Select and connect a quote from the autobiography to the themes of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness. Responses should be 300 words each. You are expected to respond to one classmate for each quote. (50-100 words)
“I would sometimes say to them, I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. ‘You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?’ These words used to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope that something would occur by which I might be free.”
ReplyDeleteDouglass says this quote when he is describing his encounters with the white boys of the neighborhood in Boston. He explains that he would make time for himself to be taught by the children when he had to run errands for his owners. He would often come to the topic of slavery to discuss with the boys. At this point in his life, he realizes that he will never be free from the constraints of slavery. He tells the children, “You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life!” This is where he finally understands the roles that slavery and racism play in his life. Slavery is not something that he can forget about or escape, so he turns to learning how to read and write to escape the constraints that slavery has placed on his life. He recruits the boys to teach him because otherwise he has no way to learn. In doing this, the little boys begin to understand the role of racism as well as Douglass. Douglass explains that the boys console him and sympathize for him and his life of slavery. This shows that the young boys reject the ideas of racism and are better human beings than white adults around them. The boys value the human being that Douglass is, and Douglass begins to humanize himself in an era of dehumanization of African Americans. He finally begins to see himself as a human being, and begins to strive for knowledge more than before. This marks the point where Douglass and the young boys begin to think about abolition and slavery. The boys think of Douglass as their friend and hope that one day he will be free. They reject racism and slavery and act the way that human beings truly should, with love and respect for all men and women.
Your response and analysis of this quote was awesome because it flowed together so well. You summarized, analyzed, and explained the points that the quote connected to, all while keeping the flow of the paragraph. I like how you talked about the effect it had on the young boys as well as how it was a milestone of realization for Douglass.
DeleteYour response to this quote was very well thought out. You analyzed it very well, and everything you said all came together in the end. I liked how you talked about the fact that this quote effected the lives of both the slave and the young white boys. You showed two different sides of a story. Overall, your response to the quote was very well thought out and your points connected well with your analytical support.
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ReplyDelete“I speak advisedly when I say this, --that killing a slave, or any colored person, in Talbot county, Maryland, is not a treated crime, either by the courts or the community. Mr. Thomas Lanman, of St. Michael’s, killed two slaves, one of whom he killed with a hatchet...He used to boast of the commission of the awful and bloody deed.”
Douglass says this to portray how slaves were treated. The first sentence of this quote, “killing a slave, or any colored person, is not a treated crime…” Douglass explains how the people of Talbot county were ruthless. It did not matter if they killed someone. He portrays that these people feel like they do not need the weight on their shoulders because they KILLED a colored man or a slave. Also, it was not only the government who did not see killing a slave as a crime, but the community did not look at it as a crime either. When Douglass wrote this, his intentions were not to change the minds of non-slaves, but to show them how awful they were being treated. Murder is murder, and that is what Douglass is trying to show his readers during this time of slavery. Douglass shows people the cruel treatment of slaves and how not all men were equal. He describes that all people should have the same rights, like the Constitution states. When he talks about Mr. Lanman, it shows readers how barbarous people can be towards a slave or any colored man. Douglass states the fact that Mr.Lanman laughed at the fact that he had killed a slave with a hatchet. Overall, Douglass showed the awful mistreatment of slaves and any colored people. He gives his readers a story, one that is sad but does not make slave owners any worse than they are. He gives the facts to the people. Just this passage can show a reader how unacceptable it was for a slave to live like this. It was cruel, and Douglass wanted to show people how slaves were treated and hoped to get support from the people who belonged to the free world. He tells it how it is, and can only hope that people will respond with positives attitudes and help slaves on their journey to freedom.
Killed is not supposed to be capitalized!!
DeleteI like the quote that you chose as it is shows the cruelty of slavery. You connected very well to this quote. I agree with your ideas about Douglass's intentions in writing this. Your analysis of this quote is over all well written.
DeleteYour response is very well thought out and connects very well with ideas that people had back then. Now, as you said, murder is murder, but white people didn't believe that. I liked that you said that Douglass wanted to show the horrors of slavery because that is the purpose of most written slave narratives. Well written response and good job.
