Bertrand, Douglas and Jacobs

In both Douglas' and Jacobs' novels, slavery is depicted as toxic to the enslaved as well as the enslaver. This toxicity is depicted in Douglas' novel when the enslaver tells his wife to discontinue teaching Douglas how to read, for fear of him learning the immorality of slavery. This depiction emphasizes the point that Douglas' ensalver was well aware that the institution of slavery is wrong and immoral, yet because it was profitable to him he continued to participate in destructive the system. The reason why many enslavers did not teach the enslaved how to read is due to the fact that they thought that they would learn the injustice and immorality of the institution. This belief is contradictory because the immorality and the injustice of the institution of slavery is clearly visible; the enslaved were well aware of the immoral acts that were being forced upon them. This rule was toxic for the enslaved as well because they were not able to write about the injustices that were acted upon them; it was a vicious circle. There was no means for Which leads to Jacob's novel, in this novel the ensalvers are described as believing that the enslaved were less than human. This ludicrous belief allowed them to act out treacheries upon the enslaved and used this as justification for their actions. This belief was clearly depicted when Jacobs attempted to be married. Since the enslavers did not believe that slaves could feel love, the enslaver did not allow the matrimony to occur. This belief that allowed yet another vicious circle of violent acts to be inflicted upon the enslaved. The moral implications of being a slave owner are that one believes that they are no inalienable human rights, that one human is better than human, and that money is more important than a human life.

In the present day, there are definitely ways that people hold the same control over others even after the Emancipation. The main way that people institute control over others is through money. Hardly any money does not go to certain impoverished areas, while a great deal of money goes to areas where the style of living is more than comfortable. This issue is selective poverty. This control that society institutes is so that money stays where the money is and that poverty stays where the impoverished are. Therefore, the stratification between the two types of living grows and becomes more solidified. This is the modern type of control that society inflicts upon people. Yet, both of these institutions are caused by the same issue: money. The belief that money is more valuable than the contentment of another human being.