beasts.” He emphasizes his bitterness and sadness as he compares himself, an escaped slave, to those who are well off. He brings to attention the loneliness he felt despite being “in the midst” of everything and everyone, the people around him strange to him like “beasts.” In a different state, Douglass felt lost and confused, asking himself “what to do, where to go, or where to stay [?]”Douglass’ use of syntax allowed him to convey even more emotion than just using figurative language by itself.
As the audience reads Frederick Douglass’ recount of his escape into New York, they are able to visualize his brief happiness, soon turning into fear, insecurity, bitterness and depression. Douglass is able to thoroughly show his emotions and thoughts after his journey by using figurative language, such as diction and similes, and syntax. Frederick Douglass was a truly talented writer, who was able to create vivid images in our minds, but if a writer properly uses these techniques then he or she can write just as well.
