Truth vs. Fiction in Narrative of the Life of Frederick...

Truth vs. Fiction in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Uncle Toms Cabin It is often said that truth is stranger than fiction. Perhaps, this is so, as truth wears no veil; it is stark reality. There are no soft edges in truth. Only the most zealous hunters, those willing to meet the sword, actively seek it. The majority, while considering ourselves open to the truth, may only realize it when it comes disguised as something else. In short, it seems that we need to see it as not threatening, but molded and plied into something we can digest. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave is a brilliant and powerful piece which details one of the worst times in American History. After reading†¦show more content†¦The very fact that Douglass was essentially self-taught, and penned such a powerful piece belied the preferred opinion that blacks were inferior, thus suited for slavery. In addition, throughout the narrative, he expressed emotions and sentiments common to persons of all races. He says of his lack of knowledge of his birthday, A want of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me, even during childhood (1824). By mentioning this, he calls attention to the fact that the slaves had the same desires as the dominant culture. While employed at the shipyard in Baltimore, he learned a trade and was able to earn money. He was able to command the highest wages given to the most experienced caulkers (1867). Yet, his master took his wages from him. As he says I contracted for it; I earned it; it was paid to me; it was rightfully my own (1868), yet he had to give it to his master solely because he had the power to compel me to give it to him (1868). Here, Douglass illustrates the desire of every man to be able to learn a trade, and earn honest wages. No man would want to be deprived of that freedom, yet Douglass was, because of slavery. As Meider writes in the Journal of American Folklore,