Question

Why does Douglass compare slaves to horses in this excerpt from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave?

Answer 1

To show how dehumanizing slavery was

I assume, it would only make sense because slaves were treated unlike humans and the fact that he compared them to horses i.e. another animal.

Answer 2

Answer: to show how dehumanizing slavery was.

Douglass often compares slaves to livestock. He tells us how Colonel Lloyd would treat his horses better than his slaves, because he believed the horses would benefit from good care, while he had no sympathy for the slaves. He also tells us how Covey tried to "breed" and "tame" slaves, in the same way as he would horses or cattle. This is intended to show how dehumanizing slavery was, and how slaves were considered to be no better than cattle.