The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an autobiography by Frederick Douglass, is about an African American slave that was born into a life of bondage but later begins understanding the nature of freedom. He suffers through difficult times in his life but when he experiences the power of the mind he realizes the way of society and puts in practice what he learned in order to experience freedom and make a change in the world. Education was highly significant to Douglass because it was main reasons that he was able to experience freedom both physically and mentally.
Early in the autobiography, the slave masters worked hard to prevent slaves from getting an education because as long as they are being kept illiterate the slave masters are able to control them from running away or rebelling. For example, Mr. Auld states,
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They desired to be able to think for themselves because it gave them a taste of humanity. For example, “Every moment a slave spent in school, they were liable to be taken up and given thirty-nine lashes. They came because they wished to learn. Their minds were starved by their masters and been shut up in mental darkness.(pg.88)” This quote shows us that a slave’s understanding of freedom is not only being unbound physically by their masters but that they are able to mentally be free. Frederick Douglass then demonstrates his willingness of making a change not only for himself but in slavery. For example, “The newspaper came, and I read it from week to week with such feeling as it would be quite idle for me to attempt to describe. The paper became my meat and my drink it showed sympathy for my brethren in bonds.(pg.116)” Although Douglass was already free he decided he was not done till he had made a difference and told other of the barbarity of slavery so that others will stand up for what is