Frederick Douglass Character Sketch Frederick Douglass Character Sketch Final Draft Frederick Douglass personality is shown in a few different ways in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. His book was an in-depth look into the life of a slave in the mid 1800s. It helped people get a better view of how slaves were treated, on gave fuel to the Abolitionist fire. Frederick Douglass Narrative was a first person historical account of slavery.
Since it is an account written by him, it helps us today to see slavery without exaggeration or Government re-written history books. This book is also a documentation of Douglass life. So it gives us a good look at Douglass thoughts, feeling, and personality. Frederick Douglass character is comprised mainly of his independence, his perseverance, and his intelligence.
Throughout the book, Frederick Douglass shows himself to be independent. Young Frederick took it upon himself to learn how to read. Even though he received help from the local childrens books, he really did the teaching himself, which is something that he couldnt do unless he had independence. When Douglass got into the fight at the docks, he took on the whole group alone. Had he gotten the help of other slaves there, he might not have been hurt so horribly. The book, of course, leads to his literal independence: his escape from slavery.
Douglass whole life leads up to his escape, from he day he learns to read until the fight with Mr. Covey. Throughout his life, Douglass acted independently, but it was his perseverance that was a big factor in his escape. Perseverance was another one of Douglass good character building qualities.
Even as he was independently learning to read, he had to persevere to make sure that he actually did. Since he could only get lessons during his free time, it took him awhile to learn to read; so if he hadnt persevered throughout this period, he never would have learned. Another example of the perseverant nature of Frederick Douglass was during the time in which he held his Sabbath school, helping other slaves to learn to read. Douglass never knew if the slaves were ever going to become free, so he didnt know if all his efforts would be worth it; but he kept with it and eventually some slaves did learn to read, and maybe it helped them to escape. His persistence paid off in the long run for Douglass when it helped him to escape the confines of slavery.
After waiting many months, having an attempt foiled, waiting more, planning, and more waiting, he escaped and it was all thanks to his persistence, waiting, and planning. However, Douglass might not have been so persistent if he wasnt intelligent enough to know what he was doing. Frederick Douglass accomplished a lot in his life thanks to his intelligence. It seems that one of the really defining times of Douglass character is his learning to read, because this also could not have been accomplished without the intelligence that Frederick Douglass commanded. Since most slaves were never educated, its hard to judge his intelligence in relation to other slaves, however in comparing Douglass to an average white slave owner, Douglass comes out to be really smart, since I doubt Douglass master could have taught himself to read.
Douglass was also the formulator of at least two escape plans, which is an extremely difficult task. Douglass first plan would have worked, but the escapees were betrayed, and his second plan was a success. Late in his life, Douglass became a diplomat. The government wouldnt have given him that job if they didnt think he was both qualified and intelligent enough for the job.
Since Douglass made it pretty far in life, it seems safe to say that he was not only an intelligent man, but showed a few other good character traits as well. Douglass independence, perseverance, and intelligence are character traits that he had in abundance. Douglass wrote a good book, and it was a true story. That means that he didnt exaggerate his best qualities to make himself look better. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Douglass life afterwards, shows that one man can make a difference. In fact, his book probably changed the life of any person that read it when it was released, with slavery still in abundance.
Had every man, woman, and child in the United States read this when it was published, things certainly could have been different. The prejudice that is still around even today might be significantly less had the slaveholders realized that their slaves were people, not property. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was an important work, and also gave much insight into the character of one of the most famous slaves to date. History Essays.