DeleteIn your response, I really enjoyed how you were able to analyze the passage as well as give readers a deeper understanding of Douglass and the way he rights. You were able to break-up the analysis so that every point you talked about was categorized, but you did this in a way that still kept the flow of the response. I really liked at the end too how you kind of summarized what you had written and put a conclusion that tied everything together.
Delete“It was pressed upon me by every object within sight or hearing, animate or inanimate. The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness. Freedom now appeared to disappear no more forever.”
ReplyDeleteFrederick Douglass tells about his life events during the course of this story, and how they shaped who he is. Douglass was born into slavery and lived on a plantation in the southern United States. When he was very young he experienced death and evil in his life because of the poor treatment of the slaves on Colonel Lloyd’s plantation. This trauma came particularly from the wickedness of Mr. Gore, the overseer. When Douglass finally moved north to Baltimore he experienced better treatment, but it was nothing compared to the possibility of freedom. There was nothing Douglass wanted more than to discover why slavery existed and how to end it for all of his people. This quote shows how much he was affected by slavery. It was in every part of his life. It relates to the theme of freedom because once Douglass discovered that he might be able to have freedom someday, he never forgot it. He learned how to read and wanted to learn to write before running away since he had heard that it would be dangerous for people like him to learn. Douglass had a spirit of rebellion building inside of him as he learned because for the first time he was seeing what was really going on. Douglass had a conflict that was himself vs. his society. Slavery was all that he had ever know, and he had known that there was something evil about it but for the first time he was finally beginning to understand. His society did not want him to learn because they feared what might happen if the slaves knew the truth. After figuring out that he was trapped in this life, he wanted even more to escape it. The racism that constantly surrounded young Frederick Douglass made him the great abolitionist that he became.
Your quote was very significant to the everyday life of Frederick Douglass and it plays an important role for the reader to understand his background and past life. I like that you added Mr. Gore into your description of Douglass' everyday battles because it has a connection with how slave owner's have little respect for enslaved African Americans.
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ReplyDeleteThis quote connects to the ideas of freedom, the American Dream, racism, and “individual vs society”. The main idea of the quote is that Douglass learns from Mr. Auld that one of the greatest weapons he could use against society, is to be an educated slave. Freedom is shown through this because Douglass realizes how the only way to become a freed slave would be to learn to read and write. Once he makes the connection that if he does not do this then he will never be a free man, he works hard to find time to learn these skills. The American Dream is shown in through what Douglass says in this passage because he sees a glimmer of hope in his future that one day he might be able to live on his own, successfully and happily, which are two ideals. A slave normally would never be able to have a dream like this, where is might actually come true. Racism is most definitely evident in this through the idea alone that Americans felt as though slaves should not be given the opportunity to read and write. When Douglass learns this, he realizes how lucky he was to have been given the opportunity to being the education process, and how he will be able to finish learning on his own. Lastly, the idea of “individual vs society” is most clearly shown through Douglass being a black slave, learning how to read and write which was the biggest fear of white Americans at the time. He peacefully and quietly begins to work hard to be able to become educated so he can eventually use it to his advantage in the end, and become a free man. Overall this quote shows how Douglass feels he learned more from discovering the fact that Americans did not want slaves educated than he did from actually learning to read and write.
ReplyDeleteOOPS I forgot to put the quote...here it is:
Delete"Whilst I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from my master."
I like the quote that you chose and how you connected it to the American Dream. This quote was very significant to freedom which is a theme of the story. I liked how you talked about how the people who had the slaves didn't want slaves to be educated. Your analysis was very good and you could use this information in class discussions.
