Education Of Fredrick Douglass - Free Essay Example

Fredrick Douglass speaks on his life growing up as a slave. Fredrick Douglassrs educational journey began when his kind mistress begins to teach him his ABCrs. This only lasts until she is forbidding by her husband to do so. His reasonings are such as a slave should know nothing but to obey his master-to do as he is told to. He also goes on to mention that knowing how to read would make the slave unmanageable, of no value, as well as the fact that the slave himself would be unhappy. All these words did the exact opposite of what Thomas Auld was attempting to do. These words introduced Douglass to a whole new thought process. As he calls it a new revelation. Auldrs words demonstrate the value of literacy, because his fear of Douglass gaining knowledge demonstrates that he could use the knowledge against his masters. Through literacy Douglass gains conciseness, and by his masterrs words he realizes the powers he can gain through them. He realizes everything his master wants for him, is what benefits him the least. This persuades him to continue to seek education. His masters bitterness and his mistressrs kindness inspires him to do the opposite of what they wanted. Douglass continues his journey to education, on his own. Having no regular tutor, he still manages to learn to read and write. He does this, despite his owners monitoring him to assure he isnt learning. This shows his persistence, and the fact that he knew knowledge could get him far. He learns by taking lessons from boys on the streets, while he was on his errands. These boys were willing to give him lessons, knowing they could suffer consequences from their actions. As Douglass expands his education and becomes more aware of the details of slavery, he began to question everything. He realized it is not fair for the white boys to be free at 21, while he is destined to be a slave for life. The book The Columbian Orator, was one of his most influential books as it included a slave and master. In their discussions, the slave made some great points, that allows Douglass to further open his mind. The further he reads, the more his hatred grows for his owners, as he realized the unfairness of their actions. His reading makes him realize how awful and unfair his situation actually was, and the fact that he could do nothing about it despairs him. The thought of freedom consumes him, and eventually is all he could think about. The fact that his whole mentality was changed demonstrates how valuable literacy is, especially to someone in his situation. Another one of the writingrs that inspired him is Patrick Henryrs words Give me liberty or give me death, as he realizes he literally almost had to choose between them. In Douglasss fight with Covey, he is tired of being treated awfully. He refuses to be treated like an animal, and fights back. This benefits him as Covey never touched him again. Douglassrs fight is caused by his knowledge that he deserves better, again demonstrating the value of his literacy. This fight also reassures him, as it was the first time he really put his knowledge to use, and the results were very beneficial. Douglass becomes aware of his powers when he compares himself to other slaves who are a lot more ignorant than he is. He realizes he is different from them. Douglass also realizes that the holidays that slaves are allowed to celebrate, arent actually beneficial to them. He becomes aware that this is just a manner that keeps them from revolting, and keeps them enslaved. An advantage that he gained from his wisdom. Douglasss new confidence and his realization of his power allows him to persuade other slaves to begin to learn to read. They go as far as starting a school in a cabin. His already accumulated knowledge and wisdom allows him to take leadership to do this and even go as far as planning an escape, when he feels he is ready for it. Even though this plan failed, his willingness to do it is significant. His knowledge gained from reading, allowed Douglass to attempt to cross the line, and see how far he could get. Every time he did something, and succeeded, it helped him go even further. This allowed him to eventually object to give all his earnings to his master, once he was working for money. Eventually his master allowed him to keep a portion. After his master decides to stop giving him his wage, Douglass becomes angered. Him knowing that he works for it, and he is entitled to his money allows him to decide he deserves better. This is what persuades him to attempt to escape a second time, this time succeeding. When he is successful in gaining his freedom, he confirms all he learned. Slavery isnt necessary, nor is it his destiny. When he is up north he realizes itrs a clean, productive city, without slavery. It is a prosperous city, where even blacks are living in good conditions. His access to education was what gave him not only the mentality that allowed him to succeed at all his accomplishments, but it completely transformed his mind. His ability to understand how truly awful his situation was, when it didnt have to be this way, devastated him, but allowed him to eventually fight against it. If he had never learned to read, Douglass might have lived his life believing slavery was where he was meant to be. Reading allowed him to become more enlightened and realize he was as much of a person as the white people were. Douglass became aware that the only true power the white people had over him, was fear and the social norms. Although his reading, didnt tell him exactly how to escape, he used it as a tool throughout his life as a slave to slowly gain rights. The slave ownerrs grand opposition to slaves learning demonstrate the power behind knowledge, as they knew with knowledge they would become aware of what they deserved, and what else was out there that the y could persuade. Through his story he does an excellent job at demonstrating the value of literacy, as that was essentially what allowed him to eventually reach freedom. Not only did this benefit himself, but he spread his knowledge to his fellow slaves by teaching them, and eventually writing to them, and others. His knowledge inspired his belief that all people are created equal. His courage to persuade education, changed his whole life. Throughout his autobiography he clearly demonstrates the message that knowledge is freedom.

The story is A Worn Path by Eudora Welty - Free Essay Example

The story is about an older women named Phoenix Jackson, who is a poor black women, she is walking through the woods on her way to town and she runs into thorny bushes, a barbed wire fence and a big dog that knocks her down into a ditch. A Hunter comes to help her out and then she continues into town, where she gets medicine for her grandson that she says is still sick. Thorns, you doing your appointed work. Never want to let folks pass, no sir. Old eyes thought you was a pretty little green bush. The theme of this story can be with determination you can overcome every obstacle. The setting is Christmas time in Natchez, Mississippi, its around the 1930s in the Great Depression era. This contributes to the theme because it was a hard time for everybody and they were facing many obstacles. The conflicts in the story are Phoenix Jackson vs. Nature Obstacles on her way into town Has to travel through the woods Phoenix Jackson vs. Racism/Society Racism was big in that time era (KKK) The Hunter even says to her Doesnt the gun scare you? The good in the world vs. the bad in the world The stories point of view is Third Person Omniscient because the narrator knows Phoenixs thoughts and feelings. With the story being in Third Person we are able to know more about Phoenix Jackson, she is hardworking, caring and determined to help her grandson. We dont know anything about her grandson besides that he is sick. The Hunter in the story is helpful to Phoenix Jackson, but also somewhat racist. There are a few smaller characters like the nurse and the black dog. The tone of the story is sympathetic and hopeful because throughout the story the narrator seems to admire that Phoenix keeps going along. At last she was safe through the fence and risen up out in the clearing. this quote shows how the narrator is happy she was safe. Another quote that shows that the narrator admires Phoenix is, She lifted her free hand, gave a little nod, turned around, and walked out of the doctors office. Then her slow step began on the stairs, going down. There is in the story, an example of situational irony is when the nurse asks if Phoenix is a charity case, this is ironic because Phoenix is not a charity case and is stealing money from the nurse and the Hunter. Another example of situational irony is when the Hunter says Id give you a dime if I had any money with me. this is ironic because the Hunter did give her a dime when it fell out of his pocket, he just didnt realize it. Symbolism The hunter symbolizes racism the marble cake that she dreams of, She did not dare to close her eyes, and when a little boy brought her a plate with a slice of marble-cake on it she spoke to him. symbolizes a blending of blacks and whites. The paper windmill she plans to buy her grandson symbolizes the good in the world. The black dog that knocks her over symbolizes the bad in the world, like enemies and people who just want to knock you down.