What effect does Douglass’s use of the adjectives "blighting and dehumanizing” have on the reader?

They create an image of the quality of the mistress’s weaving.
They emphasize the damage slavery causes to an enslaver’s character.
They describe the harsh treatment that Douglass received from his mistress.
They illustrate the mistress’s kindness toward Douglass.

1 answer

Douglass’s use of the adjectives "blighting and dehumanizing” primarily emphasizes the damage slavery causes to an enslaver’s character. These words evoke a strong emotional response by highlighting the destructive impact that the institution of slavery has not only on the enslaved but also on those who wield power over them. By choosing such powerful adjectives, Douglass effectively illustrates the moral decay and corruption that accompanies the practice of slavery, urging the reader to recognize its profound consequences on both sides of the relationship.