Tuckahoe, Poverty, Oppression
The village in which the narrator lives is known as “Tuckahoe”. This place is mainly named based on the idea of picking up a hoe (Julien). Douglass is surrounded with poverty and oppression. The people having higher positions went on to suppressed the poor and exploited them not just financially but physical. The women of the village were as a matter of fact treated as hoe and Douglass was a child of this practice. This is in sharp contrast to United States of America which has been working its way to having a society that provides equal rights to people. While America has been dealing with the issue of poverty but what sets it apart from “Tuckahoe” is the fact that workers are not exploited and there is a significant ratio of people in America who have been doing well. In addition, the institution of “family” is almost absent in the life of Douglass and all the other children who have been pushed into servitude, “It is a successful method of obliterating[29] from the mind and heart of the slave, all just ideas of the sacredness of the family, as an institution.” (Julien). This itself raises a question on if Douglass had any family ties whatsoever and if he really knew what it felt like to be around family? The answer to this question is complicated because while he did not have his entire family by his side but he did seek comfort in his grandmother for a short time till they were separated. The whole childhood experience is thus traumatic. This only leads to reducing the idea of family to a distant dream for Douglass. In sharp contrast to Douglass is my life and family where while I did not have an extended family, I had a good childhood upbringing with my parents by my side. Family for me was not just a concept but I was able to experience as compared to Douglass. The main reason for talking about the setting and family is because these two factors shape the identity of a person.
The concept of “father” and “mother” is also shrouded for Douglass and all the slave children. There was little care from the ends of either parent(Julien).Douglass was separated from is mother at an early age and like all the other children in the village, he had no knowledge about his father. This left him with no attachment towards his mother, “Yet I cannot say that I was very deeply attached to my mother; certainly not so deeply as I should have been had our relations in childhood been different.” (Julien). This is in contrary to my childhood where I was deeply attached to my mother and continue to feel the same way for my mother. I have been dependent on her and the reason why there is a difference in the way I see my mother and Douglass sees his is the individual experiences we have had. Douglass was separated from his only parent, his mother, at a very early age. On the other hand, I have spent majority of my early years with my mother. On the other hand, it was never revealed who was the father to Douglass, “Summoned away to her account, with the impassable gulf of slavery between us during her entire illness, my mother died without leaving me a single intimation of who my father was.” (Julien). This was very common in the society that slave mothers would not reveal the names of the child’s father because in most cases the slaveowners were the parent who did not want to be remined of their sins. This is ins harp contrast to the father figure and the society that surrounds me. The father figures are protective of the family and often ensure that their child have a stable life. The society that I live in is very different from the one that Douglass lives in. The society today is very supportive of single parents and at the same time there is equal respect for people unlike the distinction that exists in the society that Douglass lives in where the slave child of slaveowners is treated worse than all the other slaves because they remind him of their sins. The reason for raising and answering the questions with respect to the father figure and mothers is because it clearly shows the relationship and the view of the same that is held by Douglass in contrast to that held by me. The societal aspect is discussed to show the influence of society on the lives of a person and to bring to light how the society and the perception of a person towards the world are interrelated to a great extent. Douglass has little understanding and attachment of what parents are like because the society does not permit the same.
Absence of Family and Childhood
Literacy or education had found its way to the narrator through Mrs. Auld and it was at this point that the narrator truly understands the power that it beholds. Slaves were not supposed to be literate anyway and it was strictly against the law. Her husband was skillful in anticipating the power that education held within itself, “If you learn him now to read, he’ll want to know how to write; and, this accomplished, he’ll be running away with himself.” (Julien). It is understood that the key to rising above slavery was education and the slaveowners had complete understanding of the same but this knowledge was hidden from the slaves. Education was “the thing itself was unlawful; that it was also unsafe, and could only lead to mischief.” (Julien). It was ensured that the slaves remain under confinement with no scope of raising above their current positions. This is very different from the current culture where education is seen to be the basic right of every person irrespective of class or gender. “Slavery” is completely banned in the current society and any kind of servitude is strictly discouraged but can the same thing be said for Douglass? The answer to this is no because he is pushed into being a slave and every attempt is made to keep him that way (Julien). The law that somewhat reinforce slavery is done through the lack of education at larger and in the current setting law makers ensure equality through education.
Douglass and all the other slaves were not really treated as humans but they were seen as property that was owned by people. These people were bought and sold by the wealthy people. While diving the properly of the wealthy, “The first condition of wealth and respectability there, being the ownership of human property…”(Julien). The main purpose of keeping the slaves was to see them as properties which can be put to use for tasks that the masters cannot do by themselves. The question that arises is was Douglass treated as an animal if not a human being? The answer to this is clearly no because, he was employed to tame another animal who was uncontrollable. He was simply seen as a commodity who was of value to the masters only till the time he could work. In his failure to do so he would be traded of like Henny. This is very uncommon in my life because here I see people working for companies but they are seen as human resources. They are often regarded as an investment and not a property that can be either bought or sold. Unlike Douglass I can choose where to work and under work conditions will I want to work. The working culture is selected by me and I am not forced into anything I might dislike. In addition, there are laws in place to ensure that I am not being exploited as a worker if I decide to work for another company or any industry. This liberty of safety is not provided to Douglass and this cause results into him being trapped in an endless circle of slavery and suffering. The reason for answering about the position of Douglass while comparing it my situation is to show how treatment within the society plays an important part in the circumstances that one is exposed to.
Conclusion
It is safe to conclude from the above discussion that Douglass was exposed to a setting where the name of the village in itself talks about suppression and the narrator himself was a by-product of this practice. In his childhood he was separated from his family which made family, parents and attachment a distant idea. Slavey was prominent in the society which was enforced by law through the lack of education among the slave children. The father figure is never revealed to the children as most children were products of an illegitimate relationship and the landowners were involved in the same who did not want to be reminded of the same. The current society and my personal experiences are in sharp contrast to that of the narrator as I have the protection of family and the law.
References
Julien, Claude. “Frederick Douglass.—My Bondage and My Freedom.” Revue française d’études américaines 39.1 (1989): 114-114.
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
