Has any event in your life had the same impact that learning how to read had on Douglass’s life? If not, why not?
Fredrick Douglas had written one of the most interesting autobiographies of all time. The stories and tales within the novel, hook the reader right away. Fredrick Douglas was an American slave during the 19th century America. He was also wide known for his politics and his views on abolition of all slaves. He lived to be 77 years old. During that time, he became one of the most influential and important figures in American history. He soon came up with theories and ideas about his own life. How to make a better quality of life. What to do to make a better quality of life. One of his ideas to read. With him learning to read, believed he would break out of his intellectual prison in which he felt trapped. However, with him learning to read, he became very unhappy with other parts of his life.
As stated above, Fredrick Douglas was an American slave turned abolitionist. During his 77 years on earth, he became one of the most inflectional and important people in American history. During his time as a slave, he wanted to learn how to read. He believed he could escape his mental bindings through learning how to read. One of his masters had a wife. She was kind to Douglas, and taught the young slave the alphabet. She got her self in lots of trouble. He found other ways to read, however. For example, he was taught by street boys, whom he lived near by. He would trick them by saying they couldn’t write this or read that. They would prove him wrong, and slowly, he began learning how to read and write the English language.
This was a very big deal. Almost no slaves at the time could read or right., and also be familiar with the English alphabet. This was a source of freedom for him because he was able to break the binding of mental enthrallment. With this however, he became dissatisfied with other aspects of his life. He found other things that were no good enough for him. He wanted more. Any sane person would. This caused him to fall into an intellectual hole. He was constantly trying to discover and learn more. He wanted as much as possible. He believed knowledge was liberation, and he wanted to learn as uch as possible. He did become depressed knowing that obtaining all knowledge is impossible.
One event that had the same impact in my life, similar to Douglas was when I got my first job. I got my first job, and I was staring to make money for my self. It was a sense of freedom, something I had never experienced before. I could now make my own money, and spend it on things that I would like to spend it on. However, in contrast to Douglass, I never have been depressed because I got the job. I became happier that I was making money, and was able to have my own purchasing power.
Fredrick Douglas is one of the most incredible figures in American history. Slave turned abolitionist, in 77 years, he became of of the most important people in the world. When he learned to read, it may not of had the desired affect, but it certainly improved his life, as he could read anything he wanted. He may have become depressed, but that is understandable. He wanted to have all the knowledge he could, but because of his situation that was not possible.
JBSchool 