Summary Of Narrative Of The Life Of Fredrick Douglass

In this passage from, Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, An American Slave, by Fredrick Douglass, he goes on to describe a setting of his life where he goes off to the bay of the Chesapeake and watches as the ships leave the harbor and the importance that the sails of the ships have on him. Before he goes to the bay, Douglass had all the intentions of getting his freedom. He is persistent on building his knowledge, and becoming stronger and stronger, mentally, physically, and with knowledge. Douglass’s owners become apprehensive that he is learning too much and will soon revolt against them so they send him to Mr. Covey. Mr. Covey is a slaveholder who could break in any slave and break them down so much to where they forgot their worth again, what they were striving after, and would be submissive again to their master.

Covey beats Douglass into submission and basically makes him “broken”. Douglass loses his pursuit of knowledge and his pursuit of freedom after Mr. Covey is done with him. Mr. Covey actions and how he breaks down Douglass, he is almost a reflection of the devil, he is evil and broke down Douglass, made him believe that he is worthless and shouldn’t continue to strive on. He let him think bad thoughts, just like the how the devil makes one feel bad and deters one from doing better and going after what they want. With Douglass losing his hope and all he was striving for, this is when he goes off to the bay and sees the ships, “Those beautiful vessels, robed in purest white,” (264). A turning point for Douglass on his redemption for striving after his