Throughout history slaves have struggled to achieve freedom and as part of the process regain their identity. The dehumanization of slaves took a great toll on certain aspects of a slave's personality. Since they had to submit themselves completely to their masters or else they would be punished, it was very difficult for a slave to express themselves in ways that helps to maintain a person's identity. In A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass works hard to regain his sense of identity as well as break the chains of slavery that have hold of his spirit and become a free man.
Douglass first starts to become a true free man when he moves to the city of Baltimore. The treatment he receives at the Auld's house differs greatly from that of which he received on Colonel Lloyd's plantation. Unlike Douglass" previous master, the Aulds treat Douglass very well. Douglass even goes so far as to say that without his movement to Baltimore, it is very probable that he would not be in the freedom of his own home writing his narrative. It is his mistress, Mrs. Auld, who goes about teaching Douglass to read, which later contributes to his attaining freedom. Although Douglass" education came to an abrupt halt when Mr. Auld discovers what Mrs. Auld has been doing, it still plants that first idea in Douglass and he realizes that he can no longer be content with the life of a slave.
Another defining moment of Douglass" transition from a slave to a true free man is when he is sent to work for Mr. Covey. It was here that Douglass" spirit breaks loose and allows him to deny his fate of slavery and fight back against the white man. Along with this fight Douglass discovers a new and reinforced desire to be free. With this fight Douglass gains back his courage. Without courage Douglass could not have fought back against Mr. Covey for fear of what his punishment would be later. After all the reason he had been sent to Mr.