ote in a democracy. Douglass’s theme of freedom in Narrative of the Life and My Bondage and My Freedom remains as relevant today as a century ago. Freedom’s inherent presence in America makes Frederick Douglass’s theme timeless and canon-worthy. Frederick Douglass’s desire for freedom perhaps lead him to write an expose about slavery. With his abrasive style, Douglass wrote three autobiographies criticizing slavery as an institution which bred corrupt slaveowners. His works deserve credit not only for their historical value, but also for their literary worth. “Read now only secondarily for what they tell us about slavery, his Narrative of the Life, and My Bondage and My Freedom have earned the regard of critics” (McFeely, 115) In the first two of his autobiographies, Douglass uses a timeless theme to convey a slave’s sense of oppression. This former slave grew up under the weight of cruelties which stagger the reader, but his inherent sense of freedom remains intact. The impact of his presentation of the theme makes a mark upon history. His psychological evaluation of slavery in his works caused a great many people to change their ways of thinking and attack “the thing itself.” By presenting a work which includes these facets, Douglass deserves a place in the canon. Some may maintain that political correctness remains the true reason his inclusion for his inclusion. However, this paper finds Douglass a writer of great literary importance based on the criteria of theme, impact, and originality of subject matter. With his autobiographies, Douglass escaped the brand of the runaway slave. He scoffed at the idea of being caught by including the names of his masters, and the circumstances of his escape. Douglass overcomes the stigma of his past incarceration through a demonstration of his freedom of speech. By writing the events of his past, he obtains his true freedom from the institution...
