Salamishaj Tillet, the author of the NYT article on The Birth of a Nation, makes very strong claims about women’s rights which can be applied to Fredrick Douglass’ Narrative, allowing us to examine the story with a different mindset. Tillet’s claim about women’s issues being marginalized twice is certainly no understatement. The very foundation for Turner’s rebellion and thus The Birth of a Nation was rape, and for the film to not be centered around that is a slap in the face of those victimized, or those who experienced firsthand the horrors of rape. In the very beginning of Douglass’ Narrative, he tells us of his lineage, ensuring to include that he is the son of a white man. Immediately following this is his description of the norm at the time, which was for slaveowners to rape their slaves in an attempt to increase their slave population. These “common practices” were made front and center in the very beginning of Douglass’ narrative as a way of bringing attention to the injustice, a stark contrast to The Birth of a Nation which leaves victims of rape in silence. I found Tillet’s example of Esther’s rape speaks volumes to this point, and i wholeheartedly agree with her when she considers it to be retrograde to not allow her to speak. Fredrick Douglass’ Narrative and The Birth of a Nation run deep contrasts in the way the issue of rape is presented.

In the novel and the film, women of color are depicted as helpless and the sole victims of abuse. We never see women defending themselves like we get to witness with male characters. However, men of color are affected by the pain of women of color and act upon it while the women remain silenced. The article makes clear that in the film, although the beating and raping of women of color caused Turner’s initial attack, women were not shown to be a part of the physical rebellion. Although the mistreatment of women is acknowledged, the focus is mainly on how men of color are affected by it. When Turner’s wife is raped he uses this as reasoning for his rebellion, thus speaking for her since she couldn’t. Another female slave by the name of Ester was raped and remained silent throughout the film. On page 4 of the article, they state for the men “we see … their transformation into men emboldened enough to fully defy their master”.

In the novel, readers hear more about abuse being inflicted on women of color than men, but when it came time for Frederick to fully rebel, by making a plan to flee slavery, he only asked men to join him on his journey. Douglass mentions his aunts beating, which was his first time witnessing the horrors of slavery, and a slave by the name of “Henny”, who was beaten every day for the master’s satisfaction. Women of color had no voice or power, not even in expressing how they feel and what they may do to be a part of their liberation.

Gregor Samsa wakes up one day realizes that he has gone through an extreme transformation. He has gone from a human male, to a disgusting pest. This does not go well at all with his family. At first when Gregor does not leave the house for work, this family believes that Gregor is just being lazy and irresponsible again. But when he exits his room for the first time as a vermin, the family completely freaks out. Even though Gregor was still their son, they had no respect for him at all. This can be an allegory that symbolizes the way Gregor actually felt in his everyday life, prior to being a disgusting bug. Gregor was not doing great financially, he was depressed and his family never treated him with dignity or admiration. After a while, being treated in such horrific manners can lead to depression and hating life as a whole. This is what Gregor felt, and that was what the bug represented. He felt like he was being treated as some nauseating, and sickening bug and it was hard for him to handle. His own father was trying to chase him and injure him, his mother fainted almost every time she saw him and his little sister who at first cared for him eventually wanted him out of the house. After all this hatred, tension and depression, Gregor did not see meaning to life. He did not enjoy any moment, and the vermin he transformed to, is what he felt like as he lived through life.

I found Douglass’s work to me extremely informative and revealing. It gave us certain details of a slaves’ way of living and made the reader view life through the eyes of an actual slave, Frederick Douglass. Through Douglass’s words, he exposes the moments of realization he had endured throughout his life that changed his way of thought and actions. Such realizations include the moment he realizes he would rather die than be treated as a slave. Another major and crucial insight is when he understands that a key reason to why whites were successful in making humans of black color their slaves was the power of education. The blacks were completely uneducated, giving them no power and no voice. This is extremely important to Douglass, and he realizes he must try to absorb as much knowledge when the opportunities arise. He manages to learn to read and write a bit from newspapers, and other young white kids. I concur with Douglass in that education was a key component in abolishing slavery forever. Frederik Douglass lived a tough life. He never knew or met his father, saw his mother only a couple of times, and lived through beatings, hunger and injustice. He could not stand witnessing his race being exploited, raped, tortured and abused. He was willing to give up his life in the fight for equality. His novel was like a roller coaster. There were some ups and downs, but at the end of the novel we see that he has achieved his goal, freedom.

