Something I found to be very interesting when I read the last chapter of Douglas' Narrative was that he did not give details of his escape. The whole situation was very vague and just described details before the escape an after when he finally got to the North. Douglas clearly stated at the beginning of the chapter, “I deem it proper to make known my intention not to state all the facts connected with the transaction.” (Douglas 99). He believed that if he were to state all the details, slaveholders would have information that would prevent other slaves from reaching their freedom.
While Douglas’ reason for not stating all the details of his escape seem to make a lot of sense I think there may have been more to it than he claimed. Throughout the entire book we know that slaves were never entitled to any sort of education. Slaveholders believed that any type of education would be just another benefit in helping slaves escape. So basically the more ignorant slaves were, the more slaveholders were in control. The way I look at it, Douglas was looking out for revenge. He wanted slaveholders to suffer just the way slave holders had to. When more and more slaves escaped, chaos would arise. slaveholders would panic just as slaves would every day. Although I find sense in what he stated I wonder if any if you agree or disagree with the way he left out all the details of his escape. Do you think he should have included more details?
I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed at the end of the novel. I would of liked to know how exactly Douglass made his way to freedom. I do, however, think that the way the details are left out add to the realization of how dangerous escaping is. Even though Douglass was already escaped, he could have endangered the people who helped him, future slave escapees and even himself.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the book ends with gaps which makes for a somewhat frustrating ending,I still admire Douglass for what he did publish and respect the fact that he withheld some information for the protection of others.
I agree with Melissa in that it would be very interesting to know the details of Douglass's escape. It seems like it would be filled with adventure, suspense, and a climax of freedom. In other words, it would make a great story. It almost seems like telling his story would inspire others to do the same - however, slaves were not reading his book, and thus it was fruitless to do so. All he would achieve by telling of his escape methods would be giving white people the information they need to prevent similar escapes from happening. Frederick Douglass essentially had an abolitionist agenda, and withholding the information of his own escape was in definitely in keeping with that.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Annelise. Douglass does describe his escape in his 1881 "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass," which was also excerpted in the Century Illustrated Magazine in November 1881: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/DouEsca.html
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the whole book would have been a lot more satisfying if we, as an audience, were given the details of Douglass's escape. But, as Matthew pointed out, this book wasn't written for slaves. Douglass's "Narrative..." was written for the masses of educated peoples who sympathized with the abolitionists' cause. This, however, also meant that any information disclosed in the book would be available to those opposing abolitionist goals and, therefore, may consequently provide information which could be used to inhibit the future escape of other slaves.
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