The Road to Freedom Essay Example

The Road to Freedom Essay Antoine de Saint-Exupury, a 20th century French writer, said that he [knew] but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind. Similarly, Frederick Douglass also considers knowledge as the gateway to liberation. Douglass was born into slavery on a Maryland plantation in the early 1800s. Through his personal experiences he details how knowledge is important, although not purely enough, for the freedom and self-realization of man. Douglass feels strongly about the issue of knowledge acquisition because of his circumstances in his own life. Growing up, he knew very little about his own existence. A want of information concerning [his past] was a source of unhappiness. (Douglass 15) His ignorance was a strategic move on the part of the masters since they suppress the slaves intelligence so that whites would have the upper hand. Douglass strived to learn to read because literacy would enable him to become a man. But what is manhood? Douglass defines his manhood through his education and freedom. The white mans power to enslave the black man, (42) was through both mental and physical enslavement. Becoming literate was the pathway from slavery to freedom. (42) This is Douglass definition because it would give him the mental freedom that would then earn him his physical freedom from the bonds of slavery. Manhood is more than just being a male, it is being able to think and act for oneself, actions slaves were barred from. We will write a custom essay sample on The Road to Freedom specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Road to Freedom specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Road to Freedom specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On his quest to become literate, Frederick Douglass learns to read with the help of his masters wife, Mrs. Auld, into teaching him how to read. This soon stops because it was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read[and] he would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master. (42) Douglass, however, never gave up his quest to become literate. Having already learned the alphabet, he tricked some white kids into giving him reading lessons. Finally, Frederick Douglass achieved the freedom he had always wanted. This joy was short lived however. Learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. (48) Douglass began to feel isolated since he learned the truth about the unfixable conditions of slavery that he was formerly ignorant to. He now resented the ignorance of other slaves because they were not haunted by thoughts of slavery like Douglass was. He was also wary of whites because they posed a threat to his independence since they could take advantage of him like they had before with other slaves. However, he had successfully achieved mental emancipation and was now able to speak, read, and write the same language as slave owners, allowing him to formulate his own ideas and opinions that helped him to engage in debates. (48) This, however, was only halfway to attaining true freedom. He had to then utilize his newly gained knowledge to work for physical freedom as well. Literacy itself is not enough to become free. While he is living on the farm of Thomas Auld, a man destitute of every element of character commanding respect, (57) Douglass finally earns his manhood. Douglass has a run in with the nigger-breaker (60) Edward Covey and they physically battle for two grueling hours. Douglass could no longer be treated like an animal so he asserted himself and achieved his physical freedom with his victory. Covey never laid the weight of his finger upon [Douglass] again. (72) This battle was extremely important because it rekindled the few embers of freedom and revived [his] sense ofmanhood (72) and gave him more inspiration to break his bonds of slavery. Eventually, the event gives him the courage needed to run away from his slave owners and escape from slavery. (92) Finally, Frederick Douglass ran away to New York and ultimately earned his freedom. For Douglass, freedom was more than who controlled a person, but more so who controlled the persons soul. After the fight, he was stronger and more det ermined than ever to regain his soul and find his way further North, away from his demeaning masters. Douglass Narrative of the Life of an American Slave raised issues regarding public education in a democratic society. First of all, who should receive public school? During Douglass time, blacks were not provided the chance to earn an education because blacks were not seen as equals and consequently didnt deserve an education. This is not fair in a a democratic society since everyone should be afforded the same opportunities. Also, it raises the question of how to educate in schools. Since becoming literate is not the only step towards ones independence, a students physical freedom has to also be considered. This is the same concept that Maria Montessori described. No one can be free unless he is independent (Montessori 140) and this is part of education. (140) Also, Montessori wrote that education shall help him to diminishthe social bonds, which limit his activity. Frederick Douglass is a great example of defeating social conventions like slavery to earn his liberation. The first step towards freedom and independce was knowledge and then being physically free. Being both physically and mentally independent gave Douglass control over his soul and gave him the courage to escape to New York. Douglass Narrative of the Life of an American Slave demonstrates how mental freedom is not enough for the freedom and self-realization of man and it also raised questions about public education in a democratic society.