How Women are Portrayed in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

How Women Are Portrayed in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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How Women Are Portrayed in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was written and published in the mid-nineteenth century when slavery was a highly recognized institution. Frederick had been born into slavery and thus accounted vividly for his experiences with various slave masters and women around him. In the narrative, women are portrayed as loving beings who have guided Douglass throughout his life. However, they are also used as vivid images of abuse in most instances where women fall victims to abuse by their masters. Douglass uses women to spark and incite the feelings of pain and outrage in his readers to emphasize and point out the unnaturalness of slavery as an institution since he was an anti-slavery activist.
It was natural for women to be loving and sympathetic in the nineteenth century because of their maternal role. This affectionate, caring, and kind nature of women is portrayed well by Sophia Auld, a dynamic and thoughtful female character in the narrative. Sophia Auld, Master Hugh’s wife and Douglass’ mistress, initially had not accepted the idea of slave ownership and is described as more humane to other characters, especially slaves. She even teaches Douglass to read at some point which showed affection and care even to the least respected society members "my new mistress proved to be all she appeared when I first met her at the door- a woman of the kindest heart and finest feelings. She had never had a slave under her control previously to me, and before her marriage, she had been dependent upon her industry of living" (77). Her non-involvement in slave ownership as a maternal figure also speaks volumes on slavery being an immoral act. In one way or the other, Sophia is an important aspect of Frederick's life as he was introduced to the knowledge of reading by her. Later in his life, that formed a solid basis for becoming an abolitionist and suffragist. Women had played an important role in guiding Frederick through his challenging life.
Women involved in slave ownership were not highly regarded, especially by Douglass, as they were seen to have been c...