“He had given Demby but few stripes, when, to get rid of the scourging, he ran and plunged himself into a creek, and stood there at the depth of his shoulders, refusing to come out. Mr. ____ told him that he would give him three calls, and that, if he did not come out at the third call, he would shoot him. The first call was given. Demby made no response, but stood his ground. The second and third calls were given with the same result. Mr. Gore then, without consultation or deliberation with any one, not even giving Demby an additional call, raised his musket to his face, taking deadly aim at his standing victim, and in an instant poor Demby was no more. His mangled body sank out of sight, and blood and brains marked the water where he had stood.”
1) Graphically Douglass expresses the worthlessness of life in a society with severe extrajudicial penalties.
2) In heartbreaking detail, Douglass depicts how slave owners distort social bonds to turn men into slaves.
3) Douglass’ rhetorical flair depicts his dehumanizing transformation and benefits from light-dark imagery.
4) Douglass relays an ironic activity: an outsider sees it as a happy act; the slave uses it to convey sorrow.