If slaves were able to obtain their freedom, many would write down their stories in hopes that it would help emancipate other slaves. Although all slave autobiographies focused on the desire for gaining freedom, the ways in which the stories were written tended to vary between the sexes. The autobiographies of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs show the thoughts of men and women on slavery and show a comparison of the experience of slavery between genders.
As the lives of Douglass and Jacobs are compared, a difference can be made between the core values between the genders. Douglass had an obvious thirst for knowledge and understanding, He was taught the alphabet and how to spell at a young age by his mistress. However, his lessons were abruptly cancelled when his master found out. Douglass noted that it was in that moment that he recognized the way to escape from slavery: education.
Not being allowed to learn fueled his passion to gain knowledge, freedom, and respect. Even using his own coy devices to trick young school boys to trick them into teaching him to write, Douglass let nothing keep him from gaining an education. He tells his story as if it were a gathering of knowledge along his journey to freedom. He consistently uses the bible and …show more content…
White men were viewed as independent and powerful – traits which, under slavery, black men could not have, yet still desired. Slaves could do nothing to protect themselves against the overseers or masters and could be punished under any circumstances. This creates a sense of defenseless which especially bothered most slave men during this time. These men, who desired to be viewed as strong leaders, were made out to be weak and defenseless cowards by slavery. Even Jacobs noted the inferiority of the black man. When Douglass fought for and regained his manliness, he essentially regained his personal value and importance as a
As the lives of Douglass and Jacobs are compared, a difference can be made between the core values between the genders. Douglass had an obvious thirst for knowledge and understanding, He was taught the alphabet and how to spell at a young age by his mistress. However, his lessons were abruptly cancelled when his master found out. Douglass noted that it was in that moment that he recognized the way to escape from slavery: education.
Not being allowed to learn fueled his passion to gain knowledge, freedom, and respect. Even using his own coy devices to trick young school boys to trick them into teaching him to write, Douglass let nothing keep him from gaining an education. He tells his story as if it were a gathering of knowledge along his journey to freedom. He consistently uses the bible and …show more content…
White men were viewed as independent and powerful – traits which, under slavery, black men could not have, yet still desired. Slaves could do nothing to protect themselves against the overseers or masters and could be punished under any circumstances. This creates a sense of defenseless which especially bothered most slave men during this time. These men, who desired to be viewed as strong leaders, were made out to be weak and defenseless cowards by slavery. Even Jacobs noted the inferiority of the black man. When Douglass fought for and regained his manliness, he essentially regained his personal value and importance as a