Immanuel Kant believes that one cannot reach enlightenment until one is free, in a sense freedom allows learning. Kant defines freedom as, “[the ability] make public use of one’s reason in all matters” (Kant 2).  Freedom gives one the opportunity to explore, be curious of what surrounds them, and practice their own judgement. Freedom in a way is a pathway to learning. However, being bound to land, law, or society, it prevents one from achieving enlightenment.

With Kant’s idea in mind, Frederick Douglass has achieved enlightenment or became enlightened in his journey to freedom. In his journey from the plantation, to Baltimore, and lastly to freedom, Douglass has made small strides to enlightenment.  At the plantation, Douglass was wiped and mistreated if he were to misbehave: “I was seldom whipped—and never severely—by my old master. I suffered little from the treatment I received, except from hunger and cold” (Douglass 45).  He is bounded to the authority of his master, and is given no freedom. This is Douglass’ lowest level of intelligence. He knows nothing but cruelty, a little bit of kindness, and that he doesn’t want to live. But when Douglass moves to Baltimore, he is given a taste of freedom and could say that, “A city slave is almost a free citizen, in Baltimore, compared with a slave on Col. Lloyd’s plantation” (Douglass 53). In his stay in Baltimore, he was far more curious and intelligent. He has the desire to learn to read and write, and he knows the truth of slavery. In Baltimore, “[Douglass] awakened within me a slumbering train of vital thought” (Douglass 53). His little bit of freedom started the train of thought accelerating him towards enlightenment. Years later, Kant would agree that Frederick Douglass became free and enlightened. Kant defines freedom as the ability to act on your own basis and we can see that when Douglass responds to attackers: “[workers] ventured to strike me, whereupon I picked him up, and threw him into the dock” (Douglass 112). No longer does Douglass accept the oppression from society, Douglass reacts to it. Douglass now capable of thought, and living life not bound by the chains society or a master.

While Frederick Douglass’ narrative was his story from slavery to freedom. Looking at the text in Kant’s perspective, it can also be seen as a story of Frederick Douglass achieving enlightenment.