The Life Of Frederick Douglass And F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass gives readers a detailed overview of the life of a slave who share his own personal experiences and struggles from a slave to a freeman.  Frederick Douglass was born in Talbot county, Maryland. He was the son of Harriet Bailey and his father was a white man  (Douglass 1). After living with his master for nine months, Frederick was sent to stay with Mr. Covey, a man who is known for “breaking down young slaves” (Douglass 34). But while he was at Mr Covey’s Douglass faced many struggles.

First, let's define "American Dream". "American Dream" is what you would consider a "perfect life." It can be full of happiness, money, love, food, cars, whatever you desire, everyone has a different opinion. One person’s American Dream may be totally different from someone else’s, that is what makes us all individuals. My American Dream would include a good job and lots of money, spare time for my family and I, and most importantly, healthiness.

The American Dream was discussed in 1975 in a poem named “Ellis Island”. It talks about the dreams of most people expect, but in the end it results with many disappointments. For example, in the poem, it claims, “Waited the long days of quarantine, a Circle Line ship slips easily on its way to the island.” It represents to reality by giving the dreams of many Americans and immigrants were given and expected to have when they arrive in America. It also claims “Lands invaded when the earth became owned. Lands of those who followed the changing Moon, knowledge of the seasons in their veins.” This points out the disappointments in the American Dream because of how it changed the expectations that everyone is hoping for. So in my opinion, the American Dream is to become one whole justified country that shows defending, qualification and challenging our fellow American citizens for the liberty of all people to find pursuit of happiness.

Through everybody’s eyes is their own version of the American Dream. Whether it’s the stereotypical dream with a good job, a family, and a house with a white picket fence, or it could be just getting by at the end of the month financially. The American Dream doesn’t have a specific image but rather a particular mindset. Lots of people have a goal in their life that they have to work hard to be successful towards that goal, but in most cases that goal may be unrealistic.

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, more commonly known as Frederick Douglass, was born around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland (Hagler). Douglass was one of the most influential human rights leaders and one of the most renowned abolitionists. By learning to read and write around the age of 10, Douglass was able to develop a greater understanding of the world that didn’t revolve around slavery, along with the desire to become a free man and civil rights activist (Hagler). Douglass is now well known for his famous autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, in which he recalls his many experiences in slavery and the ways he dealt with the daily suffering. In his autobiographical narrative, The Narrative of the Life

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave was written by Douglass himself, giving a detailed description of the slaveholders cruelty. Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland, and he makes known that he does not know his specific birthdate, “... no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.” (47), but it was approximately around 1818. Once being enslaved, and then escaping in 1838 he became known as an eloquent speaker for abolitionists, being able to deliver passionate speeches about the role of a slaveholder and their relationship to their slaves, especially since he was one of them. Douglass even discovered the true meaning of the songs sung by enslaved people, “ I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs, I was myself within the circle; so that I neither saw nor heard as those without might see and hear.” (27). The book is not an easy read for those who believe in equal rights, as Douglass put into painful words the description of brutal whippings, signs of no mercy, and people being taken advantage of because if they had shown mercy they believed they would have lost their dignity.

What is the American dream? The American dream is what the founding fathers wanted for our country. That perfect life where nobody had to worry about personal and economical safety. When Franklin Roosevelt wrote “The Four Freedoms”, the American dream is what he was writing about. In his article, Roosevelt states the basic things expected in America: "Equality of opportunity for youth and others. Jobs for those who can work. Security for those who need it. The ending of special privilege

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was written in 1845 by Frederick Douglass, an American writer and orator. Douglass’ memoir recounts his time as a slave and his motivation to become a free man. Douglass first realized he was a slave when he sees his master brutalizing his Aunt Hester. He recalls,

Once he realized this, he made sure that he would find a way to be taught how to correctly read, write, and speak. At only twelve years old Douglass was sent to the Baltimore home of Hugh Auld. While there, Auld’s wife began teaching Douglass the alphabet and he then began to learn from other people, including white children in the area. These teachings would give Douglass the tools he needed to help shape his views on slavery and human rights. He then took what he learned and began to share his knowledge with others. Not only did Douglass have defined views on slavery, but he also had clear ideas of how people were to be treated. Douglass even had to defend himself against one of his slave masters that tried to beat him. After Douglass took action and defended himself he was no longer physically attacked. In 1845, he published his first autobiography, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.” His autobiography told the story of his life as a slave and his journey to freedom. Many people had doubts that Douglass actually produced a prominent level of writing because he was a former slave with no official education. Douglass eventually edited his autobiography and ended up with three copies. Later on, he began to produce his own newspaper, the North Star.

