Frederick Douglass's Struggles

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery around 1835 in Tuckahoe. (12 Miles from Talbot County) In his Narrative, Frederick not only describes his struggles and hardships during his time as a slave, but also with escaping slavery. When he was young, Frederick did not know his father, though he thought that his father was a white slave owner. (Maybe even his own master). Frederick’s mother, on the other hand, rarely saw him due to the fact that she was sent to a plantation about twelve miles away.

Of course, Frederick eventually questioned his birth and childhood and wanted to know more. As Frederick grew up, he became more and more aware of what was happening in his life. He wanted to escape from slavery and live as a free man. As time went

In the appendix, Douglass talks more about this. Frederick started mentioning this theme in Chapter ten when he describes how Mr. Covey considered himself a religious man and made Frederick help lead hymns. The next time he was asked, Douglass retaliated by not singing or purposely singing badly. Religion was a controversial issue in Douglass’s time and an embarrassing excuse for holding slaves. Another part in chapter ten mentions the Rev. Mr. Hopkins and the Rev. Mr. Weeden and how they mistreated their slaves. It is hard to believe for Frederick that people that claim to be holy men own and mistreat their

Since Frederick did not see his mother very much due to the the distance that separated them, he viewed her as a stranger during her funeral. This separation ensured that Douglass did not develop familial feelings toward his mother. Douglass’s separation made him develop a loathing for slavery and its masters while gradually becoming unmanageable.

“In the same book, I met with one of Sheridan's mighty speeches on and in behalf of Catholic Emancipation.”

This quote comes from the time when Frederick starts reading. He finds his passion for ending slavery and his desire to escape through books. Frederick strives to learn and learns through books. One aspect of slavery is that it is against the law for a slave to read books and become educated. To do so will make a slave have a mind of his/her own and the slave will become unmanageable. So, in Frederick’s case, he is actually retaliating against slavery and opening up his world to a bigger