Knowledge is power, and the truth will set
you free. Or at least, in the case of Frederick Douglass, knowledge was the enabling
force that led Douglass to his eventual freedom. In reflection, Narrative of
the Life of Frederick Douglass embodies this philosophy. Douglass is a
slave who is taught by his mistress, Sophia, to read and write. In fact, the
relationship between slave and master is intriguing to Douglass. At first, his
mistress Sophia shows Douglass a tender and gentle disposition. She does not
rule him harshly. Instead, she is nurturing. She teaches him how to start
reading. Through this simple act, she rejects the Southern belief and practice of the 1800's to deny slaves the possibility of education. She aids the development of Douglass' literacy. However, this loving disposition between the two, slave
and mistress, does not persist as Sophia becomes aware of her actions through
the informing knowledge of her husband. Her heart turns cold and she becomes
harsh in her rule, baring the guilt of inflicting pain upon her slave as a
consequence of her transformation. But Douglass’ exposure to literacy persists
as he continues to learn how to read and write from the neighborhood boys
surrounding him.
Once exposed to the truth, one can never
go back to the way things were. I’d like to think this is somewhat similar to
the shadows in Plato’s cave. Once someone sees the actual figures making the
shadows on the wall, one will never be satisfied with knowing only the shadows
ever again. One will know that there is something else out there making them. One
can never go back to how life was before, because the knowledge of knowing something
else has widened the possibility of knowing more than what they had settled for in the beginning.
Plato claims that some can never handle the truth, and many cower away from the
power it can give you. Is this the same mentality that the slave owners want to
inflict upon their slaves? Will the slaves grow hungry for freedom if they are
exposed to its concept through reading and writing? Will they group together
and overtake their masters and mistresses of the South? Or will they be better off not knowing there
is a world out there that could give them something better than what they have
right now?
This self-consciousness is what Douglass gains through his
mistress. Knowledge sets Douglass free. His mistress has enabled him to learn
and know a world of possibility, and Douglass is exposed to the world around
him simply, through understanding words on a page. So there is possibility for
having a better life and improving one’s self, and there is a concept known as
freedom that involves being the master of your own fate, doing what you want,
when you want, and where you want it. Therefore, through his pursuit of
attaining more knowledge and access to information, he begins to set himself
free from the life, morals, and rules that he had once known to be final. This is
Douglass’ plight to becoming a self-made man.
It’s a bit ironic
if we are to compare it to the story of 12 Years A Slave, the academy
award winning film for best movie of 2014. The protagonist, Solomon Northup, is
a prominent member of society in the North. He is well educated and an
accomplished violinist. In the plot, he is kidnapped and sold into slavery by
two white men seeking profit for enslaving blacks. His slavery lasts for twelve
years. Throughout his time as a slave, Solomon learns that he is better off
hiding his past identity. He hides his abilities of being able to read and
write from his mistress and master. This is the only way he will be able to
survive so that he will not be killed by white folk who might find his
abilities to be intimidating and threatening to their position.
In a
conversation with two other captured black men, Solomon discusses escape. One
of the men encourages the others to just surrender to slavery. This man has
been a slave his entire life and finds hope in knowing that his master will
save him. But Solomon and the other educated man distinguish themselves from
other slaves describing their educational differences to set them apart. Unlike
the slave, these men were exposed to a life of knowledge. Unlike the slave who
was born into slavery that is content with knowing a fixed position in life,
Solomon and the other man are not content. Finally, in meeting a Southern man
with liberal ideas, Solomon entrusts a letter for him to deliver to his friends
in the North so that he will be rescued from slavery, freed and reunited with
his family once again. Happily, he is rescued, but so many others are left
behind to continue their lives as slaves and throughout their lives, they will
know nothing else.
In both narratives,
the central theme that persists is knowledge. Knowledge is power and the truth
that they gain through knowledge brings them freedom. The truth sets both of
the two men, Solomon and Douglass, a part from everything else. The ability to
read and write allows them a chance at freedom. Knowledge allows them rebellion
against a lifetime of oppression. Yes, the truth will set you free!
No comments:
Post a Comment