For decades, until the social destruction and collapse of the subjugational structure, slavery was a vital part of American society in the 1800s. African- American slaves upheld the agricultural system, built government buildings, such as the White House, and (insert example here). However, in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, this bondage is seen from an underestimated point of view; a former slave himself. Although it is speculated that the author’s life up until 1845 was not fully documented, throughout the text, Frederick Douglass demonstrates his position against slavery by recalling his many experiences, negative and positive, as a slave to argue what people once thought was impossible. In his own words, we learn how he defied the odds and expectations of an entire community, and see how his attempts eventually led to the freedom he had been preparing himself for his

Primarily Douglass uses in his book contrasts, theological beliefs, and reiteration of certain words or phrases to bring home his main points. Douglass tries to show help the readers understand the terrible feelings of dread that slaves go through everyday of their lives and how much it pains them to stay enslaved. To slaves often death is preferable to continuing to be taken advantage of by slaveowners. Even after they are free, former slaves still will not be able to put down the trauma that came along with their

Slavery is a dehumanizing and cruel part of American history. In “The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass” Douglass describes his horrible experience as a slave and the ignorance of people. Douglass begins his narrative by describing how he witnessed how unjust and horrific slavery could be as he watched his aunt being whipped. As he got older, he moved to Baltimore where his master’s wife was teaching him how to read but then his master puts a stop to the lessons making Douglass realize just how important education is and how that will lead him to freedom. America’s “land of the free” was only free for white people during the slavery era that resulted in acts that showed how wrong society was to oppress those who had a different skin tone.

Frederick Douglass believed that all people were born equal, but he also believed that humans were not just automatically born free. He deduced that man has the innate instinctive ability to mold themselves into whoever they wanted to become. So, naturally self-improvement and education were two crucial aspects of Frederick’s life. To Douglass the most horrific thing about slavery was the fact that slaves were totally and completely precluded from and form of education, which prevented them from improving themselves. Douglass worked exceedingly hard to obtain an education in order to ultimately become a free man. Although he still had to physically escape slavery his education played a vital role in his journey to freedom.

Later in his life Douglass’s previous master, Captain Anthony, died. Afterwards, for a short period of time, he was returned back to Anthony’s son in law. Anthony’s son in law sold Douglass to another man once he was returned. The man he was sold to beat and whipped Douglass day in and day out until he did ever last thing that he was told to do. He eventually

Patrick Henry once said, “give me liberty, or give me death.” In the eyes of Frederick Douglass and countless others enslaved, this took on a much deeper meaning to them. “It was doubtful liberty at most, and almost certain death is we failed.” [51] Frederick Douglass was one of the most commonly known slaves to have existed. Slavery has been around since the 1700s, but the subject of slavery is controversial because it not only includes information written from former slaves, but information acquired from historians. The question that has with stood the test of time is, “are these encounters that have been written out, exaggerated or the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” In the early 1800’s Frederick Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland, and grew up on Colonial Edward Lloyd’s plantation. Children would be separated from their mothers before they were twelve months in age-Frederick too was separated from his mother. As a result of entering slave-hood at an early age, he did not know his birthdate (like most slaves). Frederick Douglass’s account on slavery could be seen as biased as a result of first hand experiences with being held as a slave. Although, Douglass is able to be direct our thoughts to these experiences in such a light, you feel as if you are witnessing it happen right before you. Because of Douglass’s quest for freedom, his daring attitude, and determination to learn, he shows us the way through American Slavery in his eyes. Douglass provides