The underground man begins the second part of his narration by explaining events that occur to him in his young age. He describes that at the age of twenty- four he was already depressed and antisocial. He always feels isolated at this very early age not being able to look at anyone in the eye, and imaging that every one looks at him with disgust. “ I indulged in depravity all alone at night furtively, timidly, sordidly, with a feeling of shame that never left me even in my most loathsome moments and drove me at such times to the point of profanity.” (661) It is evident that the isolated feeling began at a every early age. He is anxious of being seen, he haunts mysteriously everywhere he goes. The underground man compares himself to a fly in the eyes of society, where he feels ignored and disgusting compared to the rest of the individuals of society. From this early age he considers himself to be smarter than the rest. His comparison to a fly symbolizes how he is “insulted and injured” by everyone whom he encounters.

This second segment exposes the narrator’s development from his youthful perspective, influenced by Romanticism and ideals of “beautiful and sublime.” This perspective is merely cynical about beauty, loftiness, and his passion of literature in general. The underground man was able to escape from his depressed state through the power of his dreams. His dreams were where those “escapes into everything beautiful and sublime” (666) could be possible. In his dreams he feels love, though he feels no need to apply the love to his real life. His dreams always end with artistic moments stolen from poetry and novels.  After three months of dreaming, the happiness of dreaming makes the underground man wants to rush into society. The happiness encouraged in his dreams was a sort of turning point that allowed him to finally give humanity a chance.

After accepting humanity the underground man experiences serial events that forcefully make him let go of his cowardly ways and socialize with humanity. However, even though he has allowed himself into society he still withholds this battle within himself of not being good enough for others. The Underground Man’s separation displays itself in all kinds of relationships. The underground man experiences encounters with his former classmates and tries to liberate a young prostitute named Liza. The underground man is confused about social interaction with his former schoolmates still referring himself as a “ordinary house fly.” He blames the fact of this isolation is due to the baldy way he was dressed, “which in their eyes, constituted proof of my ineptitude and insignificance.”(668) Later that evening the underground man also tries to save Liza by stating romantic speeches about the dreadful destiny that is near her if she continues to sell her body.

Unfortunately, even though the underground man gained the courage needed to leave his isolated and depressed state he was still confused and disordered not understanding how to create relationships and interact sociably.

In “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave” chapters X through XI, Douglass continues to expose the recurring theme of enslavement through various cruelties and his oppressed state as a slave eagerly yearning freedom.

During the previous chapters of the narrative Douglass describes the experiences of other slaves and gives the reader glimpses of slavery through what he has witnessed. As the narrative progresses, the theme of freedom becomes more cognizant. Douglass for the first time becomes victim of the cruelty brought forth by slavery. The inhumane cruelty and misfortunes of his master caused an oppressed state and transformed him to become a slave. He states “My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, and the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!”(264). Such behaviors had endangered his inspiration of education, which was one of the greatest aspects to his escape from slavery and pathway to his freedom.

The cruel treatments of slavery however, were the nostalgic drives that eventually caused Douglass to yearn freedom. “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 with me a sense of my own manhood. It recalled the departed self-conscience, and inspired me again with a determination to be free” (268). After standing up for himself and undergoing the inhumane experiences with Mr. Covey Douglass’ self-knowledge arose again.

Towards the end of the narrative self- knowledge was the main device that allowed Douglass to be conscious of the burdened caused by slavery. Eventually his freedom was obtained physically but his mental state of awareness was the road map to his freedom. Once Douglass becomes free interestingly enough in his narrative he chooses not to disclose entirely how he escapes slavery.  This tactic was so he would still make it possible for other slaves to become free as well with less chances of getting caught.