Frederick Douglass In Learning To Read And Write Summary

While knowledge can open many doors for success, it can also put a lock on various doors for people who don’t have an opportunity to practice it. “Learning to Read and Write,” an essay written by a former slave, Frederick Douglass, explains how he gains knowledge and the effect it has on him. A former student of the EOF Program, Michael Scott, believed that attaining knowledge for Douglass was more a curse rather than an accomplishment and there were no alternatives to his circumstances. However, Michael Scott is not exactly correct for the reason that Douglass did have alternatives. For Frederick Douglass, learning to read and write is indeed more of a curse rather than blessing apart from there being other alternatives to his dark conditions. Becoming knowledgeable puts Frederick Douglass’s safety at risk; it led to suicidal thoughts from Douglass; and it makes him aware of the rights every human being should have, but no way of attaining it. While becoming literate, Frederick Douglass puts his safety at risk by seeking the help of unreliable individuals and puts himself in danger of being
In accordance with Michael Scott, his response to Douglass gaining knowledge was more of a curse rather than a blessing is indeed true. However, there were other alternatives to Douglass’s situations, which were not convincing enough to be a resourceful blessing. While Frederick Douglass gains knowledge, he puts his life at risk, it makes him aware of the rights slaves should have, and led to Douglass to having suicidal thoughts. In many years to come, individuals will continue to speculate whether gaining knowledge for Douglass assist as a blessing or a curse. Frederick Douglass went through so much as to putting his life on the line to learn how to read and ends up regretting all of it because he finds out his life was