Douglass begins to regret his own existence because reading allows him to understand the horror of slavery and its seemingly "everlasting condition" (68). Douglass realizes that knowledge, while it is powerful, it is also painful. Douglass knew and understood too much. If he did not know how bad things were, he would not feel so hopeless. However, he was beginning to understand the ways of the world and the injustice of slavery.
Douglass is anxious because he knows what it is like to be treated kindly and the others knew "nothing of the kind" (72). Experiencing kind masters was a blessing but it also spoiled Douglass in that he knew that slave owners could be nice and not beat their slaves. He had no idea of what the next master might be like and it could literally go either way for him.
Auld was a slave owner without the ability to hold slaves because he did not have the respect of the slaves. He had no resources and he could not manage them out of "force, fear, or fraud" (77). He did not quiet know what to do what slaves to wait on him and the slaves recognized this.
Douglass puts more faith in the man...
This is seen with Mr. Hopkins, who is a reverend but a mean slave owner. Douglass read the Bible and knew how God's people were supposed to behave and this is what he taught the others. Somehow, Douglass learned to judge a man solely by his actions and nothing else. Somehow, Douglass did not become bitter at God because of his situation. This was something he could teach others that would benefit them in their lives.
Douglass believes that every man is ultimately responsible for his own fate because Douglass had the worst possible of fates. Had he not stood up for his beliefs and at least attempted to find a better life, he would have never known what his options were. Douglass knew that no one was going to do this for him; he had to do it for himself. He finds a job, earns a living, and grows accustomed to being free. He also becomes involved with abolition and encourages others to seek freedom. He realizes that freedom was only going to be his if her reach out and grabbed it.
Work Cited
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Penguin. 1982.
