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The Use Of Bravery In Douglas And Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglas

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Recommended: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave book report

Courage comes in many different forms. Everyone has many things in their life they must use their courage for. The “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas” by Frederick Douglas, and the movie The Red Badge of Courage by John Huston focus on the content of finding the courage inside of one’s self, and the acts of bravery or leadership that come from this newfound courage. Both men aim to show how harsh situations can change people, and what a little courage and bravery can do for a person. In these stories, the characters of Henry Fleming and Frederick Douglas take on the harsh realities of war and slavery. In The Red Badge of Courage by John Huston and Slave Narrative, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas” by Frederick Douglas, both …show more content…

During the first battles, Fleming allows his fear to take over as he deserts his fellow comrades while they fight. Though he is not the only one to run, he begins to feel guilty when seeing the wounded men after the battle had ended. In the following days' Fleming, though he is still fearful, does not allow this fear to win. Fleming uses his courage to step up, block out his fears, and no longer run from the fights. Just as Fleming did, Douglas must go through many mental challenges that he must find the courage to overcome. Douglas quickly learns the harsh realities of plantation life when he is sent to live with Mr.Covey. He is overworked and beaten or whipped every day as Covey tries to break his spirit. For 6 months he lives this harsh life constantly, but he never allows defeat or angst to take over. Using his newfound courage he continued to get back up, and eventually he found a way to stand up to Mr. Covey. In both The Red Badge of Courage By John Huston and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas” by Frederick Douglas there are many examples of courage being used to fulfill many physical feats that would not be impossible without. Fleming uses courage …show more content…

Using this courage Fleming became a beacon of motivation and leadership to the other soldiers as well, now giving them courage and leading the charge. Douglas also used physical courage multiple times throughout the Slave Narrative when he is beaten or threatened. After the worst beating he had taken, Douglas left the plantation to go give complaint to his old Master. Master Thomas was greedy and sent him back. Though first, he stayed with an acquaintance named Sandy Jenkins, a free black man. Jenkins gave Douglas courage before going back by taking him to the woods and giving him a root, Jenkins said would never allow another white man to whip him again. Once Douglas got back Covey came out and tried to tie him up and beat him. At first, Douglas was going to be the same feeble man he had been. However, he felt the root that gave him courage, he then decided no white man was ever going to beat him again. So he fought back against Mr.Covey and won. Though he may not have been free, he still won the fight and only Mr. Covey’s blood was drawn. After that fight, in the last 6 months of his time there, Douglas was never beaten again because he stood up and fought back using his

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