Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

The narrative reveals the brutal reality of slavery through the lens of a deeply flawed master who misuses religious justification for his cruelty. A particularly harrowing account details the torment of a young, disabled woman named Henny, subjected to severe punishment and neglect. The story critiques the hypocrisy of so-called pious slaveholders who claim to care for their slaves while inflicting suffering. The protagonist's conflict with his master highlights the moral contradictions and inhumanity inherent in the institution of slavery, exposing the psychological and physical scars it leaves behind.