By recounting his difficult self-educating experience, Douglass exposes how the slavery system ruins both the slaves and slaveholders. (2021, November 7). Due to the white kids that were helping him being poor and hungry he exchanged bread for lesson on how to read and write. The once kind hearted woman was changed into a woman to be feared. He engaged in speaking tours and edited North Star, a newspaper named for the one guide escaping southern slaves could rely on to nd their way to freedom . Learning to read in English will allow you to read far more texts than you were able to before. His anguish is so great that he "would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing" (p. 84). In his article Learning to Read and Write (1818-1895), Frederick Douglass wrote about his experiences with learning how to read and write as a slave. We would do well to acknowledge his daring escape from slavery, powerful oratory, leadership on civil and womens rights. Mr. Auld declared that an education would spoil him and forever unfit him to be a slave (2054). Why was education so important to Frederick Douglass? After escaping to the North in 1838, he settled in Bedford, Massachusetts, where he became active in the abolitionist movement. Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass: Analysis. He kept America focused on hard truths because he believed it necessary to a strong democracy. Perhaps his greatest legacy? Literacy is linked to economic success as literacy levels help determines the kind of jobs people find, the salaries they make and their ability to upgrade their work skills. Learning To Read And Write Frederick Douglass Analysis The struggles are being told in Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass. But they weren't his only activities. He fought a 'slavebreaker'. He takes hope from the fact that the country is young, only seventy-six years old. In 1845, Douglass committed his story to print, publishing the first of three autobiographies, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, with the support of Garrison and other abolitionists. Additional materials, such as the best quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your writing easier are also offered here. When Douglass had to run an errand he always to his book with him along with a piece of bread. It meets the need of the primary audience since most slaves are not literate people. More sophisticated his ideas of constructivism, sociolinguistics and psychology literacy sound in this essay. You are free to use it to write your own assignment, however you must reference it properly. This is demonstrated through, The positive relationship between economic development and literacy levels and the impact of investment in education on economic growth are well established. He got the assignment done early and it was exactly what was needed. Despite the struggles that Frederick Douglass encountered, he still managed to learn to become literate on his own and became a well-known and successful writer we all look up to today. 13 Incredible Facts About Frederick Douglass - Mental Floss As for Douglass, he called the battle with Covey the turning point in his life as an enslaved person: It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me my own sense of manhood. Douglass's narrative was an autobiography that told of his life from his earliest days as a slave in Maryland to his escape to the North in 1838. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. According to Douglass (6) the only way to challenge the power of slave-masters over their subjects is through education. In the essay "Learning to Read and Write," Frederick Douglass illustrates how he successfully overcome the tremendous difficulties to become literate. The objective evaluation enhanced the credibility of his article. Douglass states: The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers. Reading gives Douglass access to a new world that opens before him, but the strongest effect of his literacy is the light it casts on the world he already knows. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. That could help them to understand the nature of their slavery and begin to struggle for freedom, as Douglass did. Douglass lived in a slave house for seven years. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass: Analysis Answer: To Frederick Douglass, learning was "the pathway from slavery to freedom." And despite being prohibited from being taught by Mrs. Auld, he was determined to continue his learning by himself. The things he was learning fascinated him, but the more [he] read, the more [he] was led to abhor and detest [his] enslavers(Douglass 35); however, that should not be viewed as a negative affect but a positive one. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Helps you learn new things. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The language of the text is direct and easy to understand. Douglass illustrates his thirst for literacy through [The] bread [he] used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give [him] that more valuable bread of knowledge (pg 23). Education could help enlighten the people and expand their understanding of contemporary issues such as their human rights. Blassingame writes, "Blazoned, scrutinized, excoriated, Frederick Douglass by the early 1850s was fixed in the American public's mind as a real person who had earlier passed through the mill of slaveryhe had almost single-handedly restored vigor to the slave narratives as key weapons in the antislavery crusade." Alexie saw the world in a more positive manner than Douglass, African-American slaves were forbidden to obtain the knowledge of being able to read or write, stemming from the fear of white masters that educated slaves will overpower them. The Douglasses made a commitment