Learning to Read and Write Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Learning to Read and Write - Essay Example This   paper outlines that at the initial stages, Mrs. Hugh taught Douglass how to read but she stopped once she took the same perception like her husband towards slavery. Despite at the initial stages encouraging Douglass to learn, she became one of the chief opposer of the idea and worked towards halting the process through any available means. Douglass would carry a book along with him and request the white children to help him read the book once he met them on the way as he run his daily errands. â€Å"The Columbian Orator,† a book Douglass acquired during the age of twelve years proved to be of great interest to him as he learnt a dialogue between a slave and his ,master where the slave managed to negotiate the terms of his working conditions having tried to escape for three times. From this paper it is clear that the book equally helps Douglass to learn about the travesty of slavery as well as loathing the master holds towards his slaves. Douglass is worried upon realizing the burden he carries after knowing how to read where while thinking about death as well as an abolitionist movement, he makes a decision to escape from the life of slavery but again believes he is too young for such. Consequently, Douglass figures another obstacle to his escape as he realizes that he had no writing skills that he feels he needs to learn in order to run away once he possesses the two concepts. Douglass takes some more years at his master’s place and continues with his goal towards learning how to write. After a number of years with the help of the white children, â€Å"finally succeeds in learning and writing.†   The journey towards Douglass achievement of learning and writing is therefore challenging and full of obstacles but he eventually achieves his goals despite taking a number of years where his eyes opens a lot.