A Summary of The Narrative in the Life of Frederick Douglass
A Summary of The Narrative in the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Bailey, later changing his name to Frederick Douglass, was born in to slavery around 1817. Due to the fact slaves were not allowed to know the date of their birth, we are unsure about the year. Douglass was the result of the raping of a slave by her master. This was a common practice and actually profited slave owners by creating more slaves at no cost. However, mixed slaves received harsher treatment by slave owners’ wives because they were disgusted by their existence and ensured their constant suffrage if they were not sold off. All slaves were constantly beaten, received little food, few articles of clothing, and no bed. From his birth, Douglass was owned by Captain Anthony until the age of seven when he was given to Anthony’s son-in-law’s brother, Hugh Auld in Baltimore. Douglass receives a much better life under the control of Auld. Auld’s wife even begins to teach Douglass to read until she is stopped by her husband who fears Douglass will become unmanageable if he receives and education. Douglass manages to continue his education and finishes learning to read with the help of local boys. It is under the control of Auld that Douglass becomes conscious to the evils of slavery and the existence of the abolitionist movement vows to one day escape. Douglass is given to Thomas Auld, Hugh Auld’s brother and Captain Anthony’s son-in-law, who finds Douglass unmanageable and rents him to Edward Covey for one year in order to “break” Douglass. Covey is an unbelievably cruel man and after six months, Douglass’s spirit is broken. Douglass becomes indifferent and forgets his dream of escaping until one day when Douglass stands up for himself and fights Covey. After the fight, Covey never touched Douglass again and Douglass’ will to escape is renewed. After his year with Covey, Douglass is rented to William Freeland for two years. It is during this time Douglass begins to educate
Frederick Bailey, later changing his name to Frederick Douglass, was born in to slavery around 1817. Due to the fact slaves were not allowed to know the date of their birth, we are unsure about the year. Douglass was the result of the raping of a slave by her master. This was a common practice and actually profited slave owners by creating more slaves at no cost. However, mixed slaves received harsher treatment by slave owners’ wives because they were disgusted by their existence and ensured their constant suffrage if they were not sold off. All slaves were constantly beaten, received little food, few articles of clothing, and no bed. From his birth, Douglass was owned by Captain Anthony until the age of seven when he was given to Anthony’s son-in-law’s brother, Hugh Auld in Baltimore. Douglass receives a much better life under the control of Auld. Auld’s wife even begins to teach Douglass to read until she is stopped by her husband who fears Douglass will become unmanageable if he receives and education. Douglass manages to continue his education and finishes learning to read with the help of local boys. It is under the control of Auld that Douglass becomes conscious to the evils of slavery and the existence of the abolitionist movement vows to one day escape. Douglass is given to Thomas Auld, Hugh Auld’s brother and Captain Anthony’s son-in-law, who finds Douglass unmanageable and rents him to Edward Covey for one year in order to “break” Douglass. Covey is an unbelievably cruel man and after six months, Douglass’s spirit is broken. Douglass becomes indifferent and forgets his dream of escaping until one day when Douglass stands up for himself and fights Covey. After the fight, Covey never touched Douglass again and Douglass’ will to escape is renewed. After his year with Covey, Douglass is rented to William Freeland for two years. It is during this time Douglass begins to educate