He could not change his condition, even though he knew it well that what people did to him and his fellow slaves was very wrong and inhumane.

However, it is one thing to know what is going on in society, but another thing to be able to change it. One can enslave the body, but can never enslave a free mind. He was completely right about that, knowledge frees the mind. Frederick had this notion in his head that something great would happen to him if only he had knowledge. He was young then and it is debatable if he understood the depths of his condition in society so it is intriguing that he had this spark within himself that would rather worry about feeding his mind instead of his belly. It’s important to keep in mind that he was a slave that clearly had other and more immediate things to care about, like cold nights, hunger and solitude, but instead he focused on learning to read. He understood it as a door that had just opened if his master did not want him to do this, then there must be some advantage for him if he pursued it. (page 250 chapter vi)” And instead of accepting this and conforming to his master’s ideas, he speculated why it would be so bad if he knew how to read. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. Auld said: “If you teach that nigger how to read, there would be no keeping him. His reaction to this event is not what one would expect from a slave.

There are many interesting things in his narrative particularly when Mr.

He proves to be smart even before he knew how to read and write. It debunked the idea that slaves were not intelligent beings or capable of thought. The narrative, which was written by Frederick Douglass, a slave, is in itself an example of perseverance and strength. The narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass is a very inspirational work of art.

Diary of frederick douglass