Martin-Klumpp, Slavery: Power Corrupts

Both Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs identify the inhumanity of their masters as a direct result of slavery. Douglass observes that new slave owners are harsher than the ones who are raised around slavery because they have to prove themselves as masters, thereby showing that enslavement in not a natural occurrence. For example, Sophia Auld becomes the perfect example of a new slave owner. At first she treats Douglass almost the same way as her son, teaching him how to read and write. However, after her husband tells her that education makes slaves worthless, she becomes the exact opposite of her kind understanding self. Douglass describes her as becoming cruel and heartless, lacking the traits that made her human before. Similarly in “Incidents,” Jacobs observes that her master Dr. Flint, is a beast that relishes power over everyone and everything; he is willing to go into debt simply to hunt down the one item, Linda, he can’t seem to have. He has no redeeming qualities; he is a static figure, neither changing nor growing as an individual, which makes him inhuman. These cruel masters not only physically and mentally attempt to debilitate their slaves, but they also end up dehumanizing themselves in the process. They do not have empathy or realize the pain and suffering they personally inflict on slaves, and they do not realize that by not noticing this, they become monsters or shadows of their former selves. They become completely dependent upon slavery for their identity. They lead half or hypocritical lives, which Douglass also explores in his observation on their hypocritical religious practices.

In our present society, there are most certainly strains of power that cause the degradation of both the controller and victim. The most direct correlation of modern slavery is human trafficking. However, nearly everything in our society is defined by power relationships, whether it is in parental relations, love relations, or capitalist institutions. For example, in our capitalist society one can define himself by where he lives, what his income is, what he wears and look down upon those lower on the social spectrum. He defines himself by his power over the other. Abusive relationships also follow this pattern of thought.