How Is Frederick Douglass Cruel

The Life of Frederick Douglass During the 1800’s the lives of slaves were not particularly easy. Long, hard days called for many tough times for slaves. Alike many slaves, Frederick Douglass lived a life filled with many hardships, some of which made him into a better man. In Douglass’s book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass life was filled with poor treatment and cruel masters, but with perseverance and determination, Douglass conquered adversity and became an aspiring leader. Douglass did not live a terrible life as a boy because of his age. For others on the plantation that he was on, it was rough. Douglass says, “The overseers name was Plummer. Mr. Plummer was a miserable drunkard, and a profane swearer, and a savage monster.

He is then sent back to Maryland to live under a man named Thomas Auld. Mr. Auld is a very cruel man that believes that Douglass is not fit to work for Him. Auld then sends Douglass to live with a man named Mr. Covey. Mr. Covey is notorious for working slaves to their breaking point so they can then work better for their masters. Mr. Covey made Douglass work in the field for the first time and Douglass received many beating because of his inexperience. Douglass and Mr. Covey strongly disliked each other, eventually causing a fight between them. Douglass says, “This battle with Mr. Covey was the turning-point in my career as a slave. It rekindled the few expiring embers of freedom, and revived within me a sense of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me again with a determination to be free. The gratification afforded by the triumph was a full compensation for whatever else might follow, even death itself” (Douglass, 978). From then on, Douglass has the determination to carry out anything he set his mind

Covey, Douglass is sent back to Baltimore to live with Mrs. Auld. There Douglass gets a job in a shipyard where he pays his earning to Mr. Auld. Douglass continues to work hard and pay his weekly wages to Mr. Auld. Douglass finally comes up with a plan to escape on September third. Douglass finally escapes to the free land in New York. Douglass said, “In about four month after I went to New Bedford there came a young man to me, and inquired if I did not wish to take the “liberator.” I told him I did; but, just having made by escape from slavery, I remarked that I was unable to pay for it then. I however, finally became a subscriber to it. The paper came, and I read it from week to week with such feelings as it would be quite idle for me to attempt to describe. The paper became my mean and soul. My soul was set all on fire” (Douglass, 997). The man he met is named David Ruggles. Ruggles takes Douglass in and eventually takes Douglass to an anti-slavery convention in New Bedford. Douglass spoke there and told the story of his life. Everything he went through and how he overcame