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Douglass’ early life of residing in the slave world of broken wills and shattered hopes has changed him in many profound ways. Douglass’ ultimate goal is to achieve a status of freedom and equality, the two most important qualities among slaves. In contrast, what the slave owners striver for was to crush these two values and eliminate them from their hearts. “Thus, when the slaveholder, knowing his ignorance, cheats him with a dose of vicious dissipation, artfully labeled with the name of liberty’ (pop) says Douglass, proving that the slave owners did not only physically torment the enslaved but also held them back mentally.
Frederick Douglass uses his gift of knowledge and spread it to those in need around him, thus he overcomes the evil grasp of slavery and achieves freedom. In one particular scene of the story, Douglass witnesses how Hugh Laud constrains his wife from educating the slaves. Douglass may have realized that knowledge is what keeps slaves from rebelling, and in his pursuit of freedom Douglass worked awards passing on his education to the other slaves and by doing so Douglass has helped himself in fashioning a way to freedom and equality.
From this, we can tell that Douglass is quite an observant individual, and he continues to prove it so even during his escape, since he refuses to share any particular details of the process, he also creates a safer environment for other slaves on their way to freedom. His careful demeanor is once again shown when he changes his name from Bailey to Douglass in fears of being recaptured. Other than Douglass’ exceptional care and observations, he is also a master of perseverance.
Rented to Edward Covey by his master Thomas Laud, Douglass begins to live under the harsh whip and scorns of the notorious “slave breaker” Covey. There was one point that under Covey’s cruel and brutish treatment that Douglass cracked and almost lost his resolve to become an educated individual ready to make his chance at freedom; however, Douglass’ perseverance allows him to fight back so powerfully that Covey never touches him again. Often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead; and but for the hope of being free, I have no doubt but that I should have killed myself, ” (pop) says Douglass. As the story to progress on, Douglass furthers his resilience by working in a shipyard and saving money bit by bit and eventually buys his way out to freedom. Douglass himself even remarks on his own commitment “l have been engaged in pleading the cause of my brethren”. (IPPP) Through his many personal qualities Douglass has managed to achieve freedom ND equality.
When he finally does, Douglass comments, “l was my own master. It was a happy moment, the rapture of which can be understood only by those who have been slaves. ” (Pl 19), showing his exuberance of finally being free. Douglass continues to strive for the freedom of others. He even continues his personal development even after his emancipation, becoming a orator and advocate of the abolitionist movement. “The think their own better than that of others” (pop) says Douglass, as he finally makes his way to freedom through greed.
In some ways, the desire for freedom is a human idiosyncrasy shared by many. Personally, I value freedom extremely heavily, as I act on many whims that pop up in a human shackled is a mind broken and enslaved, the crushed happiness that results from this makes life seemingly worthless to me. However I doubt that I will have Douglass’ resolve to tumble out of condition as destitute as being a slave, and for this I admire his perseverance. Douglass achieves ultimate freedom equality through his observations, mentality, and his tenacity.