Discourse like a slave narrative

“...reveal in this discourse what paths I have followed, and to represent my life as if in a picture...”

I think the Discourse reads like a slave narrative: early greatness and privilege, followed by life as a lost soul, adrift in confusion and sin, in captivity. Then all at once, perhaps through an intervention by a helpful benefactor, or the wily plan of a fellow slave, or whatever—and that heralded by a supernatural vision or dream—freedom, truth, enlightenment.

An interesting read: D’s Discourse and Douglass’s Narrative.