Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Analysis

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The “Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass” trails Fredrick Douglass as he journeys through his strenuous life. It’s the autobiography of the self-freed slave. Douglass was born into slavery sometime in 1817 or 1818. This book signifies Douglass’s life in slavery, his experiences with other slaves, and what he saw with his own eyes from 1818 to 1895. The cruelty of the lashings and people taking joy in relegating others, believing that one life is worth more than another. Overall the story shadows Fredrick Douglass on the road to becoming a freed slave and his struggle for freedom. Also giving people an insight of what slave life was like.

What is freedom? What is the price of freedom? Freedom is life. Without freedom we are depriving …show more content…

Baltimore is a completely new world from the world he knew. It is here where Douglass learns of the power of education. He learns to read and educate himself. He finds out the truth that slavery is not existent because the owners are superior to their slaves, but because the slaves are restricted from learning. Douglass starts to grasp that if slaves were able to educate themselves, it would be difficult to stop them from becoming free. Fredrick recognizes that knowledge is an essential part to becoming free, and utilizes it for his benefit. As Fredrick becomes a young man is where his fight for freedom truly arises. With his newfound knowledge, Douglass feels that he is ready to fight for his rights. Douglass fails countless times before he actually succeeds. He continues to strive for what he craves. This is an extremely significant point since the overall drive of the book is fighting for freedom. Never giving up on the dream you so intensely desire. When Douglass finally flourished and made his escape for New York, and then Massachusetts, he takes notice that acquiring his own freedom does not mean the excursion will be over. Knowing that he cannot rest until slavery is …show more content…

It was written to educate any and everyone on the life of an American slave, also to raise awareness of the evil deeds and wickedness of slave owners. Fredrick definitely reaches what he set out to do with his autobiography, providing vivid imagery of the things he has witnessed and giving a clear vision of the purgatory he has perceived. The autobiography also outlines the key to bring about change. Fredrick had to first come to a realization. He had to take in and accept what he was and the world around him, and realize that it was not who or where he wanted to be for the rest of his life. Upon this understanding, he then had to find a way to change his situation. Education was the answer to changing his position, to educate his himself and raise his intelligence. A man with knowledge is a force to be reckoned with. Douglass noted this and refined himself so he has the knowledgeable power to change his circumstances. Which finally brings us to another vital factor in acquiring change, which is never giving up. Douglass knew what he was striving for and went to prodigious lengths to achieve it, while never abandoning the dream he longed for. Three major steps to bringing about change are realization, knowledge, and persistence. Douglass carries out each of these steps in order to reach his individual goal of wanting to be free. The price of his freedom was steep, paid in lashings and beholding the

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