to eradicating the evil of slavery. Those in the former category lauded Douglass's revelation of the realities of slavery and his own remarkable character and intellect. In the event your son or daughter has questioned why reading is important, we have put together a list of the top reasons to emphasize the importance of reading for your child. Born as a slave in the pre-Civil War south, Douglass was not expected to be literate. I admit, before this intro course, I was indeed ignorant of the negative impacts that consumption had on society. His mistress was kind she taught him the letters of Alphabet and she always instruct him and one day she changed and suddenly stopped teaching him because of the inequality of the people. How Reading 'Ruined' Frederick Douglass as a Slave The slaves on the plantation do not know how to read and therefore do not view being a slave the way Douglass views it. Despite the obstacles in the way to knowledge, it is still possible for the black slaves to be able to read and write. I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. Learning to read is important to practicing freedom because in order to get freedom, you have to have knowledge and to get that knowledge you have to be able to read and get your own ideas. He cannot escape until he has learned to read, write, and think for himself about what slavery really is. READ MORE: What Frederick Douglass Revealedand Omittedin His Famous Autobiographies. Of all the inspiring things to be recovered in Douglass life, his work in pursuit of social justice remains the most compelling. The level of education of the slaves on the plantation allow them to be manipulated by their masters. 2. He escaped from slavery in a disguise. November 7, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/learning-to-read-and-write-by-frederick-douglass-analysis/. It enables us to better understand our environment and achieve personal success in our lives.It has a wide range of benefits for economis, social, and political development of a country. (Credit: J. R. Eyerman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images), Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), J. R. Eyerman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images, first African American to receive a vote for President of the United States, Frederick Douglass's Emotional Meeting with the Man Who Enslaved Him, lent his voice to the emerging womens-rights movement, What Frederick Douglass Revealedand Omittedin His Famous Autobiographies, Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision, https://www.history.com/news/frederick-douglass-bicentennial. StudyCorgi. Identify textual evidence from the excerpt that reveals why learning to Does this plain description really arouse other slaves interests and inspire them to read? In spite of his lessons coming to an end, Frederick Douglass was determined to learn to read and write so he could escape his life of slavery and enter a new found life of freedom. With his determination Douglass was ready to do anything to learn. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Themes | SparkNotes Why does Frederick Douglass say reading is a curse? Douglass learning how to read and write caused him to deal with his readings emotionally and mentally. I wished to learn to write, as I might have occasion to write my own pass (Douglass page 60). Also while living with Mr. Freeland, Frederick decided enough was enough and he needed to get out of slavery. Identify textual evidence from the excerpt that reveals why learning to See answers Advertisement tadesseisrael53 Answer: His undying desire to learn to read and write Explanation: Advertisement scarlettspades77 His undying desire to read and write These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Why was education so important to Frederick Douglass? Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. In the narrative Why I Learned to Read and Write, by Frederick Douglass he expressed how difficult life had been being a slave. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Why were literacy and reading so important to Douglass in - eNotes It had given me a view of my wretched conditions, without the remedy. (Douglass 262). People in their hometown were not allowed to teach slaves to read. Frederick Douglass - Biography, Leader in the Abolitionist Movement "Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass: Analysis." Plus, you can print the list out and keep it on hand in case anyone asks you why it is important to read. Summary of article "Learning to Read and Write" by Frederick Douglass. They felt like he would listen to the Irishman when he said They both advised me to run away to the north; that I should find friends there, and that I should be free. After losing his only source of teaching he resorted to the lest fortunate white kids for help. Identify textual evidence from the excerpt that reveals why learning to read was so important to Frederick Douglass when he was a boy. While we do understand that reading is important it can be a difficult thing to put into words. It could destroy the comfortable world of his masters. Douglass would take his bread and trade it for reading lessons from the local poor children who were hungry. Learning how to read was important to Douglass life because he started to figure out how to read newspapers and books when he was left alone. In the fragment of his autobiography Learning to Read and Write he tells how he succeeds in the literacy. Douglass says that slaves minds were starved by their cruel masters(Douglass, 48) and that they had been shut up in mental darkness (Douglass, 48) and through education, something that they were deprived of, Frederick Douglass is able to open their minds and allow them to flourish into the complex people that they are. In many situations during the 1800s when slavery was prominent we can see that education holds power in society. FYS opened my mind to the dangers of over-consumption, and more importantly, helped me see beyond what meets the eye. Moving to Baltimore helped Douglass find opportunities at a young age. He thinks that education is a key part to our life; it is the only way to get freedom. