The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, was the first of three autobiographies written by Frederick Douglass. It is a story about slavery and the meaning of freedom in antebellum America. According to The Free Dictionary, slavery is defined as the state or condition of being a slave; a civil relationship whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls their life, liberty, and fortune (freedictionary.com). Frederick Douglass' book talks about slavery obtained from birth; a slave for life. He was separated from his mother, Harriet Bailey, at birth and knew his father was a white male. He lived on the "Great House Farm" plantation throughout his youth; it is here that he saw his first violent act towards a slave. Douglass went through many ups and downs. At the age of seven he was moved to another home where he first learned to read and write. However, he was brutally beaten so that he could be “broken” into a good, disciplined slave. Douglass describes many elements in his narrative; Douglass explains how slave owners were able to support themselves through their actions. Frederick describes how the slaves stayed where they were and did not try to escape. He also addresses a number of myths created by slaves and slave owners that he wishes to prove wrong. In The Tale of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Frederick Douglass describes the ways in which a slave owner supports his actions, the ways in which a slave is prevented from escaping, and demonstrates that the myths of slaves and slave owners slaves were wrong. Slave owners had several ways to justify themselves for their actions according to Douglass. One way they justified their actions was that slaves were inferior to animals.... middle of paper... anguish (19).” Overall, the South was far from imaginative and grandiose, but at the same time depressing and unrealistic images. All in all, Frederick Douglass' book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, was a story of slavery and freedom. He was fortunate to be able to experience a better life as a slave than others. He managed to acquire knowledge on reading that he would not have managed to become a slave throughout his life. He, unlike the other slaves, knew that he would not have to remain a slave for the rest of his life. He described the ways in which slave owners justified their actions. He was one of the rare ones who did not lose his way to freedom; discussed the many ways slaves were prevented from thinking about escape and freedom. Once free, he wrote this tale and disproved many myths that many have told about slaves and slave owners..