Narrative of Life of Frederick Douglas

In the Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, former slave Frederick Douglass recounts his life in an autobiographical manner. However, this work has much greater depth than that of the normal autobiography. Douglass provides the reader with information about his life in such a way that he is able to teach the reader far more than the facts. For Douglass, the factual information is a mere gateway to the timeless themes of which he is trying to convey.

While many themes are present in this autobiography, an underlying theme throughout the entire work is the value of education. By telling of the deprivation of his own education and his view that education is the gateway to make slaves free, Douglass not only shows the value of education for himself, but also why equal education is a necessity for all people. Contrary to Rousseau, who believes education will worsen the morale of the subdominant people, Douglass shows through personal recollections, that equal education is a right of which no one should be deprived.

Douglass shows his stance on the importance of education immediately at the onset of his story, stating that he does not know the date of his birth or the name of his father. Douglass says, "It is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant." Douglass then goes on to say that, "The white children know their ages" and he could not tell why he was “deprived of the same privilege." This simple statement shows Douglass’ view that all people should be informed and educated equally.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau stands in direct contrast to Douglass' view of equal education. Rousseau states that women and men "ought not to have the same education." While Rousseau is arguing against educating women, a parallel can be drawn between women and slavery. This parallel is strengthened further in Rousseau's statement, "If women is to please and be dominated, she ought to make herself agreeable to men and avoid...