Iozzi

Isabella Iozzi

Mrs. Bouch

Honors English 11

March 9, 2018

Knowledge is a Path to Freedom

What it would be like to not be able to read or write, or even understand the lifestyle a

person is living? That is exactly how slaves felt. They were dehumanized by their owners so

much that they did not even know their birthdays. Slaveholders thought the more the slaves

knew, the worse off they were. Throughout the book The Narrative Life of Fredrick Douglass,

the theme that knowledge is the path to freedom is developed through details, the characters, and

quotes of others in the book.

Fredrick first develops the theme that knowledge is a path to freedom through the details

in the book. It is first seen when Fredrick learns the ABCs from Mrs. Auld. However, Mr. Auld

gets very upset by this and tells her to never teach him anything again. Mr. Auld doesn’t want

Fredrick to be taught anything because he knows that they won’t be able to control him as easily

with the more knowledge they have. Additionally, Fredrick understands his bad lifestyle of

slavery with the more education he has. He says, “I have found that, to make a contented slave, it

is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision,

and, as far as possible, to annihilate the power of reason. He must be able to detect no

inconsistencies in slavery; he must be made to feel that slavery is right.” (Douglass. 44). The

more knowledge that Fredrick gains, the more he realizes that being a slave is a horrible way to

live. He sees that he has no freedom and control of his own life. Fredrick realizes that he is a man

rather than just a slave.

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When Fredrick realize the injustice of slavery, he wants to become free but cannot do anything

about it except escape. If he gets caught escaping, he is severely punished and whipped.

Douglass says, “I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering,

partial and hypocritical Christianity of the land... I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers,

the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels.” (Douglass.34). He now understands that

there are two different types of Christianity in the south, slave holding Christianity and

Christianity. Slave holding Christianity is to make the slave holders feel better about themselves

and allow them to think that what they are doing is right. Fredrick knowledge allows him to

know more than the other slaves and to want his freedom even more. With the knowledge that

Fredrick gains, he now wants to be a free man.

This theme is also developed through the characters in the book. When Frederick goes to

Mr and Mrs.Auld’s house, he finds poor little white boys that teach him to read. He tricks them

into teaching him by bribing them. Douglass says, “Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet

depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.” (Douglass. 40).

He is saying that is freedom needs to be worked for and it does not come easily. Fredrick wants

to gain knowledge because it is a path to freedom. Secondly, Fredrick fights Covey, who is the

farmer and slave- breaker, because he realizes through the knowledge he gains that he is more

than just a slave, but also a man. Frederick realizing that he is becoming a man is an important

detail. This is important because slaves are extremely dehumanized, and now that he realizes that

he is a man he wants his freedom. The characters throughout the book help to show the theme

that knowledge is a path to freedom.

Lastly, the theme is developed through the quotes of others. Fredrick learns something

very important when Mr. Auld tells his wife to not teach him:
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“Whilst I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was

gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from

my master. The very decided manner with which he spoke and strove to impress his wife

with the evil consequences of giving me instruction, served to convince me that he was

deeply sensible of the truths he was uttering. It gave me the best assurance that I might

rely with the utmost confidence on the results which, he said, would flow from teaching

me to read.” (Douglass.3).

Although this made it harder for him to learn, Fredrick learns the power of knowledge.

Furthermore, Mr. Auld says the knowledge will bring suffering. The more that Fredrick knows,

the worse he will feel about himself and his situation. The knowledge will make it harder for Mr.

Auld to control him, so he will be punished. Fredrick will want his freedom that much more

because he knows that being a slave is terrible. Without knowledge, he did not know anything

different than being a slave. Finally, when Fredrick is at Coveys he speaks up. After had giving

up and refusing to speak, he gains his confidence back and states, “Once you learn to read, you

will be forever free.” (Douglass. 68). Fredrick is saying that when a slave gains knowledge he

will become a free man. The quotes from Fredrick and others show the power of knowledge.

Through the details, the characters, and quotes of others in the book the theme that

Knowledge is a path to freedom is shown. The details and characters show how he learned

knowledge and his worth. The quotes prove that through knowledge, he gains his freedom. This

is important because it shows how knowledge helped Fredrick achieve his freedom. He did not

know how to read or write, or even understand his lifestyle. However, Fredrick works hard and

finds ways to acquire knowledge. These supports show that the knowledge Fredrick gains led to

his successful escape and freedom.