Narrative that had his dignity tested, he was

Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass EssayDignity is something every being is born with it entitled to him/her. You must choose what will be done with this dignity, be it if you embrace it and fight to keep it, or if you disregard it and just give it up. Our actions are what affect our dignity, so we must choose the right actions. Fredrick Douglas was an African American slave that had his dignity tested, he was put through very hard labor, he was beaten severely many times, and his own life was threatened a lot because he fought for his dignity.

He fought for his right to have dignity, and I will attempt to show to you how he fought for it. While Fredrick Douglas was fanning the wheat, he was sick and felt weak, he fell and found sanctuary from the scorching sun in the shade “ I had by this time crawled away under the side of the post and rail-fence by which the yard was enclosed, hoping to find relief by getting out of the sun”. Mr.

Covey approached Fredrick and asked him what was wrong “ He Mr. Covey came to the spot the spot where Fredrick was resting, and, after looking at me for a while, asked me what was the matter.”, but Fredrick was too weak to reply, so Covey administered a kick to the side of Fredrick “… He Covey then gave me a savage kick in the side…” and took a stick and bashed Fredrick’s poor head with it “… Mr. Covey took up the hickory slat with which Hughes…and with it gave me a heavy blow upon the head, making a large wound…” Fredrick lying with blood oozing from his head decided to “… to go to my master, enter a complaint, and ask for his Mr. Thomas protection” leave Mr. Covey’s Farm.

This was the turning point for Fredrick Douglass, the point where he decides to take a stand, his first step to freedom. When Mr. Covey was no paying attention to Fredrick, Fredrick was about to escape When Mr.

Covey was no paying attention to Fredrick, Fredrick was about to escape “ I, however, watched my chance, while Covey was looking in an opposite direction, and started for St. Michael’s. I succeeded in getting a considerable distance on my way to the woods, when Covey discovered me, and called after me to come back, threatening, what he would do if I did not come.

I disregarded both his calls and his threats, and made my way to the woods as fast as my feeble state would allow; and thinking I might be overhauled by him if I kept the road, I walked through the woods, keeping far enough from the road to avoid detection, and near enough to prevent losing my way.” Fredrick was well on his way to confront his master and ask for his assistance, to seek sanctuary from the evil Mr. Covey. When Fredrick arrived at his master’s store “…I appeared before my master Mr.

Thomas, humbly entreating him to interpose his Mr. Thomas authority for my protection.  I told him Mr. Thomas all the circumstances all the circumstance Mr. Covey put Fredrick through… and it Fredrick’s problem… at times to affect him.

He would then walk the floor … saying he expected I deserved it…” Then out of nowhere, Mr. Covey appears with his whip, running after Fredrick. Fredrick sought refuge in the tall cornfield “…Out came Covey with his cow skin … Before he Covey could reach me, I succeeded in getting to the cornfield … it the tall corn afforded me the means of hiding”, Covey was furious at Fredrick, and he wanted to punish him “ He seemed very angry, and searched for me a long time…” Fredrick waited till nightfall then reentered Mr. Thomas’s store, slept, and in the morning he followed his master’s advice “… and that I must go back to him Mr. Covey … telling me Mr.

Thomas that I might remain in St. Michael that night, but that I must be off back to Mr. Covey’s early in the morning…” On his way back, Fredrick met with a slave he knew, Sandy, Fredrick told Sandy of his issues and got some advice from him ” He told me, with great solemnity, that I must go back to Covey … I must go with him into another part of the woods where there was a certain root … would render it impossible for Mr. Covey, or any other white man, to whip me” Fredrick Douglass could no longer bear to be whipped by Mr.

Covey, so he must take a stand, “ On this morning, I was called to go and rub, curry, and feed the horses…Mr. Covey entered the stable with a long rope…he Covey caught a hold of my legs, and was about tying me…as soon as I found Fredrick found out what Mr. Covey was going to do with the rope… I gave a sudden spring..

. but at this moment-from whence came the spirit I don’t know- I resolved to fight” and decided to retaliate against Mr. Covey. “ I seized Covey hard by the throat; and as I did, I rose.

He held on to me, and I to him” Fredrick had the upper hand when he held Mr. Covey and stopped him from tying him up. Covey trembled and struggled in fear in the grasp of Fredrick, so he called for help from his assistant, Hughes ” Hughes came, and, while Covey held me, attempted to tie my right hand…” but much to Hughes and Covey’s surprise, Fredrick fought on to show his dominance, “… While he was in the act of doing so, I watched my chance, and gave him a heavy kick close under the ribs”. Covey was scared, ” He strove to drag me to a stick that was lying just out of the stable door. He meant to knock me down…I seized him with both hands by his collar, and brought him by a sudden snatch to the ground” he was trying every way to fight Fredrick, so he called for Bill a fellow slave, ” Take hold of him, take hold of him!” Covey was desperate for assistance. But the slave did not do what Covey wanted, and Covey was all alone in this fight, ” Bill said his master hired him out to work, and not to help whip me; so he left Covey and myself to fight our own battle out” Covey and Fredrick fought on their own for two entire hours, “ We were at it for two hours. Covey at length let me go, puffing and blowing at a great rate, saying that if I had not resisted, he Covey would not have whipped me at all”.

“ The battle with me an Mr. Covey was the turning point in my career as a slave. It rekindled .

.. manhood”. Fredrick Douglass went to all lengths to fight for his dignity, and obtain some respect, even from his owner. He took courageous and vigilant actions, and retained his dignity from the greedy grasp of Mr.

Covey, and now, Mr. Covey will be sure to think twice before messing with Fredrick Douglass. This true story of the efforts of Fredrick Douglass to have dignity as a slave, was a defining moment for slaves all around the world. It showed that people cannot be own and ordered around