Frederick Douglass Hardships

In everyone's lives, there is an eye opening experience that changes their perspective on life. The slave narrative, Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass, by Frederick Douglass, tells a story about the struggles the author goes through during his grueling life during and after being enslaved. During the book, Douglass goes through so much during his life, including hardships such as beatings, starvation, and depression. Along with the bad things, he also experiences some good things including escaping, discovering literacy and enlightening himself and others about the awful aspects of slavery. Frederick Douglass manages to free himself not only physically, but also mentally from the hardships of slavery. Learning to read, staying optimistic

He used this ability to change the world and influence people on what was right. Douglass had just arrived at the Auld household where he was staying and working for some time. He describes their land and Mr. and Mrs. Auld. A couple days after his arrival, Mrs. Auld begins to teach Douglass to read. Douglass says, “Very soon after I went to live with Mr. And Mrs. Auld, she very kindly commenced to teach me the A, B, C. After I had learned this, she assisted me in learning to spell words of three or four letters'' (Douglass 29). Douglass knew what he could with the ability to read and write so he knew to use it in the future. Once a free man, he used his writing ability to free himself and inform others about slavery. “Mr. Douglass has very properly chosen to write his own Narrative, in his own style, and according to the best of his ability, rather than to employ someone else” (Garrison 8). Many people believe that Douglass’ tone of voice is extremely influential in the topic of slavery. Writing helped Douglass overcome his feelings about his past life with slavery because he was able to express himself and inform others about some of the many grueling aspects of

Douglass finds a job after three days of being a free man and he describes how different it is. He loves how he is working for no one but himself and his new family. After his first day working as a freeman he expresses, “I worked that day with a pleasure I had never experienced before. I was at work for myself and newly married wife” (Douglass 72). Working for himself took Frederick’s mind off of his terrible past of working for someone who constantly criticized and abused him. He took great joy in working for himself and showed happiness when talking about his new family. Garrison, a close friend of Douglass’ and writer of the preface, describes Douglass and hopes he, “May he continue to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of God” (Garrison 5). Garrison states that Douglss has already spoken to God and he hopes that Douglass will continue to grow closer to God to carry on speaking up about what is right. Frederick used his faith and grace to grow close to what he knew was right. Staying positive, looking to God and having his own work greatly helped Douglass persevere through his life and stay optimistic despite his rough