Frederick Douglass mentions in a couple of places throughout his novel about the abuse and victimization of black women. In the beginning of the novel, Douglass describes the beating of his dear Aunt Hester. He depicts that they had stripped her of her clothing, then beat her with anger and blood throughout the scene. The article written in the New York Times states that the suffering of women, especially being raped in inhumane ways are sometimes disregarded. The articles specifically talk’s about the film, “The Birth of a Nation.” The film portrays women of color as helpless and voiceless (literally). Esther, a black character in the film, was raped and did not get to say a word in the film. Rather, she had to express her destitute emotions through facial expressions, solely. Women slaves arguably went through the worst of the suffering during the era. They were beaten, raped and brutalized repeatedly. They were forced to have sexual relations with slave owners, and carry their children (only to be sold for a profit and beaten). Douglass speaks about women that were abused throughout his narrative. Instances such as the whipping of his Aunt Hester, when his grandmother had to watch her children and grandchildren being sold like animals, or when he witnessed women being raped by men in order for Covey (slave master) to make money, all gave Frederick Douglass an extra push to fight for his freedom and the freedom of his race.

In the very beginning of Fredrick Douglass’ narrative, Douglas speaks about the abuse and torture that women slaves were subjected to. The image of his aunt being beaten relentlessly was an image that Douglass was unable to forget. The horror and unjusifiable act of slavery is often discussed about. Man and slavery is also discussed, however women and their encounter with the horrors of slavery is often overlooked as the article discusses. The article by New York Times discusses how the new film “The Birth of a New Nation” depicts the helplessness of women slaves in their postiitons. Women often experienced the worst  imaginable torture under slave owners. They were beaten and raped savagely and couldnt voice their pain and troubles. Fredrick Douglass describes these conditions in graphic    detail. The article discusses a character named Esther in the movie who rarely speaks. She represents the population of slave women who just like her are unable to act or speak out. They cannot do so. They were forbidden to do things, yet such horrendous acts were committed upon them. Douglass watched his aunt being beat merclessly without being able to do anything even though she was his aunt. Even when Esther cries into her husbands arms, he probably was not able to do much for her as well. Women who were slaves experienced unimaginable violence and abuse. They were beaten and raped horrendously and even those around them, relatives and family looked on helplessly. However, perhaps the violence Douglass was subject to and the conditions he saw especially with women contributed to his determination to speak up and become a leader in the abolition movement

In the beginning of Frederick Douglass’ autobiography, readers see  how African-Americans were treated heinously.  Frederick Douglass witnessed the cruelty of Mr. Plummer and how he brutally whipped Douglass’ Aunt Hester.  As he saw her getting whipped, Douglass writes that he felt like the victim of the abuse.

The newspaper article touches on the idea of women’s lack of power that the film portrays.  In particular, the slave named Esther who was sexually assaulted had absolutely no power.  The article talks about how her silence in the film represents her utter absence of power.  She had no voice to act.

Similarly in Douglass’ autobiography, readers see how only Black women are victims.  There are many cases in his narrative of female slaves getting victimized or beaten.  Unlike those women, Mr. Auld’s wife does not face punishment when she is caught teaching Frederick Douglass how to read.  Black women in Douglass’ autobiography had a lesser role than Black men.  In his story, Black women were always matched with suffering.  Instead of being shielded from danger, they were thrown into pain and were living in suffering.  It seems that for Frederick Douglass, the suffering of Black women gave him a greater hate towards slavery.

