One part that stuck with me was when Fredrick Douglass said that they were only given a tiny amount of clothes for the whole year. Some kids didn't even get clothes so they would have to walk around naked... even in the winter! Now I don't know about you but I have a whole bunch of clothes!! I would just hate only having a few clothes under my name. I was surprised to read that there were no beds, you were lucky if you got a blanket. I personally love my bed. It is so comfortable; this is an example of something that we take for granted. I think the part that saddened me the most was when he said that sometimes they didn't even have time for sleep because they had to wait on their masters orders. I don't know but for some reason it reminded me of Cinderella and her wicked step sisters. Except for CInderella is a fairytale, but the life of Fredrick Douglass is a reality. I learned from this passage that most all of the slaves hoped to work in The Great Farm House because it was a priviledge and it meant that their overseer had confidence in them.
It hurt me to read " I have frequently found myself in tears while hearing them. The mere recurrence to those songs, even now, afflicts me; and while I am writing these lines, an expression of feeling has already found its way down my cheek." I thought it was beautiful how he admitted to crying as he wrote this. It meant that he was not trying to hold anything back. I was intrigued to find the underlying message of slaves singing. " Slaves sing most when they are unhappy.The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart;and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears." I thought this was a great comparision. I found it to be relatable and easy to understand. At first I would have thought the opposite just becaused normally when you think of singing you think of being happy. But there are many different types of songs and as they say music is an expression and it can help heal your heart.
Jeez, this is such a big differnce from now. Like I just went shopping last Friday and got 2 new shirts and a pair of jeans. And to think they wouldn't even get that in a YEAR. It's just so hard to comprehend because we come from such a well off area of the world. And no beds? I just pisst off when I have to sleep on the floor during sleepovers! Ah, and they don't even complain, obviously cause they would get whipped but still.
I found the singing part interesting, that the slaveholders thought the slaves were "happier" when they were singing, but Douglass says it's when the times were the worst. It's kind of weird I cant relate to that, cause I sing a lot when I'm upset cause it takes my mind off of whatever problems I'm having and my mom probly thinks it's when I'm having a good day. haha
Yes, his story is definitely moving. I can sense the romantic period in his autobiography. The emotion that went into this book is incredible. It must have been overwhelming for him to try to remember these parts of his life. The fact that he is able to state these hardships in his life so straight-forward is incredible. It shows the extent of what he has been through. Singing through the hardships may have helped him a little, but it definitely couldn't have been easy.
I agree with Jaime, the fact that the kids went naked until the next allowance-day, which could have been practically all the seasons throughout the year is so sad. I am very thankful for many things. I am content that my father gives me clothes, a place to live, a bed, shelter (house), and many other things, because without these it would be hard to live. Knowing that some slaves did not have a bed, or clothes is very heartbreaking. Every sentence I read of his life gets more and more depressing and the more I feel bad for what he and the other slaves have gone through. Fredrick Douglass said singing helped somewhat to get their minds of the sadness they carried within themselves. I also agree with Sara , that it must of been extremely hard for him to be so straight-forward about his hardships. Fredrick Douglass is a strong and remarkable man.
4 comments:
One part that stuck with me was when Fredrick Douglass said that they were only given a tiny amount of clothes for the whole year. Some kids didn't even get clothes so they would have to walk around naked... even in the winter! Now I don't know about you but I have a whole bunch of clothes!! I would just hate only having a few clothes under my name.
I was surprised to read that there were no beds, you were lucky if you got a blanket. I personally love my bed. It is so comfortable; this is an example of something that we take for granted. I think the part that saddened me the most was when he said that sometimes they didn't even have time for sleep because they had to wait on their masters orders. I don't know but for some reason it reminded me of Cinderella and her wicked step sisters. Except for CInderella is a fairytale, but the life of Fredrick Douglass is a reality. I learned from this passage that most all of the slaves hoped to work in The Great Farm House because it was a priviledge and it meant that their overseer had confidence in them.
It hurt me to read " I have frequently found myself in tears while hearing them. The mere recurrence to those songs, even now, afflicts me; and while I am writing these lines, an expression of feeling has already found its way down my cheek." I thought it was beautiful how he admitted to crying as he wrote this. It meant that he was not trying to hold anything back. I was intrigued to find the underlying message of slaves singing. " Slaves sing most when they are unhappy.The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart;and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears." I thought this was a great comparision. I found it to be relatable and easy to understand. At first I would have thought the opposite just becaused normally when you think of singing you think of being happy. But there are many different types of songs and as they say music is an expression and it can help heal your heart.
Jeez, this is such a big differnce from now. Like I just went shopping last Friday and got 2 new shirts and a pair of jeans. And to think they wouldn't even get that in a YEAR. It's just so hard to comprehend because we come from such a well off area of the world. And no beds? I just pisst off when I have to sleep on the floor during sleepovers! Ah, and they don't even complain, obviously cause they would get whipped but still.
I found the singing part interesting, that the slaveholders thought the slaves were "happier" when they were singing, but Douglass says it's when the times were the worst. It's kind of weird I cant relate to that, cause I sing a lot when I'm upset cause it takes my mind off of whatever problems I'm having and my mom probly thinks it's when I'm having a good day. haha
Yes, his story is definitely moving. I can sense the romantic period in his autobiography. The emotion that went into this book is incredible. It must have been overwhelming for him to try to remember these parts of his life.
The fact that he is able to state these hardships in his life so straight-forward is incredible. It shows the extent of what he has been through. Singing through the hardships may have helped him a little, but it definitely couldn't have been easy.
I agree with Jaime, the fact that the kids went naked until the next allowance-day, which could have been practically all the seasons throughout the year is so sad. I am very thankful for many things. I am content that my father gives me clothes, a place to live, a bed, shelter (house), and many other things, because without these it would be hard to live. Knowing that some slaves did not have a bed, or clothes is very heartbreaking. Every sentence I read of his life gets more and more depressing and the more I feel bad for what he and the other slaves have gone through. Fredrick Douglass said singing helped somewhat to get their minds of the sadness they carried within themselves. I also agree with Sara , that it must of been extremely hard for him to be so straight-forward about his hardships. Fredrick Douglass is a strong and remarkable man.
Post a Comment