The Heroic Slave

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, death, and racism. 

Douglass’s titular character of “The Heroic Slave” is presented through the perspectives of other white characters. The structure includes many instances of overhearing. In Part 1, Mr. Listwell listens to Madison Washington’s lamentations in the woods. This moment causes Listwell to become an abolitionist; listening is crucial for strong allyship. In Part 2, Listwell reveals that he eavesdropped; he “frankly disclose[s] the secret” to Madison in Ohio five years later (10). At this point, Listwell speaks and listens directly rather than eavesdropping. In Part 3, Listwell eavesdrops on white people in a tavern. In this moment, he learns that his safety relies on his silence about his abolitionist views.

Another structural element of “The Heroic Slave” is dialogue that resembles the structure of a play’s script. There are character names followed by their comments—for example, “Listwell: ‘What may I call your name, sir?’ Loafer: ‘Well, now, they call me Wilkes’” (28). The dialogue tags continue to refer to Wilkes as the “Loafer” after this exchange. This direct dialogue contrasts with how Listwell overhears people. This structure doesn’t appear in Part 4; the dialogue tags are no longer located in front of the quotes when sailors converse—for instance, “‘I say, shipmate, you had rather rough weather on your passage to Orleans?’ said Jack Williams” (40).