Student notes for “my bondage and my freedom”

His life in baltimore “I lived in the family of Master Hugh, at Baltimore, seven years…” (330). “The most interesting feature of my history here, was my learning to read and write…” (330).

Question 1 What does Douglass like most About Baltimore life in My Bondage and My Freedom?

Nature in opposition to slavery “Nature has done almost nothing to prepare men and women to be either slaves or slaveholders” (330). As such, “nature had made us friends; slavery made us enemies” (334). How does the reader know that “nature had made [them] friends”? Where is this evident in the text?

His view of slavery “On entering upon the career of a slaveholding mistress, Mrs. Auld was singularly deficient; nature, which fits nobody for such an office, had done less for her than any lady I had known” (330). “It was no easy matter to induce her to think and to feel that the curly-headed boy, who stood by her side, and even leaned on her lap, sustained to her only the relation of a chattel” (330).

slavery destroys human relationships In looking at his relationship with his master’s wife, Douglass states, “She had changed, and I had changed, too.” We were both victims to the same overshadowing evil—she, as mistress, I, as slave” (334).

How did Mrs. Auld treat Frederick Douglass in the beginning? What Changed? How did Mrs. Auld treat Frederick Douglass in the beginning? What caused her to change?

What Changed? The social practice of slavery had intruded on nature. Douglass writes, “My mistress had begun to teach me – was suddenly checked in her benevolent (kind, compassionate, generous) design, by the strong advice of her husband” (330). “In faithful compliance with this advice, the good lady had not only ceased to instruct me, herself, but had set her face as a flint against my learning to read by any means” (330).

Question 2 Based on the description Frederick Douglass provides us of the slave/slave owner relationship, what would you say is his belief of regarding the practice of slavery?

Douglass Believed Slavery destroys both the slave and the slave owners. “We were both victims to the same overshadowing evil—she, as mistress, I, as slave” (334). Slavery makes enemies out of people who should be friends. Of his mistress, Frederick writes, “that woman is a Christian, but slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these excellent qualities. She became more violent in her opposition to my learning to read, then was her husband himself. Upon seeing me seated in some nook or corner, quietly reading a book or magazine, I have had her rush at me with the utmost fury, and snatch from my hand such newspaper or book with something of the wrath and consternation which a traitor might be supposed to feel on being discovered in a plot by some dangerous spy” (331-332).

Question 3 What made My Bondage and My Freedom an important work in 1855, a few years before the Civil War? What point of view is it written from? What clues does the text provide that shows us who is speaking?

Point of View “I lived in the family of Master Hugh, at Baltimore, seven years, during which time…” (330). “Nothing appeared to make my poor mistress more angry than seeing me, seated in some nook reading a book” (331). “I had now penetrated the secret of all slavery and oppression…” (333).

Point of View First person narrative Autobiographical - is a written account of the life of a person written by that person. It was one of the few books written from a former slave’s viewpoint, which made it a very important literary work.

Consider the time period: Question 4 What common attitudes did My Bondage and My Freedom challenge? Consider the time period: How were slaves viewed by the dominant White culture? What was the role of slaves in that society? How did Frederick Douglass’s written narrative portray the condition of slaves?

Attitudes challenged 1. Slaves were incapable of reading and writing. Douglass wrote, “Seized with a determination to learn to read, at any cost, I hit upon many expedients (methods, devices, ways) to accomplish the desired end” (332). 2. Slaves were not equal to white people. In his autobiography, Douglass demonstrates his sharp intellect and ability to argue effectively. He challenged the notion of inequality, by debating the issue of slavery “with the white boys” (332) (This shows that he views himself as equal to them). He asks, “Have I not as good a right to be free as you have” (332)? 3. Slaves were comfortable with their position in life. “To my bondage I saw no end. It was a terrible reality, and I shall never be able to tell how sadly that thought chafed my young spirit” (333).

Question 5 What is Mrs. Auld’s opposition to Douglass learning to read? Douglass wrote, “Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of those excellent [Christian] qualities, and her home of its early happiness. Conscience cannot stand much violence (331). He also said, “In ceasing to instruct me, she must begin to justify herself to herself; and once consenting to take sides in such a debate, she was riveted to her position” (331).

An Altered State of thinking Mrs. Auld’s conscience was destroyed by slavery. Douglass wrote, “One needs very little knowledge of moral philosophy to see where my mistress now landed. She finally became even more violent in her opposition to my learning to read, then was her husband himself (331).

Question 6 How does Frederick Douglass feel about Mrs. Auld? Does he like or dislike her? Think of the words he uses to describe her.

Use of descriptive words “Mrs Auld – my mistress – was, as I had said, a most kind and tender-hearted woman, and in the humanity of her heart, and the simplicity of her mind, she set out, when I first went to live with her, to treat me as she supposed one human being ought to treat another” (330).

Question 7 What does Douglass suggest will happen to the white boys in the future, when they are older and dealing with “the cares of life”? He wrote, “I frequently talked about slavery – very freely – with the white boys. I never met a boy, while I was in slavery, who defended the slave system…which have not been bewildered by the cares of life” (332). The “cares of life” encompassed ________.

When Children turn into adults The little white boys who either helped Frederick Douglass further his education or entered into childhood talks with him on the issue slavery would most _________ Likely accept slavery when they became adults. Why did Frederick Douglass believe this?

Slavery shatters his childhood Douglas wrote, “I was no longer the light-hearted, gleesome boy, full of mirth and play, as when I landed first at Baltimore. Knowledge had come; light had penetrated the moral dungeon where I dwelt; and, behold! There lay the bloody whip, for my back, and here was the iron chain; and my good, kind master, he was the author of my situation” (333-334).

Question 8 What is an important message in My Bondage and My Freedom? Slave owners and slaves should be friends. The wish for freedom can be rooted out of one’s soul. Slaves have a generally good life in Baltimore. A kind owner cannot relieve the injustice of slavery.

Question 9 At first, Douglass says, his mistress acted in a benevolent manner. He means that she acted _____________ toward him. brutally indifferently selfishly kindly

Question 10 anger confusion fear elation When Mrs. Auld caught Douglass reading, she would sometimes rush at him in consternation, or ____________, and grab it from him. anger confusion fear elation