Slavery had been established in American history from the time of European settlement of the colonies (1619) until the Thirteenth Amendment officially ended the practice. During that time, a slave was destined to endure heavy labor and often led a life in constant fear of his master. Frederick Douglass, in his autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, stands up against the injustices done to his people by presenting a vision of the imbalance of power between slaves and their holders. Douglass states throughout his account that the “poison of irresponsible power” according to the masters has a harmful and dehumanizing effect on their moral behavior (39). Douglass confronts the barbarism that overwhelms the slave owner in antislavery testimony and discusses its negative results through deep characterization, emotional scenes, and plausible evidence. Using character development, Douglass retains an important component in his argument by illustrating the alteration of Sophia Auld whose “kinder heart was transformed…into that of a demon” (39). It states that one human being having control over another has a lethal effect on the soul on its moral rectitude and results in the loss of innocence. Douglass initially writes: “The meanest slave felt completely at ease in her presence, and no one left without feeling better for not having seen her. His face was made of heavenly smiles and his voice of calm music” (39). Douglass's initial description supports his thesis that the slave owner is not necessarily evil. His choice of words reveals his utter amazement at her kindness that he had never experienced before. However, Douglass' tone seems to be disturbed by her behavior because she is “unlike any other…half of the paper…the essence of his reasoning. Douglass' example of Aunt Hester's whipping moves the audience to tears and convinces them to sympathize with the character. He achieves his goal by describing his own abuse during the practice in which he enlightens the reader on the issues of freedom and justice. As a result, Douglass is able to persuade readers who are ignorant of the injustice and savage barbarity of slavery. Even after this narrative, Douglass continued to refine the ideologies of many people. He became a lecturer at abolitionist meetings such as the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. After the Civil War, Douglass fought for both women's and African-American rights. His autobiography is a small step towards a greater achievement. Works Cited Douglas, Frederick. An account of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. New York: Signet Classics, 2005. Print.