I refer to slavery as a mystery, for I can't seem to properly understand how slavery as an ideal, as an accepted social structure, and in a sense, as a sickness, could have harnassed people so strongly. In reading Douglass' narrative, I am constantly in awe of the dehumanizing effects of slavery upon the masters. Of course, I don't mean to set the plights of the slaves in the background, I am merely interested in understanding how anyone could treat another human being the way masters would treat their slaves. I want to take this opportunity to comment on the narrative by means of examining the master mentaltiy.
Douglass enters into detail when explaing the overseer Gore. Gore is presented as a heartless individual, and it is no doubt true. Douglass writes that, "...he was just the man for such a place, and it was just the place for such a man..." (32). The plantation provided Gore with the perfect environment in which to exercise his powers. He showed no mercy, thrived in his supposed superiority, and found confounding contentment when inflicting harm upon the slaves. And, he did all of this with a calm demeanor. The following words of Douglass are tragically definitive: "[Gore's] savage barbarity was equalled only by the consummate coolness with which he committed the grossest and most savage deeds upon the slaves under his charge," (33). But I need to know why. How is it that compassion can be completely void? Am I lost in this mystery due to my own ignorance? I have never suffered oppression; I do not personally know severe physical or mental pain stemming from injustice.
Douglass goes on to account the story of Demby, a slave murdered by Gore. After suffering a whipping by Gore, Dempy fled to a creek to ease the pain. When Gore summoned Dempy from the creek, and Dempy did not respond or adhere to his demand, Gore shot Dempy. Gore was never investigated for his actions and in fact, Douglass' master, Lloyd, seemed not to care. Importantly, Douglass points out that Gore is celebrated for his talents as an overseer. It is interesting how barbarious acts were not accounted for when they are centered towards slaves, again supporting the idea that slaves were not regarded as completely human. The masters dehumanized slaves, and simultaneously dehumanized themselves.
Antoher example that centers on the master mentality which I found interesting was the case of Sophia Auld. She beings as a kind mistress, and even cofuses Douglass with her kindness. Douglass is her first slave and so she begins their relationship as a caring master, but she slowly turns hard and cruel. It is through Sophia Auld that we as readers can see the evolution of hatred for slaves by their masters. Hugh Auld, her husband, finds her teaching Douglass the alphabet one day and stops the lesson immediatly. He tells her that by teaching Douglass, she is providing him with knowledge that will one day cause him to be unhappy and restless in his socail position (of course, Auld's predictions prove true, and this very moment is the first time that education as a means of freedom is instilled in Douglass' head).
Over time, Douglass can no longer look Sophia in the eyes. She acquired a hatred for him. How did this occur? I think that power is an addiction, in a sense. Once a person learns that they can have power over another, it is hard for them to ignore, for them to sustain the urge. Slowly, Sohpia began to see Douglass as an object of use, as opposed to an equal subject. This different perception occured because she was constantly using him as such. If we practice a foreign language often enough, it will soon become second-nature. If we abuse the freedom of others enough, it will also become second-nature. Sadly, humans can brain wash themselves. If everyone else is doing it, it must be okay.
How is it that masters could lack so mcuh humanity? It is a mystery, and at the same time, completely explainable. Slavery is like a sickness. Once caught, it is absorbed into the blood stream and flows into the heart. Over time, if not cured right away, it will kill the sense of compassion, and empathy withers away into bitterness.
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