Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Research Paper
Written by Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass focuses on how his experiences in slavery were unique to Douglass eventually becoming an escaped slave. As a slave, Douglass experiences forms of liberty but learns that these liberties actually hurt him more than do good. Douglass’s sense of liberty made him more intelligent on what slavery actually entails and that slavery not only harms the slaves themselves but also the masters. This knowledge is what leads to his distress because, even though he had these liberties, he was still a slave in bondage. As a result, the liberties that brought Douglass great pain are the factors that would lead Douglass to his eventual escape. Early in Douglass’s life as a slave, he had already lived in a different setting than many others. As infants, slaves are forced to be separated from their mothers. Douglass was separated but his mother still lived on the plantation so they would meet in the night about
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four times in total. 5.Douglass stated: “very little communication ever took place between us”(12). His mother would eventually retrieve an illness and pass away, but Douglass felt as though it was similar to a stranger passing. Douglass believed that his father was his master, which was not an uncommon theme in slavery. Early on in his life of slavery, Douglass was witness to beatings and forms of humiliations that often occurred on plantations. Douglass uses the example of Aunt Hester to describe the cruel beatings that took place. This was the first beating Douglass was witness to, saying “it was all new to me”(14). 1.Oh, what great confusion and distraught Douglass must have felt. The early life as a slave for Douglass opened his eyes to what treatment as a slave would be like and what life was like before introduced to his liberties. The liberty Douglass experienced was learning to read and write.
He was taught by one of his masters, Mrs Auld. Douglass had to eventually teach himself because Mrs Auld’s husband told her that treating a slave like she treated Douglass was incorrect. This caused Mrs Auld to become one of the cruelest masters Douglass had. Mrs. Auld’s change in treatment caused Douglass to realize that slavery not only affects the slave but also the master. While learning to read, Douglass came across a book containing the dialogue between a slave and his owner. This book made Douglass hate his masters even more because he understands the reason for slavery and the perspective of the masters. This causes Douglass pain because he realizes the destructive situation he is in but has no way to escape his bondage. Douglass was only twelve years old and “the thought of being ‘a slave for life’ began to bear heavily upon [his] heart”(29). 6.Douglass then came to a conclusion: reading was a curse rather than a
blessing. Gaining the knowledge of reading and writing allowed Douglass to learn about the abolitionist movement. Being sold to Mr. Covey was the final push that caused Douglass to escape. Mr. Covey lived in the Chesapeake Bay area and Douglass would go out to look out the boats. These boats symbolized freedom for Frederick. The Bay reminded him of his state of slavery and this is where he made his vow (to escape).
four times in total. 5.Douglass stated: “very little communication ever took place between us”(12). His mother would eventually retrieve an illness and pass away, but Douglass felt as though it was similar to a stranger passing. Douglass believed that his father was his master, which was not an uncommon theme in slavery. Early on in his life of slavery, Douglass was witness to beatings and forms of humiliations that often occurred on plantations. Douglass uses the example of Aunt Hester to describe the cruel beatings that took place. This was the first beating Douglass was witness to, saying “it was all new to me”(14). 1.Oh, what great confusion and distraught Douglass must have felt. The early life as a slave for Douglass opened his eyes to what treatment as a slave would be like and what life was like before introduced to his liberties. The liberty Douglass experienced was learning to read and write.
He was taught by one of his masters, Mrs Auld. Douglass had to eventually teach himself because Mrs Auld’s husband told her that treating a slave like she treated Douglass was incorrect. This caused Mrs Auld to become one of the cruelest masters Douglass had. Mrs. Auld’s change in treatment caused Douglass to realize that slavery not only affects the slave but also the master. While learning to read, Douglass came across a book containing the dialogue between a slave and his owner. This book made Douglass hate his masters even more because he understands the reason for slavery and the perspective of the masters. This causes Douglass pain because he realizes the destructive situation he is in but has no way to escape his bondage. Douglass was only twelve years old and “the thought of being ‘a slave for life’ began to bear heavily upon [his] heart”(29). 6.Douglass then came to a conclusion: reading was a curse rather than a
blessing. Gaining the knowledge of reading and writing allowed Douglass to learn about the abolitionist movement. Being sold to Mr. Covey was the final push that caused Douglass to escape. Mr. Covey lived in the Chesapeake Bay area and Douglass would go out to look out the boats. These boats symbolized freedom for Frederick. The Bay reminded him of his state of slavery and this is where he made his vow (to escape).