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Davis 1 Alex Davis Dr. Calatrello ENG_251_W01 5 December 2021 The Life of Frederick Douglass: Comparison to the Gospel In “Biblical Allusion and Imagery in Frederick Douglass’ Narrative ,” Lisa Margaret Zeitz offers a beautiful depiction of the gospel that is clearly found in Douglass’ writing of his own life. She provides insight and clarity on the biblical topics that Douglass uses in his writing that would otherwise be misinterpreted or completely overlooked altogether. Zeitz gives a whole new meaning to Douglass’ life story in her explanation of the of the biblical allusions and imagery that is found in the work he has written. In her article, Lisa Margaret Zeitz beautifully explains the comparison of the slave owners with the scribes and Pharisees, the comparison of the slaves and their sufferings with the Lord and the sufferings he endured, as well as the slave owners and their sinfulness and wickedness in comparison to the Devil himself. Zeitz points out Douglass’ description and interpretation of the lives of slave owners and the way they mistreat their slaves. She states, “In fact, the religious sanction is founded on a misreading of Scripture, as Douglass’ example of such a passage shows. His master quotes the following as justification for beating a slave: ‘He that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.’ The verse quoted appears in Luke xii, a chapter which focuses on the responsibilities of a Christian disciple” (Zeitz 1). This clearly shows the misuse and misinterpretation of the gospel, the holy word of God, which happens a considerable number of times. It is evident that the slave owners here are trying to justify their own, evil actions with

Davis 2 biblical Scriptures that are taken out of context. Mark 12:31 says, “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” In still regarding the slave owners, Zeitz says, “Douglass quotes extensively from Matthew xxiii, identifying Christianity in America with the worst excesses of the ‘ancient scribes and Pharisees’” (Zeitz 2). These scribes and Pharisees that are mentioned here looked down on others, thinking highly of themselves due to their “obedience” in following the Old-Testament laws; they believed in works over faith. Here, the slave owners are compared to these scribes and Pharisees because they too believe in works over faith. Douglass, in his own writing, makes this clearly evident by describing the way they treated their slaves, even though they claimed to be true followers of Christ. Christianity is all about relationship over religion, it’s about the passion and desire to have an intimate relationship with Christ, not following the legalistic ways of religion. Salvation does not come from the works of humanity, but rather from the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Zeitz also points out the trials, sufferings, and heartache the slaves feel as they are bound by the chains of slavery, longing for the day when they will be free. She says, “Douglass describes his fellow-slaves as ‘men and women of sorrow, and acquainted with grief’; in Isaiah the Lord is ‘a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.’ The slaves and their Lord are explicitly connected with each other” (Zeitz 2). Here, Zeitz is comparing the slaves and Jesus Christ because they were both rejected by man and greatly suffered. The scripture she refers to is Isaiah 53:3, which says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him

Davis 3 not.” This passage is obviously talking about the Lord, but similarities are seen between this description of Him and what the slaves endured. Slaves were also despised and rejected by those a part of white supremacy, which is why Douglass referred to them as men and women of sorrow. This offers such a beautiful depiction of Christ’s love for the world; he became the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity, enduring countless trials and sufferings, yet never fell into temptation or sinfulness. Because of this, there is always hope and peace that his most beloved creation can find in him. What a wonderful reminder Zeitz reveals in her writing. Going back to slave owners, Zeitz focuses also on their sinfulness, bringing them into comparison with the devil, who rejoices in the wickedness of humanity. She says, “Mr. Plummer, Mr. Severe, and a ‘swarm of slave traders’ are described as profane swearers; their blasphemy is further evidence of their sinfulness. Like their association with things ‘infernal’ and ‘fiendish,’ the slaveowners' ‘bitter curses and horrid oaths’ mark them as ‘children of the devil.’ It is these human demons who have brought about ‘the hottest hell of unending slavery’” (Zeitz 2). It is quite evident that this world is broken and full of selfishly sinful people, who truly care only about themselves, which is why Christ was sent here in the first place. God knew that humanity could not save themselves from the eternal damnation and wrath of God that is well due to them. Regardless of someone’s partaking and indulging of sin, everyone has been given the opportunity to find salvation and redemption in the Savior, Christ Jesus. He says in Luke 19:10, “‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” He also says in John 3:16-17, “‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’” On the contrary, because these men, the slave owners, claimed themselves to be true followers of Christ, a change of heart should

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