- Published: September 12, 2022
- Updated: September 12, 2022
- University / College: Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Language: English
- Downloads: 13
Key Choices in Frederick DouglassThere are a number of main choices made in “ The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” They all include; inequality, education, and religion.
As the solution to freedom is with brave acts. While Douglass makes many keychoices, he also made brave rules to make his appeal for the termination of slavery. All of which acts were bravery and could of ended his life with such acts. One of the many arguments made in “ The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” is inequality among the slaves in plantations.
Douglass tries to show how African American slaves were still human beings like their white owners, there was numerous instances where it was shown that many whites did not want to accept slaves as true human beings. For example, Covey forcing the woman slaves in his plantation have kids with the men workers that aren’t there husbands, Douglass states “ it’s adultery to have sex outside of marriage.” The power of education was another key argument made in “ The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” At about the age of 8 years old Frederick was sent to Baltimore to work for Hugh Auld, relative to Captain Anthony by marriage. Sophia Auld, Hugh’s wife attempts to teach Douglass how to read and write but he fails to learn, with much skills he is “ unfit… to be a slave” never did Frederick give up. Frederick Douglass believes that the only way to his freedom and his fellow slaves, is through learning how to build on to the knowledge Douglass already knows.
At the same time Douglass is disgusted with education because it lets him know and fully understand the extent and horrors of slavery this was one of the cons for Frederick to learn, he would learn things about himself and who he is by reading. Later, he finds out that while the conditions are slightly better there is still a great deal of injustice. He then begins to think getting his education could be his way to liberty and freedom and though he strives to learn as much as he can, he starts to doubt whether he is right or not. He then states “ 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, but to no ladder upon which to get out” (47).
Lastly, religion is a large key choice made in “ The Narrative of Frederick Douglass”, Mr. Covey is by far the worst Christian, although he puts up an act that he follows god in the book, he’s exampling non Christian practices by raping, whippings and abuse, and birthing wives without their husbands, adultery. Which are all example of a non Christian for him to be putting up an act is to fake his real personality. Although this wasn’t a choice made my Douglass it did however affect the way his life went with being slaved by a Christian. In conclusion, these elements of freedom-becoming educated and treated unequally led to his last act of rebellion, which he thought would bring him freedom. Theses are only a few of many key choices Douglass made throughout “ The Narrative of Frederick Douglass”.