William Blake’s The Lamb depicts the lamb as an gentle, dependent animal. Blake emphasizes that the lamb is given life, food, as well as clothes. This shows that the lamb is a dependent creature reliant on the so called one “who made thee”. Frankenstein’s creature can be compared to the Lamb in William Blake’s poem. The creature just like the lamb, is created, given life by its creator. The creature is born innocent and created with Frankenstein’s good heart of intention. A creature is born innocent and “meek and mild”. It is his environment and influence that change it. Later on in the novel, the monster commits murder. These murders are committed because of Frankenstein’s rejection of his creation. The feelings of dejection the creature feels are what influenced it to commit these deeds. Just like the lamb, the creature is born innocent, like a child, as Blake says. When the creature commits murder, it can be compared to the Tyger, as a ruthless creature. However, Blake’s emphasis from both poems, is on the creator. At one point in The Tyger, he says, “Did he who made the lamb make thee?” In my opinion, this reference shows that all animals are created innocent, but change throughout their existence through certain influences. Even in the end, the creature is extremely distraught by Frankenstein’s death. His emotions show that his true nature is innocent and gentle, like that of a lamb. His emotions express his deep devotion toward his creator, just as Blake’s poem emphasizes the lamb’s creator, who gives the lamb food and clothes.

In William Blakes The Tyger, and the Lamb, he depicts two different types of animals and their lifestyles. Which ultimately represent two different types of living. The lamb is one that is more gentle and calm, the lamb needs “its creator” to survive. The Tyger on the other hand is more aggressive and wild, Blake even says in the poem “Did he who make the lamb make thee?” I believe that the relation between the two is more of a nature vs. nurture. When born all animals are innocent, but when they are raised in a hostile environment they must be hostile to survive. But the lamb grows up in a more calm environment where he can graze all day. I believe the Tyger is more similar than the lamb is to the creature. When the creature was created, he was as innocent as anyone else can be, like a baby. But when he was abandoned by his creator, he began to see the atrocities of the world and committed murder. I believe that he committed this shameful act because he wasn’t raised correctly. He did not know right from wrong. Just like the Tyger who kills to survive, I believe Frankenstein did this in order to survive. While the creature is very similar to the Lamb, I believe he really represents the Tyger.

William Blake’s The Lamb depicts the lamb as an gentle, dependent animal. Blake emphasizes that the lamb is given life, food, as well as clothes. This shows that the lamb is a dependent creature reliant on the so called one “who made thee”. Frankenstein’s creature can be compared to the Lamb in William Blake’s poem. The creature just like the lamb, is created, given life by its creator. The creature is born innocent and created with Frankenstein’s good heart of intention. A creature is born innocent and “meek and mild”. It is his environment and influence that change it. Later on in the novel, the monster commits murder. These murders are committed because of Frankenstein’s rejection of his creation. The feelings of dejection the creature feels are what influenced it to commit these deeds. Just like the lamb, the creature is born innocent, like a child, as Blake says. When the creature commits murder, it can be compared to the Tyger, as a ruthless creature. However, Blake’s emphasis from both poems, is on the creator. At one point in The Tyger, he says, “Did he who made the lamb make thee?” In my opinion, this reference shows that all animals are created innocent, but change throughout their existence through certain influences. Even in the end, the creature is extremely distraught by Frankenstein’s death. His emotions show that his true nature is innocent and gentle, like that of a lamb. His emotions express his deep devotion toward his creator, just as Blake’s poem emphasizes the lamb’s creator, who gives the lamb food and clothes.

The creature created by Frankenstein is more like Blake’s Lamb. Right after it’s creation, it is born like a baby that needs to be taken care of and taught. However, Frankenstein, horrified by what he had just created, runs away and leaves the creature to ponder around on its own. Without knowing anything, the creature just walking around and exploring realize that people are afraid of him. When the creature watched over the humans in the cottage, it was touched by their gentle manners and longed to join them. “This trait of kindness moved me sensibly. I had been accustomed, during the night, to steal a part of their store for my own consumption; but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain on the cottages, I abstained, and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots, which I gathered from a neighbouring wood” (63). The creature is understanding and has a soft heart. As in Blake’s “The Lamb,” the lamb is gentle and like a child. The creature is gentle in nature like a lamb and also like a child that needs to be loved, taken care of and taught the right things. The creature is not evil, but only makes mistakes because of its circumstances. One being the time he is attacked and chased away when the villagers see him. The creature looks like a monster; “his yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same color as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight black lips” (30) as described by Frankenstein. Naturally, humans who see the creature gets afraid and either run away from it or choose to attack it. After being treated like a monster, the creature is simply angry and lost its way. Even after enduring everything, it tells Frankenstein it just wants a female version of him so that he can be happy too and that he will leave once he has her. The creature was born with a heart like Blake’s lamb.