Delete“From that moment I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote refers to Douglass gaining the ability to read. Through this attainment of knowledge he had gained a possible way out of slavery. His knowledge helped him to realize the situation that he was in. He realized that he is a slave for life, and this greatly saddened him, but he also realized that his knowledge would be a great tool in possibly escaping slavery. His small knowledge of reading sparked him to completely learn how to read by learning from the little white boys in the neighborhood. he then went on to learn how to write by examining shipping crates marked with letters and befriending a little boy who also taught Douglass. This ability to read and write is what separates Douglass from all of the other slaves. He is smarter than them, and therefore can create a good plan to escape from his master and make it to the north where he could live a free life. He read newspapers and books whenever he could and used them to learn about numerous things. One very important thing that he learned was about the abolitionist movement. This knowledge that he learned was his key to freedom. With each new thing that he learned, the more capable he became of escaping. He read a book about a slave and his master and how the slave eventually gained freedom. This gave Douglass the idea that he could eventually gain freedom. He also realized that what his mistress’s husband had said was true. If given an inch, he would take a mile. Douglas was given an inch by the small amount of teaching his mistress gave him. he took a mile by using this knowledge to learn how to read and write and better his chances of escape. Once he had started to gain knowledge there was no stopping him.
I thought the quote that you chose to write about was significant to the story because he was starting to learn about the world that he lived in. I could tell that you understood what was going on during this part because you said that Douglass finally had hope that he could be free. I think that you used the information that we discussed during the Socratic Seminar to formulate your response.
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ReplyDelete“What he most dreaded, that I most desired. What he most loved, that I most hated.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote refers to the differences of the will of the master and the slave; Frederick Douglass. It especially states the variances of education; as the slave holder wishes to banish the teaching of reading and writing, but the slave wishes to one day abolish slavery. It explains a broad spectrum of how Douglass and his masters didn’t see eye to eye. What Douglass desired, is what his master took away from him, which was being able to read and write. He believed that learning to read and write could have a positive effect on slavery in the future and soon end slavery as a whole. Douglass dreaded the way their slave owner’s treated them, which was degrading and they were sought to be respected as less than human. The slave owner’s wanted to keep Douglass how he was; uneducated and without worth. The mindset of Douglass’s slave owner was much more different than how Douglass saw the world. From the sessions of reading lessons from Mrs. Auld, Douglass had become motivated to find a way out of slavery and a way to overcome the power that the white people had. Not only would Douglass had benefit from reading and been able to sufficiently read the newspaper to in hopes of one day abolishing slavery, but the slave owner’s wouldn’t allow the slaves in any way to be educated. A slave being educated was a major issue for the slave owner’s because they would grow intellectually and find a way to rebel against them. Easily, slaves outnumbered the amount of white men and women and that scared them so in order to keep them in line, they kept the slaves uneducated and free from any source of learning. Frederick Douglass overcame many of his hardships by using his wit to benefit himself and his race.
I found your response to be quite thoughtful. I enjoyed the way that you made Douglass and his master seem like two men clashing on what is right and wrong. I also enjoyed the way that you went on about slaves being more than able to outnumber the white people and start a rebellion. This was something that I had not though of. Overall, well done.
Delete“that very discontent which Master Hugh had predicted would follow my learning to read had already come, to torment and sting my soul to unutterable anguish. As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing” (9)
ReplyDeleteThis quote connects to the themes of freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness”. The first theme that this quote connects to is freedom. Freedom is displayed in this quote in the way that Douglass gains the ability to think more for himself; likewise, this allows him to gain a better understanding of what freedom is about. The next theme present in this quote is the american dream. The idea of the american dream is present in the suffering that Douglass now feels due to his newly gained knowledge. This shows the american dream in the way that Douglass now has a dream of freedom which is what is causing his anguish; moreover, this clearly displays the idea of the american dream. the third theme that relates to this quote is racism. This can be seen in what Master Hughes said about Douglass learning. Even though Hughes says this to oppress Douglass, he also does this in order to stop Douglass from realizing his true potential. These examples clearly reveal racism in the way that Hughes tries to not only oppress Douglass but also stop him from reaching his true potential due only to him being a slave. This also connects to regionalism in the way that Douglass had to face this extreme racism. Him facing this shows regionalism because it reveals the culture of pre civil war America. The second to last theme that is openly shown in this quote is “individual vs. society”. This idea is seen through the way that Douglass goes against what society wants him to do in his pursuit of knowledge. This in turn connects to the theme of “individual vs. society”. The last theme shown in this quote is “civilized society vs. wilderness”. This is seen in the way that Douglass has to battle society's expectations of him and his natural instinct to be free. Likewise, this displays the very core of “civilized society vs. wilderness” in the way that Douglass has to battle his inner urge to escape slavery.
