Frederick Douglass Learning To Write Analysis

In Learning to Read, Frederick Douglass opens with a brief inside look at his childhood. He begins to talk about his slave-owner, Master Hugh, and elaborates on the seven years he spent in his home. During these seven years, he learned how to both read and write, but it was not an effortless journey. Douglass’s mistress began to teach him the alphabet but discontinued in aiding him, shortly after she began. Douglass was extremely resourceful for his youthfulness, and his creativity took flight. Douglass befriended the Caucasian boys that lived near him. He began to entice them by bringing them bread, in exchange for teaching him how to read. After a while, their meetings were almost routine, and the symbiotic relationship flourished. Soon enough, Douglass was able to read …show more content…
The main idea that encompasses this symbol, is when Douglass begins to understand what he is reading in The Columbian Orator. Prior to his literate ability, it was difficult, if not nearly impossible, for any slave to comprehend what was being said in The Columbian Orator. This novel is used to explain the atrocities of slavery, and was almost a light-bulb moment for Frederick Douglass. It very much saddened me, to think that these human beings were so ignorant to their conditions in slavery. Men, women, and children fought for their lives on a daily basis, without any knowledge of a better life. It is hard for me to fathom that we, as human beings, could do that to someone of our own kind. The Columbian Orator gave Frederick Douglass insight into what life outside of slavery was truly like. When a passage in the novel begins to go into dialogue between a slave and his master, Douglass is able to empathize with the slave, and becomes enraged. In Learning to Write, there is a quote that states, “The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers. I could regard them in no other light than