is there a mention of sea monsters in the Bible as in the context of this paragraph: it says "monsters of the deep" toward the end of the paragraph
it is from frederick douglass' narrative
I have been frequently asked how I felt when I found myself in a free State. I have never been able to answer the question with any satisfaction to myself. It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced. I suppose I felt as one may imagine the unarmed mariner to feel when he is rescued by a friendly man-of-war from the pursuit of a pirate. In writing to a dear friend, immediately after my arrival at New York, I said I felt like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions. This state of mind, however, very soon subsided; and I was again seized with a feeling of great insecurity and loneliness. I was yet liable to be taken back, and subjected to all the tortures of slavery. This in itself was enough to damp the ardor of my enthusiasm. But the loneliness overcame me. There I was in the midst of thousands, and yet a perfect stranger; without home and without friends, in the midst of thousands of my own brethren--children of a common Father, and yet I dared not to unfold to any one of them my sad condition. I was afraid to speak to any one for fear of speaking to the wrong one, and thereby falling into the hands of money-loving kidnappers, whose business it was to lie in wait for the panting fugitive, as the ferocious beasts of the forest lie in wait for their prey. The motto which I adopted when I started from slavery was this--"Trust no man!" I saw in every white man an enemy, and in almost every colored man cause for distrust. It was a most painful situation; and, to understand it, one must needs experience it, or imagine himself in similar circumstances. Let him be a fugitive slave in a strange land--a land given up to be the hunting- ground for slaveholders--whose inhabitants are legalized kidnappers--where he is every moment subjected to the terrible liability of being seized upon by his fellowmen, as the hideous crocodile seizes upon his prey!--I say, let him place himself in my situation--without home or friends--without money or credit--wanting shelter, and no one to give it-- wanting bread, and no money to buy it,--and at the same time let him feel that he is pursued by merciless men-hunters, and in total darkness as to what to do, where to go, or where to stay,--perfectly helpless both as to the means of defence and means of escape,--in the midst of plenty, yet suffering the terrible gnawings of hunger,--in the midst of houses, yet having no home,--among fellow-men, yet feeling as if in the midst of wild beasts, whose greediness to swallow up the trembling and half-famished fugitive is only equalled by that with which the monsters of the deep swallow up the helpless fish upon which they subsist,--I say, let him be placed in this most trying situation,--the situation in which I was placed, --then, and not till then, will he fully appreciate the hardships of, and know how to sympathize with, the toil-worn and whip-scarred fugitive slave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan
ok thank-you. I also don't understand why Douglass keeps saying " them be placed in my situation" because that is the only way they will understand his situation. What is he causing the reader to do?
im trying to say that while Douglass can tell the reader how he feels, actually knowing how it feels to be isolated makes his situation more meaningful
...is that the right way to put it because I'm not sure if it makes the situation more meaningful or is there a better term for it??
The mention of "monsters of the deep" in the paragraph you provided is in the context of Frederick Douglass describing his fear and vulnerability as a escaped slave in a free state. It is not a reference to sea monsters in the Bible.
To answer your question specifically regarding sea monsters in the Bible, there are several mentions of "sea monsters" or "creatures of the sea" in the Old Testament. One notable example is found in the book of Job, chapter 41, where an extensive description of a sea monster, known as Leviathan, is given.
However, it is important to note that the presence of sea monsters in ancient religious texts, including the Bible, should be understood within their cultural and literary context. These depictions are often symbolic or metaphorical in nature, representing chaos, power, or even divine sovereignty. The intention is not to provide a scientific account of actual sea creatures, but rather to convey deeper theological or poetic meaning.
In summary, while there are mentions of sea monsters in the Bible, the reference to "monsters of the deep" in the paragraph you shared from Frederick Douglass' narrative is not related to biblical allusions.