The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas

Frederick Douglas

Narrator of the novel and central figure, young, enslaved boy, curious and intelligent.

Harriet Bailey

Mother of Frederick, separated after his birth and lives 12 miles away on another plantation, died when he was 7 years old

Captain Anthony

His first master, Managing Lloyds plantation, cruel and violent

Colonel Lloyd

Second Master, feared by all the slaves, proud and arrogant

Talbot county, Maryland

Frederick Douglas’ birthplace, place where he was born and from there separated from his mother.

Colonel Edward Lloyd’s Plantation

Current Plantation that Frederick is on, Place where Douglas see’s cruel conditions as well as the many people suffering on it.

Internal Conflict

Loss of Identity and Family Separation, Man vs. Self, this is a conflict that is in the works of being resolved. We already see Douglas’ points of view growing on how he views slavery as a whole.

Social Conflict

Slavery’s Cruelty and Dehumanization, Man vs. Society, this conflict has not been resolved yet in the story and continues to be a conflict growing.

Theme: Personal Identity

Finding who he is and developing his sense of self, which from then on builds the story. I see this theme of personal identity, emerging in these two chapters because he already sees the pain and suffering that all slaves, including himself go through.

1. Douglass is separated from his mother at an early age

His mother gets put on a plantation far away from him, only letting Douglas able to see her a few times. It shows Douglas at an early age how cruel slavery is.

2. Learning about the violent punishments inflicted on slaves

Douglas had to witness and hear, countless stories of cruelty and whippings. This spiked a sense of fear but also determination into him.

3. Hearing the sorrowful songs of the slaves

He sees the slaves expressing their pain and sorrow through song, rather than singing with joy. This showed Douglas early on how deep the wounds of pain and sorrow cause.

4. Seeing the dehumanizing system designed to keep slaves powerless

From the very beginning Douglas witnesses, how the slave system strips humans of their own identity and family. This shapes his desire for freedom.

5. Observing the harsh living conditions on Colonel Lloyd’s plantation

Douglas describes the conditions as overall everything being neglected. This experience as well, shows Douglas the harsh realities of plantations.

6. Realizing the intentional cruelty of slaveholders like Colonel Lloyd

Douglass discovers that in order to keep control, slaveholders purposely keep slaves uneducated and in suffering. With this, Douglass's desire to put an end to slavery continues.