Frederick Douglass's narrative is basically an autobiography. It's the story of his life from the time he was born a slave to the time of his escape to freedom in the North.
Slavery is the big theme in Douglass's narrative. The book remains one of the most important historical documents from that period, showing us the kinds of lives that American slaves like Douglass lived.
Douglass argues that slaves aren't the only victims of slavery. Perhaps because he's writing a book for a mostly white audience, he focuses on how slavery corrupts every American who rakes part in it.
Education and self-improvement were very important to Douglass. The worst thing to his mind, is that slavery prevents people from improving themselves through education.
In order to be truly free, Douglass needs an education. He cannot escape until he has learned to read, write, and think for himself. The act of writing the Narrative is his final step in becoming free. In a sense, the story he tells in the book doesn't end until he's written the book itself.
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