I like how you connected the brief quote to so many themes that we have learned throughout the year. All of the themes are evident and you show that with your support of your claim in the first sentence. Your support of the themes shown in the quote is detailed and on the point. Great job.
Delete“You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?”
ReplyDeleteThis quote is the first time that Douglass realizes that he is a slave for life. At this time in the autobiography he is talking to the white boys that taught him how to read and write. This forces him into deep thought about what his life is truly about. He obviously never appreciated the ideals of slavery, but never actually thought of the consequences of slavery. Up to this point in the autobiography Douglass never mentions the chance of being enslaved for life. He never talks about it really. This quote is the first time he actually thinks about his state in life, a slave for life. This is also the first time that the reader sees Douglass show some abolitionist actions. As it is well known, he becomes one the most famous abolitionists in the movement. He delivers great speeches about the end of slavery. He calls all of America to unite to end slavery. His goal is obviously reached after the end of the Civil War. In this quote Douglass also shows his urge for equality when he says that hasn’t he has as good of a right to be free as the white boys. He wants equality for himself and for everyone else that is enslaved throughout America. Another purpose for Douglass to say this is to try to change the thinking of the boys he is talking to. He might be trying to show them that he should be equal to them, even though the white boys have been taught throughout their life that they are above the slaves and all people of African descent. This shows that he has the ability to change minds this early in his life. He changes many minds later in his life through the abolitionist movement. Douglass has all the makings of a great leader to end slavery even this early in his life.
You picked a very good quote. It comes at an important time in the narrative. Douglass never actually realizes that he is a slave and bound for life. At the point he realizes this is when he really wants to find a way out. With him then learning how to read and write, he has advantages that other slaves don’t have, and advantages slave owners don’t know about.
DeleteNice job
In this quote Frederick Douglass is describing a very difficult life for slaves, especially under Mr. Gore. He is essentially saying if you are accused or appear to have done something wrong, you will be punished as if you actually did do it. Slaveholders were looking for any chance they could get to abuse their slaves. Any small thing could set a master off, and give a slave a whipping. Douglass also goes on to say, the only way a slave will escape punishment is to not be accused of anything. It would be very difficult for slaves to not be beaten at all, since owners would be looking for a reason to beat them. Douglass’ tone throughout this quote and narrative is not angry or upset, as most people would assume. He is very calm, and every word seems to be throughout carefully. As a slave he wouldn’t want say and write everything wrong about what Mr. Gore does to his slaves. That would only do more harm to him than Mr. Gore. As an African American in this time he could easily be arrested, beaten, or possibly killed for disrespecting a white man. Instead he simply stating his experience as a slave so others can be informed about what is actually going on. This quote relates to the themes of racism and survival in many ways. One clear way is that this was how many African American slaves were treated in the south as slaves. Although this was before racism, slavery had an influence and was a leading factor to racism and prejudice in later years. The theme of survival is seen in how slaves will learn their masters way of doing things. Some may be more aggressive like Mr. Gore. Others may be more a bit more respectful towards their slaves. Knowing what your owner was like is necessary for survival.
ReplyDeleteHere is the quote,
Delete“To be accuse was to be convicted, and to be convicted was to be punished; the one always following the other with immutable certainty. To escape punishment was to escape accusation; and few slaves had the fortune to do either, under the overseership of Mr. Gore.”(Pg. 1)
This is a great quote that you chose and you connected it to the themes of the story very well. The themes of racism and the survival in many ways. You were very thorough in your response to the quote and did a very great job on analyzing.
Delete“I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. ‘You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?’ These words to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope that something would occur by which I might be free”(6).
