Analysis Of The Lonely, Good Company Of Books By Richard Rodriguez

The ability to read and write is truly the foundation of the modern world. Writing an essay or reading a novel is something that many people around the world take for granted, including Richard Rodriguez, the author of “The Lonely, Good Company of Books.” Rodriguez grew up in a Spanish-speaking family who did not appreciate the value of reading. Books were just another household item, and reading was more of a chore than anything. Throughout Rodriguez’s time in school, he learned that books were knowledge, and they would open doors he would have never dreamed of. Reading a book or taking a pen to paper is known to be a mindless task for much of the population, but that is definitely not the case for Frederick Douglass. He was an enslaved man who was imprisoned for many years with no freedom or opportunities to pursue his drive to learn how to read and write. Both Richard

Frederick Douglass was an enslaved man for seven years, living with Master Hugh’s family. He later escaped, ran away, and ended up in Massachusetts to finally experience the freedom he deserved. During his time living with his Master, he developed a keen interest in reading and writing. With limited access to the tools and materials needed to learn, he tried to find every opportunity available to become educated. Upon Douglass’s arrival, the Master’s wife was gentle and welcoming, and began to teach him the alphabet. It was only over time that he saw “his mistress” turn into a mean, angry woman