“Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass: Literary Analysis”
In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass explains, in great detail, how slave master would use a variety of methods to dehumanize slaves located on their plantation. These methods involved both severe physical and psychological trauma. Nevertheless, Douglass remains diligent and finds a way to resist the harsh reality of being a slave. Because of his immovable desire to acquire knowledge to his fighting encounter with Mr. Covey, these experiences help shape Douglass to be the archetype of what it means to go from slavery to freedom. This essay will highlight the physical and psychological tactics used on slaves. In addition, the aspect of how Douglass resists the
In doing so, slaves can not celebrate birthdays, which prevents slaves from celebrating part of their culture. Thus, their identities are stolen. Douglass identifies himself as a victim of this type of treatment because he is not aware of his own age. Moreover, by separating slaves from their families, it was intended for slaves to feel lonely without their loved ones, which in return, made them [slaves] easier to rule.
Although Douglass recalls how other slavers were treated, he also highlights how he was able to resist the institution of slavery. One example of how Douglass resists being institutionalized by slavery is his desire to learn how to read and write. A major fear amongst slave owners is that their slaves will learn to read and write because the less slaves know they better off the owner would be. The slave would then realize he was an equal to his master and question why his master has the right to enslave him. Douglas stated this saying, "The more I read the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers." When Douglas learned to read and write, he looked at everything differently. He saw everything as a citizen and not a slave. He then began to envy the illiterate slave because they did not completely understand the terrible condition in which they lived. Douglass, however, now did, and could not bear the thought of