ReplyDeleteThis quote connects to the theme of freedom and racism because he was not given the same rights as the white boys and never will be able to grow up a free man like they could. Frederick was proving in this quote that he now realized that the way he was being treated was unjust. This was because he saw the way that other kids could live and it didn’t dawn on him until Baltimore that he was going to be a slave for his whole life and not get to grow up the way that the white boys that he might do. In this quote he is talking to the little boys about giving him hope of being free. The author’s purpose of this could have been to be show the reader’s that Frederick was not realizing his fate and how it wasn’t fair to him. This passage is also reflecting on the fact that Frederick must have trusted the boys because he was able to tell them about his situation. This quote connects to the overall theme of this freedom. This quote was said by the narrator which is Frederick, and he is talking to the boys from the neighborhood. Commentary that is being made on nature is that freedom was something that not everyone had during this time and how freedom is very necessary for all people. When this quote was said when he was talking to the boys in the neighborhood that they met. The reason that they don’t know about how slavery really works shows that kids during that time were not knowledgeable about the people that were working as a slave in their houses. He is telling the boys that he wishes he could grow up and be free like they will be. They felt bad for him and wanted him to be free one day. This showed that Frederick had a lot of down time to visit these boys and inform them of his situation. This passage summarizes the theme of freedom, which at this point he doesn't have. The purpose of this quote is to reveal that the reason for slavery was not known to everyone that had one. It showed the innocence of the kids and that Frederick saw what he never will be able to be, which is a free kid. This connection that the characters are making with each other is showing that this young slave is meeting other kids his age that are different than him. This passage is telling that Frederick is learning the truth about the fate of his life and how he will forever be a slave.
Your quote choice is excellent because this passage contains another point in Douglas’s life where he realizes the truth about his situation as a slave. Your response addresses this quite well, along with connecting it to the ignorance of the white boys, who helped Fredrick Douglass learn to read, to the blunt truth of his life as a slave.
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ReplyDelete“Have I not as good a right to be free as you have?” [6).
This quote relates to the themes of freedom and racism. Douglass said this quote when talking to white people out on the streets that were not slaves and he wanted to make them have pity on him because he kept bringing up the idea of how bad slavery was whenever he was around them. His phrase connects to the theme of freedom because every slaves dream is to be free and freedom is what they want, so douglass refers to why he can not be free just as the white men are to show that freedom is something that he wants. This quote also reflects on the theme of racism because there are white people outside of the slavery walls and there are African American slaves that are slaves inside the slave walls and it just shows how the race or color of skin has some effect when it comes to slaves. Because there were no white slaves in this particular situation it is a bit racist by having the white kids on the outside free and the black kids on the inside enslaved. Even though the white kids end up helping douglass it still is a sign of racism just based on their freedom which connects back to the theme of freedom. The two themes of racism and freedom connect with each other in multiple different senses and ways. A way that they connect is that because of racism blacks are enslaved and they dream to free as the whites are which is a dream of freedom. Another way that the two themes differentiate is that because of racism there is no sense of freedom for slaves because they are told that they are slaves for life. The two themes of freedom and racism are perfect for this quote and the whole story as a whole.
“Nothing seemed to make her more angry than to see me with a newspaper. She seemed to think that here lay the danger. I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension. She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other”(6).
ReplyDeleteFredrick Douglass is motivated to include this passage in his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass- An American Slave because it is a number of important realizations that he experienced in his youth. At a young age, when he was a slave under Master and Mistress Hugh, Fredrick Douglass was taught he alphabet and how to read basic words. When Mr. Hugh discovered what his wife had been doing, he condemned the action and even entertaining the idea of educating slaves would undermine their authority. He said that an educated slave was “unmanageable, and of no value to his master”(5). The outburst of her husband began to transform Mrs. Hugh from her peaceful and gentle nature, to one corrupted with the evil and power of slavery. Young Fredrick Douglas soon realized the immense power that slavery had over changing the minds both master and slave alike. He understood that the source of the white man’s power over the slaves was to keep them uneducated and have unquestioning obedience. This discovery gave Douglass the personal goal of teaching himself how to read and write. His journey to learning led him closer to his freedom from their power. Douglass depicts the reformed Mistress Hugh’s total objection to slavery and education. In this quotation, he describes the reinforcing idea that to be educated is to be free. The author is confronted with the unrestrained objection of slave owners towards slaves learning the truth about the system of slavery. Even a newspaper is treated as a threat to the way of life to slave owners, further supporting Douglass’ own questions as to the truth of white supremacy to blacks. He includes this passage in his narrative for the other reason of showing his defiance of slavery and his strive for equality in freedom.
