IndexWhy would slave owners want ignorant slaves?Loss of identityLack of literacyConsequences of knowledgeIn ConclusionWorks CitedWhy would slave owners want ignorant slaves?Born a slave in 1818, Frederick Douglass decided to live as a free man at an early age. He decided to learn to read and write because he was convinced that education and knowledge would guarantee him a better life. Lack of education or illiteracy was the most common method used by slave owners to maintain a system of slavery. Thus, pushing Douglass to educate himself. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is Douglass's written illustration of the life and times of the American slave. The powerful narrative vividly addresses slave ignorance as the primary tool used by slave owners to maintain control. Douglass skillfully takes the reader through a detailed account of the cruel and inhumane system of abuse of blacks. He recounts his life at the risk of his own death and shares the terrible images of his American experience to raise awareness of those who are blind to the pain endured by slaves. In The Tale of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he shares how ignorance was a deeply ingrained method of controlling the American slave, particularly through loss of identity, lack of literacy, and the harsh consequences of knowledge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Loss of Identity A slave had no real concept of time or dates. Slaves were not allowed basic knowledge of real-world facts, such as knowing the year of their birth. The inability to celebrate birthdays disconnects their culture. Ultimately the result is a stolen identity. Douglass was born a slave and was unaware of his age. Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland, but could only guess at the time of his actual birth. It is estimated that he was born in 1817. A date that was later corrected to 1818. Not only did the slave not know his birthday, but he often did not know his parents. Making the slave feel subhuman, like property as the slave owner considered him. Douglass introduces himself at the beginning of his story by saying that he "does not remember ever meeting a slave who could tell of his birthday." Douglass goes on to say that few slaves have even basic information about their origins or who they are. What we know as common law is seen as a privilege of intelligence not afforded by slave owners. Douglass further reiterates that “it is the desire of most masters…to keep their slaves thus ignorant.” It is the slave owners who whip and beat their slaves who prevent slaves from even dreaming of these basic human rights. The slave is made to believe that possessing any form of intelligence only causes more discontent among the slaves. Another profound thought Douglass shared concerns how his lack of self-knowledge affects his treatment. Being a slave like himself "he was not permitted to ask such questions...he considered such questions from a slave to be improper and impertinent and evidence of a restless soul." He is clever in his explanation of how the slave owner would not answer any questions regarding the origin of the slave. Such demands would label them as “troublemakers” and subject them to more inhumane treatment, turning them into submissive slaves. Hence, the desire of slaves to have basic knowledgewho I am would be constantly denied. Even though every other human possessed this basic knowledge, slave owners somehow used it as another way to keep their slaves happy. Ignorance is the tool responsible for the successful oppression of slave owners and the ability to profit from the free labor of slaves. Lack of Literacy Douglas refers to another effective tool of ignorance which is the slaves' lack of ability to read and write. He recalls how in his desire he resisted the very institution of slavery to learn to read and write. This was a major fear of slave owners. They feared that if their slaves learned to read and write, they would feel less like slaves and more white and unfit to be slaves. This means that the slave would realize that he is equal and would resist his slave owners' attempts to continue enslaving him. Douglass said, “The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my slaveholders.” Douglass goes on to say that learning to read and write made him see everything around him differently. He began to see things through the lens of a free man and not as a slave. He then began to envy the illiterate slave because he now felt burdened by this new knowledge and understanding of its depth. “Douglas was taught to read by Captain Auld's wife, Sophia. She would eventually become as ruthless as her husband. In his account Douglass recounted how he used this to his advantage after being banned from reading, “nothing seemed to make Sophia Auld angrier than to see me with a newspaper. He seemed to think that therein lay the danger. The inability for a slave to read and write gives rise to the belief that they are nothing more than cattle. Sophia is ultimately intimidated by Douglass' intelligence and fears that he will no longer believe his oppressor's lies and will begin to behave like a thinking man. The loss of slave ignorance is a real danger for both owner and slave. Slave owners risk financial demise due to the potential loss of free labor. The slave risks his life because of the determination of those who benefit from his ignorance. Consequences of Knowledge Because of Sophia, there is no avoiding the new path of knowledge and the challenges that come with it. As stated, “the first step had been taken. The mistress, teaching me the alphabet, had given me the thumb, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell. Douglass possesses a strong determination to eradicate his ignorance. He understands that he has been given a gift that is not given to many slaves and not all who receive this knowledge use it to escape from slavery and build a life as free men. Regardless of the consequences, Douglass continues to use his newly acquired ability to read and write to not only help himself but others like him. As Douglass continues to progress with his literacy, he becomes more aware of the efforts to prevent him from obtaining it “as I read and contemplated the subject behold! the very discontent which Master Hugh had predicted would follow my learning to read had already come to torment and sting my soul to unspeakable anguish. He now understands how knowledge is seen as a transfer of power after seeing his teacher turn against him for learning what she taught him in secret. Douglass doesn't know what comes next or even what to expect from his increase in intelligence. However, it is clear that his illiteracy is an important tool used by slave owners to