His mistress did not allow him to read in the house. She was afraid of Douglass gaining knowledge and because she could also get in trouble if he was seen reading. This left Douglass no other option but to learn how to read and write while no one was around. Douglass was risking his life by doing this. Not obeying the rules could lead to him being whipped, or even killed. In addition, reading made him realize the sad truth, he was a slave. He said he sometimes detested reading because “it had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy” (Douglass, 193). Knowing he was a slave made him more anxious to be free. Reading made him think a lot about freedom sometimes it was all that he could think of. Not having freedom made him sad that he even wished to not be alive, “I often found myself regretting my own existence..” (Douglass, 193). Sadly reading wasn't going to change what he was. In his case it was better not to know the truth, it tormented
His mistress did not allow him to read in the house. She was afraid of Douglass gaining knowledge and because she could also get in trouble if he was seen reading. This left Douglass no other option but to learn how to read and write while no one was around. Douglass was risking his life by doing this. Not obeying the rules could lead to him being whipped, or even killed. In addition, reading made him realize the sad truth, he was a slave. He said he sometimes detested reading because “it had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy” (Douglass, 193). Knowing he was a slave made him more anxious to be free. Reading made him think a lot about freedom sometimes it was all that he could think of. Not having freedom made him sad that he even wished to not be alive, “I often found myself regretting my own existence..” (Douglass, 193). Sadly reading wasn't going to change what he was. In his case it was better not to know the truth, it tormented