I really like the quote that you picked, it has a huge impact on the story and helps readers understand that at this time slaves and education were not even used in the same sentence. I also enjoyed how you connected your points throughout your response and made it all flow very well. Great job i enjoyed reading it.
Delete“To be accuse was to be convicted, and to be convicted was to be punished; the one always following the other with immutable certainty. To escape punishment was to escape accusation; and few slaves had the fortune to do either, under the overseership of Mr. Gore.”(Pg. 1)
ReplyDeleteDouglass is sharing the fact that slaves were treated extremely unfair, he talks about them being punished and how harsh the punishments always were. Here he uses an example of a man who sought to make the lives of slaves miserable, and that was Mr. Gore. According to the white slave owners, slaves were wrong no matter what, and if something went wrong it must have been the slaves fault. No matter if the slave did it or not, they would be blamed. As Douglass states, to be blamed means that they would be punished with no questions asked. He also shows that the slave owners did not think twice about punishing their slaves, this hints that it was okay to do whatever they desired, since the slave was their property. This quote has a huge importance to the overall text and it is the fact that along with the horrible conditions and jobs that the slaves had, they were also beaten and punished for things they did wrong or did not do well enough. It never talks about the slaves being acknowledged for the good work that they did and these ideas are very important to what Douglass is trying to say. He is looking back and talking about how harsh things were, how they needed to change. African American slaves had no one to stand up for them, they were help less. Douglass proves that in his writing. Another way he proves it is by writing, he is one of the few slaves that actually knew how to read and write. Mr. Gore in this quote was shown as a very harsh man and the purpose for that is to let readers of the time and readers later on know what is and was happening to the slaves. Douglass did not want people to forget what the slaves had to endure because it did show their strength and humility.
Really good quote choice on the analysis! I thought that this was done very well and brought up good points to focus on, such as in the beginning when you talked about Mr. Gore and at the end with why Douglas wrote it. You did a really good job on this assignment.
Delete“Any thing, no matter what, to get rid of thinking! It was this everlasting thinking of my condition that tormented me. There was no getting rid of it. It was pressed upon me by every object within sight or hearing, animate or inanimate. The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness. Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever. It was heard in every sound, and seen in every thing. It was ever present to torment me with a sense of my wretched condition. I saw nothing without seeing it, I heard nothing without hearing it, and felt nothing without feeling it. It looked from every star, it smiled in every calm, breathed in every wind, and moved in every storm.”
ReplyDeleteIn this quote by the author, Frederick Douglas, he talks about how he feels basically worthless after he found out the reality of slavery. This quote connects to the theme of racism the best out of the topics available. He had read a piece of literature that had talked about the topics of slavery and racism and while he was reading it, it talked about how slaves were captured by the owners and sent to be slaves in the Americas simply because of their race and how those people were of a lesser quality than the others. This is an example of racism and how bad it was back then. The latter part of the quote where Douglas is talking about how he couldn’t get rid of the thinking was caused by racism. It shows how racism and slavery had made Douglas to basically feel like he is worth absolutely nothing. This quote also goes along with the theme of individual vs. society. In general, the individual was Douglas and society was pretty much everything and everyone else. Douglas had to face not only his owners, but pretty much everyone else so he could have some of the basics of life, such as reading and writing. For this quote more specifically, he was conflicted with the same individual vs. society conflict but in that case he it was about how everyone else made him feel so low, that he thought of himself as basically worthless. He basically thought that he was more worthless than a piece of paper essentially and he was reminded of this in everything that he saw, heard, and felt. It had gotten to the point in which he had though that he should have killed himself, but he fought against society and prevailed. All in all, the quote is useful in not only identifying racism, but also in seeing that the theme of the individual vs. the society is present.
I really enjoyed how you picked this certain topic of race and thought that it was smart that you picked such a quote that showed how Douglass’ eyes were opened to it when he gained knowledge to read and write. The two focal points fit together perfectly and play off one another.
