* Danger and Difficulty: Holding a wolf by the ears is inherently dangerous and difficult. It requires constant vigilance and effort. Similarly, slavery was a precarious situation for both the enslaved and the enslavers. It was a constant struggle to maintain control and avoid violence, and both sides faced immense suffering and hardship.
* Unsustainable System: Holding a wolf by the ears can't be sustained for long. Eventually, the wolf will break free, leading to potential injury or death. Slavery, as an oppressive system, was ultimately unsustainable. It could not be maintained indefinitely without causing significant social and political upheaval.
* Consequences of Oppression: The wolf, if it breaks free, will likely retaliate. This metaphor suggests that the oppression of slavery could lead to a violent backlash from the enslaved population. This was demonstrated in historical events like slave rebellions and revolutions.
* Moral Dilemma: The act of holding a wolf by the ears is inherently cruel and inhumane. It highlights the moral dilemma of enslavement, where humans were treated as property and subjected to unspeakable atrocities.
It's important to note that the phrase is not intended to be a literal depiction of slavery. It's a metaphor designed to convey the complex, dangerous, and ultimately unsustainable nature of the institution. The exact interpretation may vary depending on the context and the speaker's perspective.