Slave Narratives

Harriet Jacobs notes that she has chosen to tell her story in order to help free other people who are also enslaved, and then she goes on to describe her experience as a slave. Clearly, she forewarns her viewers of the dramatic dimensions of her story and gently appeals to them not to criticize her negatively for her courageous behavior. Her comment suggests that she hopes to be chastised for her behavior, and therefore seeks to absolve herself of any moral or logical pain that might be associated with her narrative. Similarly, Olaudah Equiano excuses himself for sharing his account while in slavery by stating that he should be pardoned for his boldness and presumption as his only wish is to advocate for the relief of his countrymen from the bondage of slavery.

Also, the rhetorical approach is evident in Fredrick Douglas’ narrative by the way he blames his mother’s master for having mistreated her to death while clarifying that he is not certain about details of what really transpired. Just like the other two narrators, he absolves himself of any blame for sharing his story with the audience. Arguably, the difference of these narratives lies in their contexts. For instance, Olaudah Equiano narrates about the slavery in West Africa while Fredrick Douglas’ and Harriet Jacobs’s narration is based on the slavery experience in the United States. However, they are all consistent in highlighting the plight of people in slavery and the hardship involved in servitude. Also, all the authors seek to absolve themselves of any harsh judgment that may be directed towards them for sharing their experiences.