ipl-logo

Comparing The Narrative Of The Life Of Fredrick Douglass By Harriet Jacobs

1275 Words6 Pages

Most enslaved African Americans loved and labored on plantations in rural surroundings. In the Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass by Fredrick Douglass and Incidents in the Life of An American Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, we are able to see unusual experiences of slaves in urban settings. Without these two people living in urban settings they might not have been able to escape and tell us their stories. Their communities influenced their experiences as slaves, their possibilities for resistance and escape, and their relationship with their masters.
Jacobs and Douglass have been very fortunate to live in the urban settings that they did, not many of the slaves were able to live this way. The experiences that they both encountered were …show more content…

In Douglass’s journey, he was sold from the Auld family to another plantation where he was supposed to learn how to act as a slave. Covey, his new master was known for being a harsh man. Covey kept a reputation that he was a slave breaker, if any slave who wouldn’t listen to their masters were sent here. (Douglass, 67-70) Covey would work them to near death and beat them if they disobeyed. After working very hard at this plantation, Douglass lost all hope of becoming free; he was just focused on resting his body for the next days’ work. (Douglass, 75) Before long, a fight broke out between Douglass and Covey. The fight was brutal and no one would step in. The fight lasted for two hours and Douglass gained a victory. Covey would not touch Douglass after that. (Douglass, 77-78) Douglass was later sold back to Hugh Auld where he was taught to work on a boat. Later he asked permission from Auld to let him work during his free time for some extra cash, Auld agreed. Slowly, Douglass made enough money that let him escape to New York for obtain his freedom. (Douglass, …show more content…

Douglass had an interesting relationship with Sophia Auld. Before him, she never owned a slave before. Her motherly instincts led her to teach Douglass how to read. Even though she was stopped by her husband, this is what Douglass needed to ignite the desire to be free. After she was scolded to stop teaching him how to read, she became very cruel towards him. (Douglass, 42-45) Douglass also had an interesting relationship with Hugh Auld. At the end of his time in slavery, Auld enabled Douglass to work during his free time. Douglass then saved up enough money to escape slavery and move to New York. He never told the details of the escape though, he didn’t want to give away a plan that another slave could have taken. (Douglass, 101) Jacob had a good relationship with her mother’s mistress after her mother died. Her mother worked under her mistress for many years, her mother was able to gain some respect from her mistress. When she died, the mistress seemed to take Jacobs under her wing to take care of her. The mistress taught Jacobs how to read, this also ignited a desire for freedom. (Jacobs,

Show More
Related

  • How Is Frederick Douglass Life Different From The Life Of Slaves In The City

    1342 Words  | 6 Pages

    In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass written by Frederick Douglass, there is a vast difference between the lives of slaves on the plantation and the lives of slaves in the city. In Douglass' experience as a slave he had entirely different encounters with punishment, money, and basic needs depending on where he was. Douglass was punished as a slave many different times in his life, but the punishment for different offenses changed depending on where he was. On the plantations it was very common for a slave to be whipped publicly for extended periods of time. The owners and overseers of the slaves had absolutely no problem physically punishing a slave if need be. "

    Read More

  • Fredrick Douglass And Harriet Jacobs Narrative Analysis

    520 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Fredrick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs narrative they show how the institution of slavery dehumanizes an individual both physically and emotionally. In Jacobs narrative she talks about how women had it worse than men did in slavery. While men suffered, women had it worse due to sexual abuse. The emotional, physical, and sexual abuse was dehumanizing for anyone.

    Read More

  • How Is Harriet Jacobs Alike

    886 Words  | 4 Pages

    People who go through similar tragic events often have very different perspectives about rather similar experiences. There are many reasons for people’s stories to different even if they are about the exact same event. People perceive things differently based on things they have been through, how good their memory is, and what their attitude is towards the subject. The stories Slave Narratives by Fredrick Douglass and Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs are both about the writer’s experiences as slaves, yet they are very different. The main differences include their masters, their placement as slaves, and what drove them towards freedom.

    Read More

  • How Did Frederick Douglass Impact On Education

    1281 Words  | 6 Pages

    Covey, a man who was renowned for breaking in young slaves, Douglass was subject to some of the most intensive work and brutalizing punishments. This inhumane method of working slaves was in Mr. Covey’s eyes, justified and was how things were supposed to be. From this, Frederick Douglass grew to despise how slave owners would justify their actions and consider them morally correct. Douglass describes the exhausting effect that Mr. Covey’s work had on him, “My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!” (Douglas 55).

    Read More

  • How Is Frederick Douglass Successful

    1655 Words  | 7 Pages

    Auld is what started Frederick determination of learning as he got older (3). Soon Mr. Auld found out about him learning and stopped it because he was afraid. So the lessons with Mrs. Auld stopped and Frederick had to learn else where with the white children as well as some of the blacks (3). While being moved from the Aulds he tried to teach the other slaves as an effort to make them more educated of what was going on (3). After that a 16 year old Douglass was moved to another slave owner by the name of Edward Covey (Biography.com Editors).

