Frederick Douglass: An American Slave

            The issue of slavery has been touched upon often in the course of history. Not often d owe get to learn about the inner struggles of a slave spiritually and intellectually. Through Frederick Douglass and his Narrative, we can see into slavery from a mental state rather from a physical state. Frederick Douglass" Narrative of his life is about his experiences both during and following his life as a slave. The Narrative is Douglass" tool for establishing himself as an abolitionist leader as well as an escaped slave. It"s based on the ideas of legal liberation and a mental and emotional liberation from slavery. Douglass comes to terms with himself as not only as a man, but also as a black man, and an American slave. .

             Douglass" Narrative is, in many parts, one that focuses much on physical events of his life. This allows the reader to vividly see both maturation and decay of Douglass as a person and of the institution of slavery. Both the physical and literal regression of Douglass and his environment and the immaterial progression of Douglass" spirituality can be perceived as if on a spectrum. When a boy of seven or eight, Douglass recalls his excitement at moving to Baltimore. Douglass "left without a regret, and with the highest hopes of future happiness" (p. 32). Other instances of regression producing spiritual progress were the occurrences at Covey"s. The extent of the torture that Douglass endured was at points horrible enough for him to consider taking his own life. But to counter this physical regression, Douglass seats himself near the bay to watch the ships pass by. No matter what the struggle or burden, for Douglass, "there is a better day coming" (p. 67). The early stages of Douglass" fight to lift him above his circumstances begin as his faith starts to evolve. .

             In the midst of this developing spirituality, Douglass begins to have hope and to let factors in his life be functions of faith.

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