FREDERICK DOUGLASS, NARRATIVE from chapter 7 to chapter 11 - Book Report/Review Example

SUMMARY OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, NARRATIVE CHAPTER SEVEN For about seven years, I lived in Master Hugh’s family withmuch non-negotiated learning criteria. Withdrawal of my mistress as my instructor made learning process difficult. Her withdrawal depicts controversial relationship with her character. She was kind and tender hearted woman. Despite the fact that I was a slaveholder, she always treated me like a human being. She was very accommodative. However, slavery took center stage in her heavenly heart and changed every good aspect about her.

She came to a conclusion that education and slavery were incompatible. At this point, my slightest movement was closely watched. However, I made an effort of converting little white boys as my close friends and used them as teachers hence making me learn to read. With bread as their wage, the hungry urchins gave me bread of knowledge. It is unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this Christian country. Being a slave for life struck me when I was twelve years old although the white boys expressed their deepest sympathy for me, I was not contented.

The book titled, “the Columbian orator” was my turning point. The book represented a more similar situation I was; the only distinction being that in that book is the fact that the slave had run away from the master three times. This book transformed my entire perspective about life with a lot of disregard to slavery life and my master.CHAPTER EIGHTMy old master and his youngest son died leaving his son, Andrew and daughter, Lucretia in-charge of the estate. The valuation of the estate was necessary due to the absence of the will.

To my surprise, we the slaves were ranked together at the evaluation. My experience and that of the other slaves were quiet different regarding evaluation. Soon after, I left Baltimore for Lloyd’s plantation and came back to Baltimore to live in Hugh’s family after the evaluation. Later, both Master Andrew and Mistress Lucretia died leaving all strangers as the beneficiaries of the estates. Not even a single slave was left free. At this time everything was taken over by the two strangers and their authoritarianism was worse compared to the previous masters.

CHAPTER NINEI left Baltimore in 1932 for Auld at St. Michael’s. Although we were new to one another, I considered him a new master and new slave respectively. Master Thomas was a mean man and most often there was no much to eat. He never showed any good character apart from meanness. Mr. Storks, Mr. Ewery, Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Hicky frequently visited our house though we perceived Mr. Cookman to be a good man. CHAPTER TENIn 1833, I left Master Thomas house for Mr. Covey’s house. Here, I was employed as a field man.

Life here was harsh with frequent whipping from Mr. Covey whenever mistakes occurred. My stay with Mr. Covey was precisely one year with whipping starting after the sixth month. However, my condition was much worse in the first six months compared to the last six. Mr. Covey was very strict and supervised all his works personally. In most instances he would be in the field with us. My term of actual service to Mr. Covey ended on Christmas day, 1833.CHAPTER ELEVENAt this point, just after leaving Mr.

Covey’s house, I come to the part of my life during which I planned and finally succeeded in making my escape slavery. The reward of my toil in the hands of different Masters eventually paid off leaving me at the helm of my successes. The cents I had received from my whole life slavery could now be put into constructive use once again. I could now live like a human being, drink and eat all manners of foods I deemed fit for consumption. Although the life of slavery will forever remain permanent in me, the experiences I have undergone in the hands of all these masters since my tender age to a teenage is essential to the rest of my life.

ReferenceDOUGLASS, F. (1817-95). Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. Radford, Va, Wilder Publications.