Analysis+of+the+Narrative+of+the+Life+of+Frederick+Douglass

Frederick Douglass  It all begins with Frederick Douglass being born into slavery in either 1817 or 1818; no one knows exactly the year of his birth . From there , He will go on to serving under many owners once his original owner dies . Douglass overhears one of his owners talking about keeping slaves uneducated to keep them from questioning slavery and wanting freedom . When he hears this statement , Douglass would dedicate himself to learning how to read and write , which in turn helps free him from the chains of slavery . As Douglass continued to learn more about the world , he realized how unmoral slavery is , “I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing . It had given me a view of my wretched condition , without the remedy . It opened my eyes to the horrible pit ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> but offered no ladder upon which to get out” (<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">61 ).<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Douglass viewed his world differently after he became an educated man .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> His intelligence may of gave him the ability to escape  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> but it made him depressed as he understood what it meant to be a slave <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> He was denied the most basic human rights that even the poorest white man enjoyed daily <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It all begins with Frederick Douglass being born into slavery in either 1817 or 1818; no one knows exactly the year of his birth .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> From there ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> He will go on to serving under many owners once his original owner dies .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Douglass overhears one of his owners talking about keeping slaves uneducated to keep them from questioning slavery and wanting freedom .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> When he hears this statement ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Douglass would dedicate himself to learning how to read and write ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> which in turn helps free him from the chains of slavery .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> As Douglass continued to learn more about the world ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> he realized how unmoral slavery is ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> “I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> It had given me a view of my wretched condition ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> without the remedy .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> It opened my eyes to the horrible pit ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> but offered no ladder upon which to get out” (<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">61 ).<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Douglass viewed his world differently after he became an educated man .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> His intelligence may of gave him the ability to escape <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> but it made him depressed as he understood what it meant to be a slave <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> He was denied the most basic human rights that even the poorest white man enjoyed daily <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Edward Covey out of all the owners Douglass had was the most abusive <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Frederick Douglass used Edward Covey as a symbol to represent how the south treated slaves <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He thought only one method of punishment was effective <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> physical <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Frederick Douglass had been rented out to Covey in order to break Douglass <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">’ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s spirit <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> In another one of Douglass <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">’ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s books <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> My Bondage and My Freedom <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">published in 1855 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">), <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Douglass describes Covey as "a first rate hand at breaking young Negroes" <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">p <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> 203<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> ). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> During this time <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> slavery was one of the most controversial debates in the country <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The south viewed slaves as nothing more than property <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A slave <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">’ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s social class was equivalent to that of livestock <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and they were treated as such <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Covey <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">’ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s punishments were very extreme <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> As Douglass recounted it <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> “ Wakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> whom he used to tie up to a joist <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and whip upon her naked back till she was literally covered with blood <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> No words <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> no tears <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> no prayers from his gory victim <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> seemed to move his iron heart from its blood purpose <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The louder she screamed <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the harder he whipped <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">” Now not all slave owners were as harsh as Edward Covey was <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> but the south generally treated slaves this way <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many people supported Frederick Douglass through his life, however many people were against his abolitionist ideals. Critics of his work often said that he couldn’t have written his autobiographies and many of his speeches because they were written so elegantly. Douglass ignored those who doubted his education and words of wisdom but felt determined to show them the truth behind slavery and how cruel it really is. Others who read his work were very impressed with his diction and ability to capture the reader in the story of Douglass's life.

Throughout Frederick Douglass<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">’ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s autobiography <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> education played a major role in life by allowing him to be an individual and eventually escape slavery .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Also ,<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the symbolism between the south and Edward Covey was strongly illustrated .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Frederick Douglass became a key player in the fight for the freedom of slave and their rights .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"> Sources <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: right;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Douglass, Frederick. "Berkley Digital Library." //Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass//. 5/14/1997. SunSITE, Web. 18 Dec 2009. <http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/09.html>. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Douglass, Frederick. //Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass//. 1st edition. New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1845. 1-192. Print. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Merriman, C.D. "Frederick Douglass." //Literature Network//. 2008. Jalic Inc., Web. 18 Dec 2009. <http://www.online-literature.com/frederick_douglass/>. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Frederick Douglass Quotes." //Brainyquote//. Unknown. Xplore, Inc., BrainyMedia, Web. 18 Dec 2009. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/frederick_douglass.html>.