In the book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave, written by himself, Frederick Douglass achieves freedom by educating himself. By learning to read, he learns how to become free; by fighting back against his master, he learns to think like a freeman; and by learning a trade and living on his own, Douglass learns how to survive as a freeman.
For Frederick Douglass to become a freeman, he had to learn how to escape. When he was first in Baltimore, his mistress began teaching him the alphabet. When his master, Mr. Auld, discovered what his wife was doing, he was enraged. Alud lectured his wife, telling her that teaching him to read would make Douglass “...unmanageable, and of no value to his master.” (p. 48). Douglass, …show more content…
When he was sent back to Baltimore after attempting escape and failing, Douglass was instructed to learn a trade. After learning his trade, Douglass could make his own contracts, and collect his own money. He gave everything he earned to his master, though it was rightfully his own. After a while, Frederick Douglass started hire his own time. He had to provide everything for himself, and still pay his master at the end of the week. “He [his master] received all the benefits of slaveholding without its evils; while I endured all evils of a slave, and suffered all the care and anxiety of a freeman.” (p.109) With this, Douglass learned the skills he needed to survive by himself, how to care for himself. By learning a profitable trade and how to be independant of his master, Douglass’ escape was significantly less difficult.
Frederick Douglass states clearly that he had some specific factors that aided his escape. Firstly, he learning to read and write, educating himself and going against his master’s will. Secondly, his act of defiance against Mr. Covey lead to his physiological freedom, and rebuilt his broken spirit. Finally, learning to provide for himself as a freeman saved him from failing once he achieved freedom. Frederick Douglass learned how to get free, how to think free, and how to be
For Frederick Douglass to become a freeman, he had to learn how to escape. When he was first in Baltimore, his mistress began teaching him the alphabet. When his master, Mr. Auld, discovered what his wife was doing, he was enraged. Alud lectured his wife, telling her that teaching him to read would make Douglass “...unmanageable, and of no value to his master.” (p. 48). Douglass, …show more content…
When he was sent back to Baltimore after attempting escape and failing, Douglass was instructed to learn a trade. After learning his trade, Douglass could make his own contracts, and collect his own money. He gave everything he earned to his master, though it was rightfully his own. After a while, Frederick Douglass started hire his own time. He had to provide everything for himself, and still pay his master at the end of the week. “He [his master] received all the benefits of slaveholding without its evils; while I endured all evils of a slave, and suffered all the care and anxiety of a freeman.” (p.109) With this, Douglass learned the skills he needed to survive by himself, how to care for himself. By learning a profitable trade and how to be independant of his master, Douglass’ escape was significantly less difficult.
Frederick Douglass states clearly that he had some specific factors that aided his escape. Firstly, he learning to read and write, educating himself and going against his master’s will. Secondly, his act of defiance against Mr. Covey lead to his physiological freedom, and rebuilt his broken spirit. Finally, learning to provide for himself as a freeman saved him from failing once he achieved freedom. Frederick Douglass learned how to get free, how to think free, and how to be