The construction of subjectivity in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Identifier:  TFG:6184

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG6184

Authors:  Canals Bejarano, Andrea

Abstract:
This paper aims to study how subjectivity is built and portrayed in Frederick Douglass’s story, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass —an autobiography written in 1845 by Douglass himself, which tries to fight for the abolitionist movement by describing a real example of slavery. Firstly, I begin by setting this paper into a theoretical framework. Secondly, I identify and discuss some of the significant aspects that characterise the construction of his subjectivity, such as identity and individuality, memory, freedom, and dignity concepts. Finally, the last section —the conclusions section —creates a round image of Douglass’s subjectivity. The results conclude that even though Douglass’s subjectivity varies throughout the story, his subjectivity is built around personal traits like identity, memory, freedom and dignity.