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How Does Frederick Douglass Relate To Our Society

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Frederick Douglass in his memoir Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass explores the idea of humanity and the choices we are faced in our lives. His choice was simply put. "I now resolved that however long might remain a slave in form, the day had passed forever when I would be a slave in fact" (P. 55). Douglass refers to his idea that there is a separation, but symbiotic relationship between being free in form, but enslaved in fact. This idea was crucial for Frederick Douglass, but also allows us as a reader to view ourselves as ask key questions to better understand the society we live in and how we may be free in form but enslaved in fact. How does our society today relate to this? How do you or I personally relate to this? And most …show more content…
For myself, it became clear that I felt the patriarchal society views women in a similar manner. Men typically deem women as an inferior counterpart to themselves in today’s society. Although it is less pervasive than in the past it is still an issue, especially in the field of engineering. In this society, I am seen as inferior as Douglass puts it “in form.” But I personally do not see myself as such and thus am not inferior “in fact.” Reading this novel reinforced the idea for me that without my given consent and seeing myself as such, no amount of people, nor society labeling me as something will change who I am as an individual. I am free to be a feminist and a leader. I am free to do what I believe is right and it is my duty to work hard to become the person I believe myself to be, free from what society says I am. I truly believe this is an important lesson that all individuals should take from this novel, because whichever way you apply it to your personal life, it will highlight what you believe is important and continue to work towards that. This novel truly rekindled my idea of feminism in myself and for there to be a change in society for the future generation it is my duty today to make a change, such as Douglass did by becoming and abolitionist.
Frederick Douglass in his novel Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass allows us as a reader to deeper understand his ideas of humanity and apply them to our own lives. It is our duty to not be complacent in the face of societal enslavement. When we decide that we are “free in form, but enslaved in fact” every day with determination we should work towards becoming free in form and free in

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