The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass :: Narrative Life Frederick Douglass

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass   The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass shows several instances in which his personal accounts of slavery are highlighted. These instances illustrate important realizations that Douglass makes concerning slavery, and/or some his own condition.   The very first chapter of the novel produces the first example expiration of identity. Many slaves had absolutely no concept of time, in terms of actual dates. Slaves were kept ignorant as to the facts of the real world, in most cases non even knowing the year of their birth, preventing the knowledge of a captives uncoiled age. A birthday is something with which people can identify, as they are a famed part of our culture, especially to youth. Douglass here identifies himself as a human world lacking what we may consider a normal childhood only through the use of dates. We identify ourselves by the dates which surround the events of our lives. Part of our identity is formed from dates and this was a privilege he was denied. He is, however, provided with a oecumenical idea as to how old he truly is, I pass to this from hearing my master say, some time during 1835, I was about 17 years old (Douglass 1).   Adding to this already tarnished identity is the status of his parental figures. slice Douglass somewhat got to know his mother, he never really had a father. His father, tally to practically everyone, was a white man, ...opinion was also whispered that my master was my father... (1). Although it is true that he knew his mother, it must be noted that they were separated while he was an infant and thereafter only met a total of four or five times. The consequences of not knowing who you really are may not have phased Douglass much during his childhood. However as he grew older and began to visualize how the politics of slavery work, there is no doubt that this lack of linguistic rule human right (to which ever yone should be entitled) certainly motivated Douglass towards achieving his goal of freedom.   A major fear amongst slave owners is that their slaves will learn to read and write.