Frederick Douglass Escape Analysis

Part 1
FACTORS LEADING TO ESCAPE: Frederick Douglass’ escape can be attributed to two very key elements. One being his education and willingness to remain enlightened as well as his determination and confidence. Foremost, the enabling of Douglass’ escape from slavery was not his classification in an unjust society alone. Looking back at the characteristics and livelihood of the American society in the 1800’s, one can gain a clearer understanding of the society as a whole. Slaves who were deemed unfit to do anything but work vigorously in hard labor, were subjected to the belief that they were nothing more than property. Just as cattle on the plantations, slaves were believed to be animals and were treated as such. Hence, the belief that

Teaming up with Charles Lawson (Uncle Lawson), a very religious man or to whom Douglass referred to as his religious father, he soon began to gain knowledge from scriptures as well. From here, Douglass realized that the idea of being a slave for life was not in Gods plan for him and that in order to completely walk amongst the salvation of the Lord, he cannot be constricted by chains or the property of another man. It was not until Douglass left the innocence of his boyhood stage and was transformed into a man at the Covey planation in St. Michaels that this was all made true. Sent to Master Covey to be broken in, Douglas suffered merciless abuse from sun up to sun down each day. As illustrated in the novel, Covey was a presumptuous man who valued complete control over his slaves. After much gruesome torture from Covey, Douglass came to realize his destiny. From his spiritual African friend Sandy, to who had been a kind Samaritan in a fearful and desperate time of need, Douglas gained the confidence and strength to overcome his fear of Covey and all slaveholders in general. Consequently, after one long altercation between both Covey and Douglass that ended in the favor of Douglass, he proved to himself that he would no longer be beaten or torn down by an unjust system. At this point in time, Douglass was made aware that his confidence and esteem to fight for what he believed him would no doubt

In his memoir Douglass discusses the inability for blacks to trust no one, not even other blacks due to the increased risk of being captured. In part two of his memoir Douglass mentions to his readers his struggle to receive assistance with shelter and food from other blacks when he arrived in New York. Since other runaways or even free blacks feared that he could be a betrayer and risk their freedom, Douglass found no guidance or support. Likewise, in his NPR interview Foner goes into more detail of this concern. Foner asserts, that during the mid 1800’s it was a societal characteristic that whites, no matter the age or ranking had every right to question a black. Also, with the rewards for capture being priced at $100.00 or more, whites making only $250.00 a year were eager to capture slaves. Hence, the anxiety and terror to be completely on the run by yourself, unable to trust anyone and under the impression that every white was after you; was an unimaginable pressure that blacks faced. Foner goes on to describe that being that most fugitives came from Maryland, Delaware, DC and Virginia, the common fear was being sold to the south. With the increase in cotton demand it was widely believed that slave abuse was higher and work was more rigorous on southern