This paper aims to show the Franklinian way of thinking towards a virtuous life in Frederick Douglass' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and display how this adaptation is noteworthy with respect to slave narratives. Therefore, we will start by looking at several keywords and defining them in order to understand the concept of the Art of Virtue in Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography and then divide the thirteen given virtues into categories. We will continue to apply one category to Frederick Douglass' slave narrative and see in which extent Douglass adopts the Art of Virtue to become a self-made man.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Art of Virtue
3. Franklinian Douglass, an American Slave and a Self-made Man
3.1 Temperance
3.2 Resolution
3.3 Justice
3.4 Moderation
3.5 Tranquility
4. Conclusion
Objective & Research Focus
This paper examines the influence of Benjamin Franklin’s "Art of Virtue," as outlined in his autobiography, on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, demonstrating how Douglass adapted these principles to construct his identity as a self-made man and an abolitionist.
- Analysis of the Franklinian concept of the self-made man.
- Application of Greco-Roman virtues to slave narratives.
- Exploration of literacy as a pathway to freedom and autonomy.
- Examination of self-justice and moral rebellion against slavery.
- Discussion of how Douglass navigates adversity to transcend his status as property.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 Justice
This might be a controversial virtue as we will talk about self-justice or rather self-help while looking closer at the scuffle of Frederick Douglass and Mr. Covey. “Wrong none” is here the crucial point. At this time it was legal to hold slaves, to beat and to whip them when they acted disobedient, but it was undoubtedly morally unacceptable. As the circumstances show, Douglass is not in the position to change the reason why he is whipped and he omitted his duty as long as he could (cf. FD 54 ff.). This indicates that it was moral appropriate to rebel in order to avoid more whipping.
Overseer Mr. Covey beats and whips Douglass after he breaks down from exhaustion (cf. Douglass 975 ff.). Douglass manages to escape, but comes back with a broken spirit and body after talking with Master Thomas (cf. Douglass 976 f.). As Douglass retrospectively says the “battle with Mr. Covey was the turning point in [his] career as a slave”(Douglass 978). He changes his life by following this virtue. He fulfils the duty of working on the plantation as long as he could. He is not capable of working longer and therefore he “wrong[s] none”(Franklin 310) by getting out of the sun to find relief (cf. Douglass 975). He stands up for himself, fights against Mr. Covey and after that he was never whipped again (cf. Douglass 978). Douglass teaches others to follow his example, too. In the battle, Covey calls for help and Bill, a slave, comes. However, Bill refuses to help Covey and says that his master hired him out to work and not to help whipping somebody (cf. Douglass 977). Douglass' behaviour encourages other slaves to stand up for themselves and to create a disobedient rebel thinking.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the theoretical basis of the self-made man and outlines the paper's intent to apply Franklin’s virtues to Douglass’s narrative.
2. The Art of Virtue: This section defines key philosophical terms and details Franklin’s list of thirteen virtues, emphasizing the importance of habit and moral perfection.
3. Franklinian Douglass, an American Slave and a Self-made Man: This central chapter explores how Douglass embodies specific Greco-Roman virtues to transform his life from slavery to freedom.
3.1 Temperance: Analyzes how Douglass redefines food consumption, choosing to trade food for the "bread of knowledge" to secure his path to freedom.
3.2 Resolution: Examines Douglass’s persistent drive for education and his determination to escape, viewing these actions as the fulfillment of the virtue of resolution.
3.3 Justice: Investigates Douglass’s resistance against the overseer Covey as an act of self-justice and a turning point in his pursuit of human dignity.
3.4 Moderation: Discusses Douglass’s ability to avoid radicalized hatred, recognizing the humanity in others despite the corrupting influence of the institution of slavery.
3.5 Tranquility: Explores how Douglass maintains mental clarity and composure during significant personal tragedies and high-risk escape attempts.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes how Douglass successfully adapted Franklin’s virtues to prove his humanity and establish himself as a significant American figure.
Keywords
Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Franklin, Art of Virtue, self-made man, slave narrative, abolitionism, literacy, temperance, resolution, justice, moderation, tranquility, American Dream, self-fashioning, human dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this publication?
The work explores the thematic and philosophical intersection between Benjamin Franklin’s "Art of Virtue" and the autobiographical narrative of Frederick Douglass.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the construction of the "self-made man," the role of literacy in escaping slavery, moral autonomy, and the adaptation of national ethos by African-American writers.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate how Frederick Douglass utilized Benjamin Franklin's moral virtues to navigate his way out of slavery and redefine himself as a free, educated citizen.
Which methodology is applied?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, specifically applying five Greco-Roman virtues from Franklin’s list to key incidents in Douglass’s narrative.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section provides a detailed analysis of five specific virtues—Temperance, Resolution, Justice, Moderation, and Tranquility—and how each manifests in the life of Frederick Douglass.
What characterize this study?
It is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that bridges literary history with American philosophical and political ideals of the 18th and 19th centuries.
How does the author define 'food' in the context of Temperance?
The author identifies a shift in meaning where Douglass transforms food from a mere survival ration into a tradable commodity used to acquire education.
Why is the conflict with Mr. Covey significant for the virtue of Justice?
The conflict represents Douglass asserting his right to self-preservation, arguing that refusing to be abused is a moral act rather than a criminal one.
How does the author interpret the failed escape attempt in relation to Tranquility?
The failure is analyzed as a moment where Douglass maintained composure, made rational decisions to destroy evidence, and ultimately preserved his own life.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Kevin J. Zuchanek (Autor:in), 2018, Benjamin Franklin's Art of Virtue in Frederick Douglass' "Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/491853
