As we study the Civil War and its effects on literature, we need to take a moment to appreciate Frederick Douglass and his writing MY BONDAGE AND MY FREEDOM.
After reading our excerpt from Douglass, reflect on this Mahatma Gandhi statement.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote, "The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall."
React to this statement and explain whether or not you feel Douglass was free even while in bondage.
Bonus: 10 points will be given for a developed response. If others write, respond to them as well.
Due date: Thursday, October 3rd, 2013.
Frederick Douglas may not have been free in body, but I think he felt free in spirit because he rose above the shackles that held him down.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jacob and also Fredrick Douglas felt connected to the book when he was reading the Colombian Orator because it was practically about his life as a slave. Douglas also states that he had help learning to read and write; most white people in his time wouldn't have given him the time of day, but those young boys helped him whenever he need it. When those boys helped him learn he probably didn't feel like a slave because he was being helped by someone that would normally look down upon him.
ReplyDeleteFredrick Douglas was physically in bondage because he was a slave and there was hardly any way he could get out of it. Although he had to do and comply with everything the master ordered him to do, he did have his own thoughts that he didn't have to share. Because of this, he could have been "free" with his thoughts and in his mind. This is very minuet compared to being a free person, but this is the best that he had and he used it to the best of his ability every chance he got.
ReplyDeleteFredrick knew that he was stuck being a slave for his entire life, yet he knew that he could rise above it and gain a few freedoms. Just a simple thing like reading gave him a little bit of hope and happiness. Fredrick was free everytime he opened a book or learned some knowledge from the neighbor boys. For the other times in his life, he was trapped, enslaved, and extremely unhappy.
ReplyDeleteThough Fredrick Douglas was still seen as property by other people he knew that with knowledge comes a freedom, not a physical freedom but a freedom of the mind. To be a prisoner in body is better than being prisoner of the mind. When working and serving on a daily basis Douglas had his mind and his knowledge to keep him company and sane.
ReplyDeleteFredrick knew he was going to have a hard time getting away from slavery. He could gain some freedom though. He found joy in reading and teaching others. This is the way he could get away from thinking about being a slave all time. Otherwise Fredrick was stuck as a slave.
ReplyDeleteWhile Fredrick might have been a slave he was free in his own mind so he was more at peace with himself. This made it not as bad for him to be a slave since his mind was not on being one all the time.
ReplyDeleteHe was not completely free but he felt a little more free than everyone else because he could do something most others couldn't. What he could do helped him feel more free.
ReplyDeleteFree of mind and spirit...these are so important. One has to ask, though, if such freedom is enough? Can a person be happy to escape in his own thoughts even his can't escape a physical reality?
ReplyDeleteHe was able to learn, something most slaves couldn't do at that time, and when he began to learn he began to see freedom he did not physically have. This knowledge made him want to speak out to others about the freedoms they deserved, but at that time they couldn't imagine. He began to use this knowledge to help unite others to fight for what was most important to them at that time, which is freedom to live their own lives.
ReplyDeleteDouglas was determined to be free, and his journey started when he learned to read and write. In in head, he was just another ordinary person one that deserved to be free. Douglas knew that slavery was wrong, not just because he was a slave himself, but for the fact that he was very intelligent for his time. He gained his freedom the day he set his mind to be literate, but achieved freedom the day he escaped.
ReplyDeleteFredrick was a slave in reality, but in his mind he was free. He had a lot more opportunities that other slaves didn't have while being held. He learned how to read and write. Most slaves didn't know how to read or write. He may have physically been a slave, but mentally he was free and had more knowledge than an ordinary slave.
ReplyDeleteFredrick Douglas was able to learn how to read and write unlike many other slaves. He set his mind to be free because he couldn't physically be free as a slave. Douglas had more education and opportunities than other slaves did, so he knew that slavery was wrong at the time. He used his knowledge to keep company while he worked the long days as a slave.
ReplyDeleteFredrick Douglas tried to become free and was determined. He was a slave in reality but was free in his mind. He learned to read and write and that was enough to make him happy and want to seek freedom. Other slaves did not have the privilege that Douglas did. He had an opportunity that other slaves did not have while being held as a slave. While he was still a slave and unhappy, he knew he could rise above that and become happy with the little freedom that he did have.
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ReplyDeleteFredrick Douglas was a slave, but unlike other slaves he was smart in ways such as reading and writing. He wanted to be free to be an individual and not a slave. He new it would be hard but he set his mind on being free even if he could not physically be free. I think that is what makes him free. What amazes me is instead of keeping the knowledge to himself and trying to break out he used his intelligence to help other slaves as well. That, in my mind, set him free.
ReplyDeleteFredrick was physically still a slave in body, but not in mind. He decided that he was no longer going to be a slave, and that set him free in mind. The way I see it is that he was a free man trapped inside a slaves body. That fact that he was educated helped him tremendously in freeing himself.
ReplyDeleteDouglas knew he was defined as a slave because he was a black man. He came to become a powerful man and is looked up to by many men of all races. He was very smart for a slave of the time. It shows how important an education is. He was a free man if there was one at that time.
ReplyDeleteThough Fredrick Douglass was a slave he got the chance to learn how to read and write. He was a very man and took all of his learning and help other slaves. By helping the other slaves that may have helped him think in this mind that he was a free man. Even though he wasn't a free man physically he was a free man in his own mind.
ReplyDeleteFrederick Douglass was not physically free but mentally was just like any other man. His works can show that even though some people were imprisoned as slaves they were still human beings and had their own thoughts. The advantage of being able to read and write helped spread Frederick Douglass´ ideas on being equal and free. A person can be happy with being free in their mind but sometimes that is just not enough.
ReplyDeleteDouglas was on his way to becoming a free-thinking human being, but then his master's wife gave up on him. This fact, however, did not deter Douglas. He kept on learning and eventually reached the point Gandhi was speaking of when he decided to no longer be a salve. Douglas's fetters were not chains in the physical sense; they were metaphorical chains that were keeping his thoughts and feelings tied down. Douglas broke free of these "chains" when he chose to write his story down and share it with others.
ReplyDeleteBroke those metaphorical chains by telling his story...awesome idea. We all need to break our metaphorical chains!
DeleteDouglas was free because he was taught to write by his slave owners. They later regretted teaching him because of what could happen if a slave learned to read and write. By knowing to read and right he had a good advantage.
ReplyDeleteFrederick Douglass did have a good advantage because of what he learned. I hope you take what you have learned to be advantageous, too.
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