Frederick Douglass Chapter 1 Questions And Answers

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1.Do you think it is possible to be a benevolent slaveholder? Why or why not?

It is possible to be a benevolent slaveholder because times were difficult to disagree to the injustices occurring to African Americans. The slave owners, such as Mrs. Auld "a most kind and tender hearted woman" (Douglass 498). She could do so with Frederick Douglass treating him like another human being or nearly as a son.

2.(a) How does Douglass learn to read?

Mrs. Auld teaches Douglass how to read and write, but later Douglass bargains with neighborhood kids with food in return for school book or any valuable lesson.

(b) What does Mrs. Auld initially think about Douglass's reading?

Mrs. Auld saw Douglass had potential to more that a chattel. …show more content…

Mrs. Auld became aggressive and opposing towards Douglass's reading because Mr. Auld told her to stop teaching Douglass. The issue is that because of the time frame of it being the 1800's-1850's women had to follow orders from men. Coming back to Mrs. Auld she was told what to do by Mr. Auld and therefore followed orders. In order for her to do so she had to completely change the person she was, the way her soul was by training, lying and justifying her actions with an extreme denial coping mechanism, cognitive dissonance.

3.(a) What is the attitude toward slavery of the white boys who help Douglass learn to read?

The attitude the white boys have towards slavery is that God made every man free with equal rights and God never made African Americans slaves nor did Douglass ever met a boy who defended the slave

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