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Although Frederick Douglass was not expected to be literate, he taught himself how because he believed that education should be for everyone, not just a few privileged children. What does the poem introduction to poetry by Billy Collins mean. Douglass knew that reading would lead to his freedom, and although he had lost his teacher, he was determined to learn how to read: I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read.. While educating himself he dealt with many obstacles that prolonged his education. The woman of the house thought him how to read and write some things. In addition, Douglass had many obstacles that might have led him to give up, but he still had the courage to learn. Chapter 7 - Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass's Life Frederick Douglass, originally Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland. Frederick Douglass was born a slave in rural Talbot County, Maryland. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Douglass believed that freedom of speech was essential to abolitionism. Some who knew the Anthonys and the Aulds attacked Douglass; his most ardent foe was A.C.C. READ MORE: How Frederick Douglass Escaped Slavery, After speaking at an anti-slavery meeting in 1841, Douglass met William Lloyd Garrison, one of the leading proponents calling for an immediate end to slavery. Douglass also shows the effect that reading and writing bestowed upon him. And he accepted all these gifts and used them. After that conflict and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, he continued to push for equality and human rights until his death in 1895. Frederick Douglass and his contemporaries used the essential tools of literacy and vocational training to uplift and help African Americans to thrive during this difficult time. Frederick Douglass believed that all people are created equal. You can read to escape, read to learn, read to destress, and read to grow. Why does Douglass feel hopeful about Americas future? What heroic ideals does Douglass represent? It showed his horrible situation, but not how to escape it. Douglass was encouraged by his abolitionist friends to publish his story, which had gained prominence from his multiple speeches on the subject. In addition, Douglass shows how he was introduced to the literacy by his mistress Sophia Auld. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The fellow slaves had the ability to remain content with their current state of being since it was all they had ever known. Frederick Douglass was defiant while on the other hand he was also very determined which had a great affect on his want to. And we may conclude that only hard work and longing for knowledge helped the boy in his dream. Six years later, as the crisis over slaverys future began to tear apart the nations political system, Douglass intensified his attacks on American hypocrisy and wanted to know just who could be an American. The narration based on his true story undoubtedly enhanced the external credibility of the article. In September of 1838 Douglass, disguised as a sailor and with borrowed free papers, managed to board a train to Havre de Grace, Maryland. Douglass strongly trusts on the skills of an educated thinker to attain freedom,The struggle for literacy, for command over the power of words, was the, In Frederick Douglasss narrative essay titled Learning to Read he recalls his journey to literacy. He eventually became friends with the children, and they taught him all they knew. Modern schools have textbooks and teachers. Frederick Douglass was born a slave in rural Talbot County, Maryland. He realized how important reading was when his masters got upset when he was learning how to read, which gave him the need to learn in order to find out the true freedom behind life. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. From the moment Frederick Douglass was given the tools to read books he was overcome with a joy and excitement for knowledge that inspired him to persevere regardless of the beliefs of others. 7 November. As he remarked: The thing worse than the rebellion is the thing that causes the rebellion. He further demanded that the Union allow Black men to enlist and aided the war effort by promoting recruitment. This means you will have access to even more fun things to read! This experience of unenlightened victim makes him strive for freedom, and educating himself Douglass became an empowered and determined man. and then Add to Home Screen. The author advises us what everybody should do. Empowering Frederick Douglass: Knowledge | Writing the "American" Self He travelled to Britain to avoid re-enslavement. Once, he found a Websters spelling book, but used it secretly from his master. Many Marylanders wrote in to validate Douglass's work, providing testimony that they knew him and/or his masters. She stopped teaching Douglass how to read and would monitor his whereabouts in her home to ensure that he was not reading anything. Summary of article "Learning to Read and Write" by Frederick Douglass Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The author tells us about a great opposition to his literacy, although his mistress was a kind and tender-hearted woman (Douglass). If you keep using the site, you accept our. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery as the son of a white slave master father and a black slave mother in Maryland in 1818.