Lauren Emslie

Mrs. Bouch

Honors English 11: American Literature

16 March 2018

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Try to imagine sleeping on the cold and hard ground with no clothes or blankets, just a

cardboard box covering you, not knowing if your next meal or beating will come first. This is

how Frederick Douglass lives while he is enslaved. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick

Douglass, An American Slave, written by himself, Frederick Douglass explains his life as a slave.

He goes into great detail about that events he suffered. Although Frederick Douglass does not

suffer as severely as other slaves do, all slaves have one thing in common: the desire to be free.

Frederick Douglass develops the theme of “knowledge is the path to freedom” through

characters, anecdotes, and details.

Frederick Douglass develops the theme of “knowledge is the path to freedom” through

the characters. Mrs. Auld sparks Frederick’s curiosity to learn. She introduces reading and

writing into his life, unlike any other slaveholder. Frederick Douglass says, “Very soon after I

went to live with Mr. and Mrs. Auld, she was very kindly commenced to teach me the A, B, C.

After I had learned this, she assisted me in learning to spell words of three or four letter”

(Douglass 48.) By teaching Frederick, Mrs. Auld shows him what it is like to be a free boy. She
gives him a taste of the real world, triggering his want for freedom. However, Mr. Auld has a

different opinion about his wife’s intentions. Discovering that Mrs. Auld has been teaching

Douglass, Mr. Auld orders her to stop immediately. As stated by Mr. Auld, “If you give a nigger

an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master – to do as he is

told to do. Learning will spoil the best nigger in the world. Now, if you teach that nigger how to

read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave” (Douglass 48.) He

explains that teaching a slave is improper and forbidden. Mr. Auld believes that teaching a slave

would ruin a slave, as well as give them insight into the free world. Mr. Auld unknowingly

exposes Douglass to the secret of slaveholding, slaves must be kept unknowledgeable in order to

manage them. Douglass’ desire to be free is manifested by Mr. Auld. Douglass uses this insight

to his own advantage and begins teaching other slaves as well. Frederick Douglass explains, “I

had at one time over forty scholars, and those of the right sort, ardently desiring to learn”

(Douglass 90.) Beginning to plan for their escape, Douglass and many other slaves, gather at the

Sabbath school. They risk being caught by their masters, but are driven to learn as free men do

and could not care less about the consequences. Douglass has made it known to them that

learning is the path to freedom. All of the slaves in the group are aware of the plans and are

dedicated to learning in order to succeed in freeing themselves. Knowledge is the key to success

as a slave, however, it is what their masters shield them from.

Additionally, Frederick Douglass develops the theme of “knowledge is the path to

freedom” through anecdotes. Douglass and several other slaves begin planning for their long-

awaited escape. As stated by Frederick Douglass, “After a painful waiting, the Saturday

morning, whose night was to witness our departure” (Douglass 95.) Through knowledge,
Douglass enables the other slaves to understand how horrible slavery really is. With knowledge,

they realize the injustice of slavery and acknowledge themselves as actual men. This drives them

all to desire freedom and have the courage to carry out their plan. However, Douglass has to

learn to read and write before he instructs others, which is not an easy task to do as a slave.

Douglass teaches himself to read and write after his master refuses. He artfully bribes other boys

for their knowledge. Frederick Douglass states, “This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry

little urchins, who, in return, would give me more valuable bread of knowledge” (Douglass 53.)

Determined to read and write, Douglas gives starving children bread in exchange for knowledge.

By doing this, Douglass obtains lessons on reading and writing, lesson on which he could not

teach himself. By teaching and sacrificing himself, he finally comes to the point where he is able

to become a free man. He has worked for many years to get to this point and he has finally

succeeded. Frederick Douglass states, “I now come to that part of my life during which I

planned, and finally succeeded in making, my escape from slavery” (Douglass 106.) After many

years of hard work and dedication, Douglass finally escapes from slavery. He has been driven to

do so throughout his whole life. The knowledge he gains from learning to read and write enables

him to do so. Without being educated, Frederick Douglass may have never succeeded in his

escape.

Finally, Frederick Douglass develops the theme of “knowledge is the path to freedom”

through details. As Mr. Auld is scolding his wife, Douglass develops his first tangible method of

which he will reach freedom. As stated by Frederick Douglass, “From that moment, I understood

the pathway from slavery to freedom” (Douglass 48.) From the point in which Frederick

Douglass realizes his strategy, to the moment of his escape from slavery, Douglass is driven to
educate himself. With his goal in mind, Frederick Douglass strategically begins to teach himself.

However, slaveholders try to prevent their slaves from learning. Mr. and Mrs. Auld keep a close

eye on Douglass. Frederick Douglass explains, “From this time, I was most narrowly watched. If

I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a

book, and was at once called to give an account of myself” (Douglass 52.) Slaveholders try to

shield their slaves from any form of knowledge. They do not want them to know the severity of

their conditions or to become unmanageable. Frederick Douglass was not effected by his

master’s suspicions. Fear of his masters does not stand in his way. Douglass mentions, “During

this time, I had succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled

to various stratagems. I had no teacher” (Douglass 51.) Douglass knows he must gain

educational skills in order to reach freedom. He is determined to do, despite many obstacles he

faces. Douglass is completely alone in the beginning of his journey towards freedom. He teaches

himself for years without being caught. Frederick Douglass’ persistence and devotion to

learning, guide him directly to freedom.

Many people do not realize how cruel slavery truly is. The story of Frederick Douglass’

life gives the audience first-hand accounts of these tragic events. Through his strength and

courage, Frederick Douglass is able to overcome the difficulties in life. He narrates his life in

order to inform the future generations of the true sufferings these poor slaves endured. Without

men like Frederick Douglass, willing to tell their story about their enslavement and sharing

details from horrific event, slavery might still be popular in the world today
 Works Cited

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.

Introduction by Peter J. Gomes and Afterword by Gregory Stephens, Penguin Group,

1997.