When Frederick Douglass first arrives at the Auld household, Mrs. Auld initially treats him with kindness and compassion. She shows him a level of care that contrasts with the harshness he experienced before. However, this kindness soon changes as she is influenced by her husband's views on slavery, leading her to adopt a more cruel and oppressive demeanor towards Douglass. This shift highlights the corrupting power of slavery on relationships and morality.
Frederick Douglass had a complex view of Mr. Auld, his enslaver. He recognized that Auld's harsh treatment and denial of education were rooted in the institution of slavery, which dehumanized both the enslaved and the enslavers. Douglass also noted that Auld's character was shaped by the power dynamics of slavery, showcasing how it corrupted moral values and relationships. Ultimately, Douglass saw Auld as a product of a system that perpetuated injustice and ignorance.
Two there was Captain Anthony, and Hugh Auld
it is to tell them what to do.
As a young boy, Frederick Douglass lived with the Hugh Auld family in Baltimore, where he experienced a somewhat less brutal environment compared to plantation life. While he was still enslaved, he was given certain privileges, such as access to education, which was encouraged by Mrs. Auld but later forbidden by Mr. Auld. This exposure to a different way of life and the knowledge that education could lead to freedom deeply influenced Douglass's aspirations and his later quest for liberation. Overall, his time with the Auld family was pivotal in shaping his views on slavery and education.
Mr. Auld did not want Douglass to read and write because he believed that education would empower him and make him dissatisfied with his status as a slave. He feared that literacy would lead Douglass to question his subservient position and seek freedom. By keeping him uneducated, Auld aimed to maintain control and prevent Douglass from gaining the tools necessary to challenge the institution of slavery. This belief underscores the broader strategy of oppression used by slaveholders to suppress the aspirations and potential of enslaved individuals.
Servant to Master Thomas Auld
Frederick Douglass had a complex view of Mr. Auld, his enslaver. He recognized that Auld's harsh treatment and denial of education were rooted in the institution of slavery, which dehumanized both the enslaved and the enslavers. Douglass also noted that Auld's character was shaped by the power dynamics of slavery, showcasing how it corrupted moral values and relationships. Ultimately, Douglass saw Auld as a product of a system that perpetuated injustice and ignorance.
Mrs. Auld
Sophia Auld taught Fredrick Douglass the Alphabet
Frederick Douglass never went to college, but when he was about 12 years old, Sophia Auld would teach Frederick Douglass the Alphabet until, her husband, Hugh Auld stopped her saying it would cause slaves to rebel
In Chapter 6 of "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," Mr. Auld asserts that educating Douglass would lead to his dissatisfaction with slavery and instill in him a sense of his own power and rights. Auld believes that literacy would make Douglass unmanageable and rebellious, as knowledge would awaken his desire for freedom. Thus, he forbids Douglass from learning to read and write, viewing it as a threat to the institution of slavery and his control over him.
Two there was Captain Anthony, and Hugh Auld
it is to tell them what to do.
I know it isn't, but Sidney Poitier in 'The Concrete Jungle' springs to mind.....
Mrs. Sophia Auld
Mrs. Auld, the master's wife, taught Frederick Douglass the alphabet and how to read until it was no longer allowed, by law.
If written by Mrs. Auld, the account might provide a different perspective on Frederick Douglass's experiences, focusing more on her emotions, thoughts, and internal struggles regarding slavery and her relationship with Douglass. Mrs. Auld's narrative may also highlight the societal pressures, contradictions, and power dynamics that shaped her actions and attitudes towards Douglass.