Chapter V

Question

As to my own treatment while I lived on Colonel Lloyd's plantation, it was very similar to that of the other slave children. I was not old enough to work in the field, and there being little else than field work to do, I had a great deal of leisure time. The most I had to do was to drive up the cows at evening, keep the fowls out of the garden, keep the front yard clean, and run of errands for my old master's daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Auld. The most of my leisure time I spent in helping Master Daniel Lloyd in finding his birds, after he had shot them. My connection with Master Daniel was of some advantage to me. He became quite attached to me, and was a sort of protector of me. He would not allow the older boys to impose upon me, and would divide his cakes with me.

I was seldom whipped by my old master, and suffered little from any thing else than hunger and cold. I suffered much from hunger, but much more from cold. In hottest summer and coldest winter, I was kept almost naked--no shoes, no stockings, no jacket, no trousers, nothing on but a coarse tow linen shirt, reaching only to my knees. I had no bed. I must have perished with cold, but that, the coldest nights, I used to steal a bag which was used for carrying corn to the mill. I would crawl into this bag, and there sleep on the cold, damp, clay floor, with my head in and feet out. My feet have been so cracked with the frost, that the pen with which I am writing might be laid in the gashes.

We were not regularly allowanced. Our food was coarse corn meal boiled. This was called mush. It was put into a large wooden tray or trough, and set down upon the ground. The children were then called, like so many pigs, and like so many pigs they would come and devour the mush; some with oyster-shells, others with pieces of shingle, some with naked hands, and none with spoons. He that ate fastest got most; he that was strongest secured the best place; and few left the trough satisfied.

I was probably between seven and eight years old when I left Colonel Lloyd's plantation. I left it with joy. I shall never forget the ecstasy with which I received the intelligence that my old master (Anthony) had determined to let me go to Baltimore, to live with Mr. Hugh Auld, brother to my old master's son-in-law, Captain Thomas Auld. I received this information about three days before my departure. They were three of the happiest days I ever enjoyed. I spent the most part of all these three days in the creek, washing off the plantation scurf, and preparing myself for my departure.

The pride of appearance which this would indicate was not my own. I spent the time in washing, not so much because I wished to, but because Mrs. Lucretia had told me I must get all the dead skin off my feet and knees before I could go to Baltimore; for the people in Baltimore were very cleanly, and would laugh at me if I looked dirty. Besides, she was going to give me a pair or trousers, which I should not put on unless I got all the dirt off me. The thought of owning a pair of trousers was great indeed! It was almost a sufficient motive, not only to make me take off what would be called by pig-drovers the mange, but the skin itself. I went at it in good earnest, working for the first time with the hope of reward.

The ties that ordinarily bind children to their homes were all suspended in my case. I found no severe trial in my departure. My home was charmless; it was not home to me; on parting from it, I could not feel that I was leaving any thing which I could have enjoyed by staying. My mother was dead, my grandmother lived far off, so that I seldom saw her. I had two sisters and one brother, that lived in the same house with me; but the early separation of us from our mother had well nigh blotted the fact of our relationship from our memories. I looked for home elsewhere, and was confident of finding none which I should relish less than the one which I was leaving. If, however, I found in my new home hardship, hunger, whipping, and nakedness, I had the consolation that I should not have escaped any one of them by staying. Having already had more than a taste of them in the house of my old master, and having endured them there, I very naturally inferred my ability to endure them elsewhere, and especially at Baltimore; for I had something of the feeling about Baltimore that is expressed in the proverb, that "being hanged in England is preferable to dying a natural death in Ireland." I had the strongest desire to see Baltimore. Cousin Tom, though not fluent in speech, had inspired me with that desire by his eloquent description of the place. I could never point out any thing at the Great House, no matter how beautiful or powerful, but that he had seen something at Baltimore far exceeding, both in beauty and strength, the object which I pointed out to him. Even the Great House itself, with all its pictures, was far inferior to many buildings in Baltimore. So strong was my desire, that I thought a gratification of it would fully compensate for whatever loss of comforts I should sustain by the exchange. I left without a regret, and with the highest hopes of future happiness.

Choose one chapter from Douglass’s autobiography. In a paragraph, write a brief summary of the events in the chapter, explaining how the chapter fits into the autobiography as a whole.

Decide how the chapter you chose for Activity 1 supports and develops one of these central ideas from the autobiography.

Ignorance keeps people in chains.
Slavery damages both the enslaved and the enslaver.
Education is part of the path to freedom.
In an essay of 250 to 500 words, analyze how Douglass develops that idea in the chapter you chose. Describe the details he uses to support that central idea and explain the order in which the details appear in the chapter.

Use specific quotations and evidence from the chapter to support your analysis. Organize your essay clearly, and follow the rules of English grammar and punctuation.

Answer 1

Summary of Chapter V from Douglass's Autobiography

In Chapter V of Frederick Douglass’s autobiography, he reflects on his early experiences as a slave on Colonel Lloyd's plantation. Douglass shares the details of his treatment as a child slave, highlighting the lack of physical necessities like clothing, shelter, and food. He emphasizes his leisure time, which he spent assisting Master Daniel Lloyd, who offered him some protection from the older boys. Despite suffering from hunger and extreme cold, Douglass reveals that the most poignant moment came when he learned he was to be sent to Baltimore to live with Mr. Hugh Auld. This news filled him with hope and excitement as he prepared for his departure, cleaning himself in anticipation and yearning for a better life. The chapter reveals Douglass's perspective on home and family, underscoring that his abandonment of Colonel Lloyd's plantation was driven by the absence of genuine connection and comfort rather than a strong attachment to his previous life. This chapter fits into the overall arc of Douglass's narrative, illustrating the effects of slavery on his childhood while foreshadowing his quest for freedom and identity.

Essay: Ignorance Keeps People in Chains

In Chapter V of Frederick Douglass’s autobiography, the central idea that "ignorance keeps people in chains" is significantly developed through Douglass's memories of his early life as a slave. This chapter highlights the physical and psychological effects of slavery on both the enslaved and the enslavers, showcasing how the lack of education and understanding perpetuates a cycle of oppression. Douglass recounts his experience on Colonel Lloyd's plantation, describing the conditions that enslaved children like himself endured, including hunger, cold, and inadequate clothing. He writes, "I was kept almost naked—no shoes, no stockings, no jacket, no trousers, nothing on but a coarse tow linen shirt." This lack of basic necessities illustrates the physical deprivation slaves faced, which ultimately contributes to a state of ignorance about their own rights and humanity.

The ignorance Douglass refers to is not just about the absence of formal education; it extends to the broader context of self-worth and social status within a slave society. Douglass notes, "He that ate fastest got most; he that was strongest secured the best place; and few left the trough satisfied." This competition among the children for food illustrates how slavery dehumanizes individuals, forcing them into a survival mode where they internalize the notion that they are unworthy, akin to animals. Such views are perpetuated by the enslavers, who intentionally keep the enslaved in ignorance to maintain control, as seen when Mrs. Lucretia Auld emphasizes the importance of appearance in Baltimore, telling Douglass he must have clean skin to avoid ridicule. This demonstrates that even a semblance of dignity is tied to societal standards that he has not been educated to understand or appreciate.

Moreover, Douglass's reflections on his impending move to Baltimore signify a turning point where he yearns for a place beyond the constraints of ignorance imposed by slavery. He expresses joy and hope upon learning he would leave the plantation, stating he could not feel that he was leaving "anything which I could have enjoyed by staying." This eagerness to venture into the unknown represents a desire for knowledge and a step toward liberation. He romantically views Baltimore as a land of opportunity and cleanliness, reflecting on how Cousin Tom’s descriptions instilled in him a longing to learn and grow: "Cousin Tom... inspired me with that desire by his eloquent description of the place."

Through vivid descriptions of his suffering and yearning for a better life, Douglass conveys that ignorance—and the oppressive system that sustains it—ensnares both the enslaved and the enslavers. In this chapter, he sets the stage for his journey toward education and eventual freedom, emphasizing that the chains of ignorance must be broken for true liberation to occur. Ultimately, Douglass uses this chapter to argue that the path to emancipation begins with the acknowledgment of one’s worth and the pursuit of knowledge, a theme that resonates throughout his autobiography.