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass Hardships

    321 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass displays the hardships of many African American experienced first-hand, and also his journey toward freedom and enlightenment. At the age of seven, he is introduced into the world of literature and storytelling, by nonetheless a white woman, Mrs Auld. But soon enough, the teachings have stopped since a educated black is no good in society. After Douglass old master died, Captain Anthony, there was a valuation of the property to divide the assets. This in turn, makes Douglass have a new master whose name was Thomas.

    Read More

  • What Are The Effects Of Frederick Douglass Life On The Plantation

    1742 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Life of a Slave in the South A slave in the south lived a hard life to say the least. Life on the plantation was very difficult and the life of slave was filled with numerous debilitating and devastating aspects. Being born into slavery Fredrick Douglass gives a raw view of inhuman and horrible business of the slavery. Through his narrative Fredrick Douglass highlight numerous Debilitating and devastating aspects of slavery.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass Argumentative Essay

    3356 Words  | 14 Pages

    Frederick Douglass was a former American slave who was one of the first blacks to hold a high position in United States government. Hugh Auld was Frederick’s first master; he was then sold to Mr. Covey, who was known to be a “slave breaker.” Frederick Douglass states this in his autobiography: “I was somewhat unmanageable when I first went there, but a few months of this discipline tamed me. Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in body, soul, and spirit.

    Read More

  • Comparing Douglass Narrative Of My Bondage And My Freedom

    350 Words  | 2 Pages

    Frederick Douglass published two similar versions of his fight with the ‘slave-breaker’ Edward Covey in the tenth chapter of his The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, and in the seventeenth chapter of My Bondage and My Freedom. By comparing the two accounts it is possible to see an evolution of his thoughts on abolishing slavery and person hood which occurred in the years which transpired between the two works, 1845 and 1855. In the first account which Douglass wrote at around the age of 27 he narrates a physical confrontation where he refuses to allow himself to be whipped. Douglass struggles for two hours with Covey and also fights off Covey’s cousin at the same time.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass: Overcoming Obstacles

    392 Words  | 2 Pages

    The legendary abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass was one of the most important social reformers of the nineteenth century. Being born into slavery on a Maryland Eastern Shore plantation to his mother, Harriet Bailey, and a white man, most likely Douglass’s first master was the starting point of his rise against the enslavement of African-Americans. Nearly 200 years after Douglass’s birth and 122 years after his death, The social activist’s name and accomplishments continue to inspire the progression of African-American youth in modern society. Through his ability to overcome obstacles, his strive for a better life through education, and his success despite humble beginnings, Frederick Douglass’s aspirations stretched his influence through

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass Turning Point

    301 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass's battle with his master Covey is a turning point in his career as a slave in that he resolves to no longer be docile and subservient as a slave. In fighting back against Covey, Douglass frees his mind from the psychological effects of slavery. Douglass's battle with Covey marks the end of Douglass being obedient and not questioning the word of authority like he was brought up to do. Douglass vows that "the white man who expected to succeed in whipping, must also succeed in killing me." (Douglass, 83) By refusing the role of an obedient slave, Douglass also refuses the slave mindset and liberates himself.

    Read More

  • Civil War Meeting Experience

    783 Words  | 4 Pages

    Covey’s reputation of being a “slave breaker”. Mr. Lincoln seemed to be so interested in the category, which made it much easier discussing the hardship that occurred at the plantation. At times, I get choked up as I talked about seeing family and friends die during my stay. Mr. Lincoln shocked at the depressing details of my story politely says, “take your time Mr. Douglass, I understand this is a hard subject to talk about.” Continuing through my study I gradually get to the day where the altercation occurred.

    Read More

  • Why Did Frederick Douglass Gain His Freedom

    844 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fredrick Douglass meets Hugh Auld’s wife Sophia and he is surprised about how nice she is. She does not really know how to treat slaves because she has never had them. A slave with education is said to be a dangerous slave so they are not supposed to be taught. However it seems like Mrs. Auld did not know that, and she began to teach Douglass the Alphabet which is a big turning point in Douglass’s life as a slave. Mr. Auld figures out that his wife has been teaching Douglass, and he puts an end to it, and he tells her how dangerous it is to teach a slave.

    Read More

  • Essay Comparing Frederick Douglass And Harriet Jacobs

    486 Words  | 2 Pages

    After having read both Frederick Douglass’s Narrative and Harriet Jacobs’s Incident 1. How were Douglass and Jacobs similar and different in their complaints against slavery? What accounts for these differences? In both the inspiring narratives of Narrative in the Life of Fredrick Douglass by Frederick Douglass’s and in Incidents in the life of a slave girl by Harriet Jacobs the respective authors demonstrate the horrors and disparity of slavery in there own ways.

    Read More

  • Essay On Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass

    973 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is Frederick Douglass’s autobiography in which Douglass goes into detail about growing up as a slave and then escaping for a better life. During the early-to-mid 1800s, the period that this book was written, African-American slaves were no more than workers for their masters. Frederick Douglass recounts not only his personal life experiences but also the experiences of his fellow slaves during the period. This book was aimed at abolitionists, so he makes a point to portray the slaves as actual living people, not the inhuman beings that they are treated as. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, slaves are inhumanly represented by their owners and Frederick Douglass shines a positive light

    Read More

More about Comparing The Narrative Of The Life Of Fredrick Douglass By Harriet Jacobs

Open Document