Frederick Douglass Broken Man

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In the early years of this country our founders longed for the freedom and inalienable rights which were inherently theirs. These men fought and died so that they might have the opportunities they felt they were being denied. At this same time these same men were denying this freedom to an entire race of men, women, and children. Among this race lived a man who, like his oppressors, refused to let that which was given to him by God be taken from him. This man was Frederick Douglass, a slave, an orator, an abolitionist author, but above all a human being. Douglass saw the destruction of his brothers and watched them let their spirit be broken and beaten by hypocrisy. Frederick Douglass began his Narrative as a broken man …show more content…

He later uses his unbreakable spirit to gain his freedom and overcome impossible odds. Then finally, Douglass does not settle with gaining his own freedom but sets out to help others gain theirs as well and in the process becomes one of the most respected abolitionists of all time. Fredrick Douglass begins his narrative describing the dire conditions of his childhood. He uses very casual language which connotes the feeling that he believes this type of life is normal. For example, he discusses his birth and the separation from his mother at birth, "It is a common custom...to part children from their mothers at a very early age." (Douglass 13). This separation was specifically used to disassociate children with their parents. By doing so, masters could keep familial bonds from forming and kill a natural part of being human. The need for parental guidance, love, and care is human instinct, by …show more content…

For example Douglass begins teaching a Sabbath school in which he teaches fellow slaves. He feels that, .".instructing my dear fellow-slaves was the sweetest engagement with which I was ever blessed." (Douglass 55). Douglass finds joy and solace in helping others at great risk to himself. He later states that after his successful escape, " When I think that those precious souls are to-day shut up in the prison-house of slavery, my feelings overcome me,..." (Douglass 55). Douglass is selfless and his strongest attribute is that he never thinks solely of himself. Early on he does not write heavily on his own pain but more of that of those around him. It is Douglass' altruistic nature and giving soul that saves him and ultimately rewards him the greatest freedom man can obtain, the freedom to teach others of that which you are passionate about. Finally, Douglass finds his opportunity to speak about the chain that bound him and' "From that time until now, I have been engaged in pleading the case of my brethren.." (Douglass75). Douglass does not settle with his own freedom but resolves to educate not only those who are enslaved but their enslavers as well about the horrors and hypocrisy of

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