Frederick Douglass Case

Self-sufficiency is a common practice in American culture, which parents try to impart into the minds of their children. Especially in Modern day society with our fragile economy, our ongoing tensions with other countries, and our powerful media, kids are forced to grow up quickly at a young age and must understand the importance of being independent. They must recognize that their parents will not always be there to provide them with a safety net, and that eventually they must take it upon themselves to thrive on their own. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave and in A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, historical figures reveal the benefits of being self-reliant. Although exercising their independence often puts them at risk, Rowlandson and Douglas show through their writing that being self-sufficient is one of the most important tools for success.

In the Autobiography of Frederick Douglas, Douglas learns to turn to himself during challenging times in order to reach his ultimate goals. When he begins work for a new family and is assigned to his master Mrs. Audler, Douglas is pleasantly surprised when she offers to teach him how to read. Unfortunately, when Mrs. Audler's husband finds out about his wife's attempts to educate Douglas, he demands that she discontinues the lessons. Although Douglas is upset by the situation, he takes it upon himself to further his studies. Douglas writes, "Though conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read." (263). To achieve his objective, Douglas befriends white boys in town while shopping for his masters, and gives the boys bread in exchange for their knowledge. In describing his new friends Douglas explains, "as many of these as I could, I converted into teachers" (266). Although he risks his own safety by taking time out of his working hours to seek education, Douglas manages to accomplish something which most slaves did not have the opportunity to do. Many slaves became so accustomed to their oppressive lives that they eventually lost all motivation to improve their futures. Douglas is not willing to give up like those around him because he believes that as an individual, he has the power to change his life. If it were not for his ability to persevere and rely on himself, Douglas would not have been able to learn how to read and develop into the brilliant and monumental figure that he was.