After reading Frederick Douglass’ autobiographies, I admire him for all the hardwork he went through to obtain knowledge which eventually led to his freedom. Douglass had no knowledge, and obtained it through education and his experiences.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1817 or 1818. Just like any other slave, he lacked education and knowledge. However his status as a slave did not stop him from asking his mistress, Sophia Auld, to teach him how to read. Mrs. Auld taught Douglass the ABC’s and to spell a few words. His learning process is interrupted by his master, Mr. Auld. His master said, “If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master—to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. (Douglass 6).” Mr. Auld also said, “if you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave” (Douglass 6). It is through the words of Mr. Auld that Douglass realized that he must seek knowledge to pursue freedom, “From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom” (Douglass 6). Douglass was enlightened. Mr Auld was right about what he said because Frederick Douglass wanted the “ell” since his mistress gave him the “inch.” Douglass made friends with little white boys on the street so they could teach him how to read in exchange for bread–“bread of knowledge” (Douglass 7). Douglass had also learned how to write at the Durgin and Bailey’s ship-yard. Douglass took any opportunity he could to learn how to read and write despite the method. Douglass being able to educate himself was the start to his freedom. This is his way of achieving enlightenment.

Knowledge doesn’t automatically lead to freedom, rather it awakens and sparks. The more knowledge Douglass obtained, “the thought of being a slave for life began to bear heavily upon my heart” (Douglass 7). Knowledge made him realize how injustice slavery was and that he should be viewed as a man rather than a slave. Hatred for his master also emerged in Douglass, “the more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers” (Douglass 7). As Douglass and his knowledge grew, so did his discontentment of Douglass slave status. This ultimately led to his decision to escape slavery and become free. Douglass successfully escaped and used his knowledge and experience to obtain freedom for all slaves.