Read this excerpt from Frederick Douglass and answer the question.

My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. In entering upon the duties of a slaveholder, she did not seem to perceive that I sustained to her the relation of a mere chattel, and that for her to treat me as a human being was not only wrong, but dangerously so. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me ... Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of [her] heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness.

In at least 150 words, discuss the historical, cultural, and literary contexts this excerpt illustrates and how it does so. Use information from the lesson as well as specific words in the excerpt to support your explanation.

Question

Eric Underwood

English

19 March, 05:19

Read this excerpt from Frederick Douglass and answer the question.

My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. In entering upon the duties of a slaveholder, she did not seem to perceive that I sustained to her the relation of a mere chattel, and that for her to treat me as a human being was not only wrong, but dangerously so. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me ... Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of [her] heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness.

In at least 150 words, discuss the historical, cultural, and literary contexts this excerpt illustrates and how it does so. Use information from the lesson as well as specific words in the excerpt to support your explanation.

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Opie · Answer 1

My mistress was, as I have said, a kind and tender-hearted woman; and in the simplicity of her soul she commenced, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another. In entering upon the duties of a slaveholder, she did not seem to perceive that I sustained to her the relation of a mere chattel, and that for her to treat me as a human being was not only wrong, but dangerously so. Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me ... Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of [her] heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness.