Goody Good! Baddy Bad?

All good -- I mean bad things must come to an end. In the case of Narrative of the Life of Fredercik Douglass: An American Slave it in different ways fit into both the 'good things' and 'bad things' categories. For the former, there's the satisfaction when reading a book until the very end that is unlike any other feeling evoked by endings of any kind. Reading, as I have mentioned in my literacy narrative, is a time consuming activity that requires effort over longer periods of time than, say, a movie. Regardless, I personally like finishing books, and Douglass' narrative was no exception to the rule.

On the other hand, when referring to the ending as 'bad things', I'd think it's quite obvious that what I'm speaking of and referring to is slavery. Specifically Douglass'.

As the narrative approaches its conclusion, it is evident that the structure designed by Douglass along with his style, make of the conclusion what I thought of as a huge sigh or even gasp of surprise mixed with relief.

Leaving behind tales of horror, the narrative takes on a topic that makes the reader almost tremble with hope for humanity and excitement: escape. Our beautifully organized american bilingual school has since (four)ever pursued the embedment of american history into our minds. Therefore it is virtually impossible to find a student that neither knows or hasn't heard about the Underground Railroad. A bell at least rings once in recognition in CNG students' minds when mentioned. It must be said that said recognition, in general, comes hand in hand with a distinct feeling of hope alongside relief.

Why relief? Because the whole of the narrative we, as readers, have been informed in clinical detail of the unlimited cruelty expended by whites against slaves, for slavery's sake. That the protagonist should follow through on what were once simple contemplations of escape, is an exciting endeavour. We finally witness how it was said protagonist became a hero and a shining beacon of hope for those like him. We experience the climax of his transformation from slave to free man, to idol. Even Douglass seems excited to share this zenith of freedom in his life with the reader as he says, "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man" (Chapter 10. Para. 10).