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The book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, written by him is the story of the rise and development of Douglass as a slave and his fight for freedom. Douglass fought in the untraditional way by educating himself and educating others instead of physically fighting back. Douglass was born a slave who never really knew his mother or actual identity of his father. He lived on many different plantations with two different masters. Slavery being a totalitarian system effects every aspect of his life. Including his family, the environment he lives in, where he works, what he is taught (if anything at all), and eventually gives him a reason to want to be free. If slavery had been a more sociable system, most of the slaves probably would not feel the need to escape or be free.

One of the first steps slaveholders take to keep slaves under their control is to destroy the family bond. Children are taken from their mothers early in life, usually before their first birthday, and raised by an older woman who is too old to help in the fields. There is very little contact after the separation. Brothers and sisters treat each other more like acquaintances than family. Douglass is tak

sting outside the circle does not guarantee a clear comprehension of the meaning of slavery. As Douglass explains, Northerners also fail to read the meaning of these songs. Douglass thus implies that only that person who exists both inside and outside the institution of slavery can fully understand, and thus properly critique, its cruel and dehumanizing nature" (9). Douglass's biggest triumph is writing the Narrative. He lived these events and by exposing the horrors of slavery exposed the white men who perpetuated this evil system. Douglass is no longer a slave but a human being.

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did not regard this as a favor, he sees it as a way to "ease his conscience, and make him feel himself to be a pretty honorable sort of robber" (95). Giving Douglass some of the money makes his master feel less guilty for taking it in the first place. Slavery was dependent on plantations in order to survive and with the growing of the industrial cities the future existence of slavery is unknown.

inside and outside the Christian religion" (8). Douglass describes the fight as "a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the freedom of heaven. The day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact. The white man who succeeded in whipping, must also succeed in killing me" (79). Fighting back gives Douglass the courage to again stand up for himself, renewing his desire to be free at the same time. Douglass should be hung for fighting back but Covey is too embarrassed to let people know a slave has fought back. This being a political triumph, Douglass refers to the victory as a resurrection. The white Christian influence is seen in Douglass's writing. But shows an example of triumph to the other slaves.

and embrace a culture that was never present.

Douglass's turning point comes when he fights Covey, a man whose role is to, break Douglass as a man and a slave. Douglass lives with Covey for six months, with almost weekly beatings for minor offences, even before this fight happens. Douglass is a broken man in spirit, not even concerning himself with being free but just trying to survive the beatings. The day before the fight a slave by the name of Sandy Jenkins gives Douglass a root that he is too carry on his right side and it will keep anyone, including Covey, from beating him. When Covey comes upon Douglass in the barn he proceeds to start tying him up. Douglass puts up a struggle and they fight for two hours before Covey lets him go. Douglass obviously wins the fight and Covey never lays a hand on him for the remaining time he is at the plantation. James Wohlport writes, "Significantly, after this completely secular depiction of this central episode, he returns to religious imagery, suggesting his position both!

Keeping the slaves ignorant is the most important idea in keeping the slaves down. The slaves know that it is not right to be treated and to be beaten on a regular basis. They do not have any education to inform them of what is really going on and what the real problems are. Douglass provides them this education and motivation when he holds a Sabbath scho

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Approximate Word count = 2153
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous