Hsun Tzu Man's Nature Is Evil

Born into a life of slavery, Frederick Douglass overcame a boatload of obstacles in his very accomplished life. While a slave he was able to learn how to read and write, which was the most significant accomplishment in his life. This was significant, not only because it was forbidden for a slave to read due to the slaveholders wanting to keep them ignorant to preserve slavery, but because it was the starting point for Frederick to think more freely and more profound. Frederick Douglass then taught other slaves how to read and write because he believed and taught “Once you learn to read you will be forever free” (Frederick Douglass). This man was an astonishing individual who

His ability to read and write gave him opportunity, a chance for hope. As every opportunity presented itself to Douglas, he would take it – from bribing the little boys on the street with pieces of bread in exchange for bits of knowledge to carving letters into driftwood – and make it into a beneficial situation. Douglas’ greatest benefit from learning to read and write, however, was that he could now compose complete thoughts to paper and convey them to other people. This has allowed others to benefit from his work even after his passing. Fredrick Douglas educated himself because he thought it held value, something that could not be taken away from him. There are two main reasons Fredrick educated himself.

What enlightens me about Douglass was his drive for education. He taught me while reading this Primary Source that despite what kind of obstacle that may try to come up against your success, if you believe in what you are fighting for, there is nothing that can stand in your way of accomplishing your goals. Over time I have often struggled with understanding college math. So many times I have wanted to give up but despite this feeling of agony, I chose to keep pushing myself to stay in the class because I am inspired by the life of Frederick Douglass that my goals will soon come to pass.

In ways Douglass was already very smart and had already beaten the system that put him down.

The first main change I saw in Fredrick Douglas’s life was learning to read and write. This gave him more confidence in himself. Frederick now realized how his fellow neighbors were very dumb. He felt he was gaining leverage on his master. “Quote on dumb friends”

Malcom X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” This quotation means that education is an important thing, and we should prepare for our future. Fredrick Douglass and Malcom X are two different men who write similar aspects. Fredrick Douglass is a slave, and Malcom X is a criminal, both were deprived of obtaining a higher sense of education. They are two activists who grew up to realize the importance of an education, in reading and writing. In Frederick Douglas’s essay “Learning to Read and Write” and Malcolm’s “Learning to Read” one can compare and contrast the analysis both essays.

Fredrick Douglass’s life as a slave was hard any slave’s life would be. He was born into slavery in Tuckahoe, Maryland where he lived as a slave while being raised by his grandparents. He was treated horribly by his masters growing up. Around when Fredrick was eight years old he got transported to Baltimore, Maryland where he worked for Hugh Auld who was strict as could be. On the contrary his wife was kind and actually got to teach Fredrick Douglass some reading and writing skills. Hugh Auld did not let it last so he made his wife stop teaching him. This was not the end of Douglass’s education because he pretty much taught himself how to read and write by looking at other people’s handwriting and also by using newspapers. Soon he was actually able to make out what the newspapers were saying so he could now know what was going on around the

Fredrick Douglass began life in a difficult position. Born into slavery, he did not have the good fortune of having a parent to attend to him. He witnessed unspeakable cruelty daily, which undoubtedly caused him a great deal of emotional distress. Yet, he never gave up on himself. Throughout his life, he continually sought to better himself through any means available to him. Against all odds, Douglass made tremendous strides in his efforts to better himself, and he eventually succeeded in achieving his ultimate goal of escaping from the horrors of slavery.

Fredrick Douglas was born a slave. In his narrative, Mr. Douglass explains how his mistress took an interest in him. Mrs. Auld would teach Mr. Douglass how to read, but was forbidden to continue by her husband, Mr. Auld. Mr. Auld explained to his wife, teaching a slave to read and write would make him unmanageable and unfit to be a slave. It was at this very moment Frederick Douglas learned whites held slaves back by depriving them of an education and literacy.

Education is the key that opens all doors and Douglass knew that in his heart. His master told him that he cannot read and should never be caught reading. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world… It would forever unfit him to be a slave” (Douglass 945) It is seen here that it is imperative for a slave

         When Douglas was born into slavery, grew up in the South engaged in heavy slave labor, torture, several times nearly lost his life. However, his strong will in difficult circumstances, assiduous self-culture struggle. Slaveholders see good discipline, he handed him over to a special tame slaves and whites - Covey discipline. Douglas decided to revolt after being repeatedly beaten severely beaten discipline who scared the other no longer afraid to fight him.

In today’s day and age education is one of the most overlooked concept of our generation. Education is underestimated because it’s easily accessed through public or at home schooling, so the majority of our generation can at least read or write. In the narrative The Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass the concept of education can differentiate whether a black man free or enslaved. During this time period, education is crucial for the road of freedom but extremely difficult to achieve. In this narrative Douglas uses paradox to show how education can be an african american’s ‘saving grace’ but on the other hand, it could also be his worst nightmare. This is shown through the process Frederick Douglas needed to go through to become education and free. Douglas utilizes irony and character development to display this duality of education.

Fredrick Douglas demonstrates the unity of heart and mind by his passion for learning. His appetite for knowledge all started when his mistress taught him the alphabet. She gave him the basic tools to learn and once she had “given [him] the inch, and no precaution could prevent [him] from taking the ell” (127). When he had the tools to learn, it ignited a passion to further his education. Because it was unlawful to educate a slave during this time period, Douglas’ master was fearful of giving him opportunities to learn, therefore, “[he] was narrowly watched. If [he] was in a separate room any considerable length of time, [he] was sure to be suspected of having a book . . . however, was too late” (126). Even though Douglas was heavily watched it did not stop him from finding new ways to continue his learning. He stole bread so that he could go into town to trick “poor white children” into giving him

Once returned the third time his master brought the argument for slavery to the slave. The slave disposed the master’s argument and replied with something so “smart and impressive” says Douglas that the conversation results in the master voluntary releasing the slave. This was the hope that Frederick Douglas needed to continuity living under his oppressors. He was gaining the proof that “the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder. A bold denunciation of slavery and a powerful vindication of human rights.” What his mistresses’ husband hoped to rob from the slaves was their intelligence and knowledge of human right. Something as a society today we value highly of. We are encouraged to go to school and get the grades to earn the degree that would allow us to work the dream job we desire. The trials Fredrick had gone through as a slave trying to have an education should be encouragement that with dedication any person can achieve what they set out to learn. If he was able to learn in secret and at adolescence discovered a means to end that leaves no excuse for an unhappy adult with a dead end job to return to school to obtain a better position. After learning to read Frederick felt it was double edge sword he was now aware of his terrible placement in the world and began to feel envious of his fellow

Over the course of time, things that seem important now are bound to change. For example, before Augustine’s time, Christianity was just becoming legally recognized. Today, Christianity is one of the world’s most widely known religions. Augustine shows us that while most things do change, human nature is not one of them. Throughout his piece, Confessions, he describes to the reader how humans are born evil, and cannot change until they have the capacity to do so. Through reading this autobiography and Hsün Tzu’s piece, Man’s Nature Is Evil, as well as Mencius’s piece, Man’s Nature Is Good, it seems that Augustine agrees more with Hsün Tzu than Mencius. They both agreed on the ideas that all humans are born evil, they remain evil through