Summary Of How I Learned To Read And Write By Frederick Douglass

The zeitgeist or cultural climate of the 1800s recognizes slavery as the social standard. In the memoir, “How I Learned to Read and Write,” Frederick Douglass experiences the social standard of slavery which results in cold-hearted conduct from his slaveholders. His master, Mr. Auld, acknowledges Douglass as a beast only capable of obeying. But Mr. Auld’s wife, Mrs. Auld, acknowledges Douglass’s potential to learn, therefore, teaches him to read. Mr. Auld discovers his wife’s lessons and forbids her to teach Douglass. Obeying her husband, Mrs. Auld stops teaching and enforces disciplinary acts upon Douglass. Mr. Auld’s influence on his wife conveys his devious intentions for control. Therefore, the destructive underlying motives of human nature

Selfishness derives from the lack of morals. Mrs. Auld exudes benevolence by teaching Douglass to read. But Douglass’s master demonstrates dissolute morals by restricting Douglass from the opportunity to read. Douglass’ master warns, “He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master” (Douglass, 2014, p. 130). The master’s values originate from his self-centered belief to serve himself. The human’s survival instinct involves meeting the needs of oneself over others. Mr. Auld imposes his beliefs on his wife, perverting her thought process and stripping away her untainted principles: “Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. Under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger-like fierceness” (Douglass, 2014, p. 131). The innate actions to survive produce selfish tendencies, resulting in a disregard for others. Chaste morality dissipates when the focus on survival of oneself replaces helping

Power-hungry individuals force others into submission. Mr. Auld’s superficial desires manipulate his wife’s generous deeds that Douglass praises: “She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach” (Douglass, 2014, p. 131). In treasuring human worth, individuals seek to preserve human life. Mr. Auld seeks control over his wife teaching Douglass to read, therefore changing her way of thinking. Mrs. Auld adopts her husband’s ideals, initiating “the first step in her downward course… She now commenced to practice her husband’s precepts. She finally became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself” (Douglass, 2014, p. 131). The drive for approval divests an individual’s sense of goodness toward others, allowing corruption to set in. Seeking approval manipulates one’s decisions. The sway of power perverts the human conscience, developing wicked