Comparing Frederick Douglass And Reading Books

Lee, Jung Hye
Writing class 118-11

Education Matters
Everyone should value books. Books can provide us an understanding of the world and ourselves. In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and A Separate Piece by John Knowles, these books provide knowledge, wisdom and a lesson one can gain after reading these books. What all three books have in common is that it’s either related to studying or learning: from Franklin’s love for reading and writing, Douglass using education to gain freedom, or knowing how to learn about ourselves.
Franklin’s Autobiography is a motivational story. Even as a child, he loves reading books and wanted to continue on with his school. Unfortunately, his father did not have the

Many people take for grant of the freedom we have, but Douglass shows that having freedom means having the ability to control one’s own destiny. Douglass was a slave who like any other slaves cannot be educated. Douglass finds this out by accident when he overhears the reasons why it was illegal for them to get education- it because the white slave owners did not want slaves to gain knowledge as it will bring disorder and rebel against slavery. As a result of this finding, Douglass seeks out his own education. One of his methods of learning how to read is by exchanging foods for learning to read. During the slavery, poverty also affected all different people, so Douglass would give breads to poor children and for exchange teach Douglass some words. For Douglass learning meant punishments or even death, but he takes the risk and did all he can to gain knowledge because this is the only way he can be free. He demonstrates to people that education is powerful and the way one can truly be self-governed. Douglass story is a reminder to always appreciate education and to take the most out of learning because in the end no one can take away what’s in our