Delete“I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead.”
ReplyDeleteIn this quote Frederick Douglass explains how he simply wishes that he wasn’t alive and that he never existed in the first place. Douglass said this sad unfortunate thing when he was being taught to read, but was abruptly stopped by master Auld. This crushed Douglass because he was just beginning to realise how much more there was to the world then what he knew and how much potential he actually he to be something truly extraordinary, then his dreams were swiftly crushed. He saw no point in life if all he ever did was mindlessly serve someone. This quote is connected to realism because Douglass’ “American Dream” like many slaves was to be free from the oppressive nature of slavery and to do what they always wanted. In this case it was to learn how to read and write so that he can become a working part of society and get the rest of his brothers free from slavery like he got himself. Douglass did not want the simple life a handyman work anymore, he wanted to be a smart confident man who was able to make a better life for the people that come after him and to let the world know what slavery actually is by humanizing African American slaves. Douglass’ dreamed of a world where all people are equals no matter the skin color and in the end that is what he got. This quote just shows the reader how bad he wanted to learn and not just be a mindless slave with no real point to living accept serving his master. Anyone in Douglass’ shoes being so close to see the truth, but not being able to get there would feel that there was no point in life as well.
I like that you chose a quote that focuses on how Frederick Douglas was feeling. You did well choosing a significant quote. Your quote analysis is well done and your points are clearly mentioned within it.
DeleteA very dramatic line in the reading, this quote describes a part in Douglas' life and your analysis really captures this fact. Very thorough job and very good use of emotive language in your analysis of the work.
Delete“My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction and husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. It is due, however, to my mistress to say of her, that she did not adopt this course of treatment immediately.”
ReplyDeleteDouglas says this quote in the beginning of chapter seven when he is describing his life after moving to Baltimore to live with the Hugh family. Douglas explains that his new mistress had started to teach him how to read. She had stopped teaching Douglas how to read after her husband convinced her that letting a slave become educated would encourage them to rebel and runaway. He does admit that his mistress slowly changed from a kind-hearted woman to a stone-hearted woman who was similar to other typical slave owners. However, Douglas did succeed in learning how to read. His mistress eventually grew to be even harsher than her husband was. She would sometimes find Douglass with newspapers and become furious. She soon understood that if slaves were given the ability to become educated that they would have a greater chance at gaining their freedom. Mistress Hugh had already made the mistake of teaching him the alphabet though. “had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell.” (Ch. 7) Douglas knew that he could learn and would learn how to read because he already knows the alphabet. After being caught with so many newspapers Douglas soon lost the small amount of trust he had from his masters but he still finds a way to learn how to read. Even with reduced trust Douglas finds free time to get a reading lesson from one of the local urchins. Douglas barely has any freedom at this point in his life and still finds a way to educate himself.
I like how you used quotes from the passage in your analysis and your quote seems to have been chosen well. I like how you explained the harshness of the husband and how it grew on the wife as well.
Delete"I used to talk this matter of slavery over with them. I would sometimes say to them, I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. 'You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?' These words used to trouble them; they would express me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope something would occur by which i might be free."
ReplyDeleteThis passage by Fredrick Douglas describes his conversations with white boys while he was a slave in Baltimore. These lines written by Douglas are particularly important to relating his life with the lives of the free young men in which he encountered. The fact that he had befriended white boys and would have discussions over the matter of slavery with them is a very perplexing idea, as most people imagine that if a slave were to speak to any person in the united states of a different race that they would immediately be put to death; although this was likely the case in some states, it was likely not so much true in the more bustling cities like Baltimore. Douglas says in this passage that the fact that he told his white friends how he had just as much a right to be free as they had troubled them, which shows how even the privileged young white children whom may even own slaves in their own homes, failed to understand why African Americans were enslaved and treated like dirt compared to people with white skin. I believe that by speaking to these boys, Douglas showed himself as a human being rather than a possession and even may have changed the mindsets of these boys whom would earnestly comfort Douglas, assuring him that one day he might be freed.