Many themes relating to slavery are developed in the book Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Such well-developed themes include corruption, brutality and knowledge. Perhaps the most important theme developed was knowledge and its power in everything. Frederick Douglass gained knowledge throughout his life by challenging slavery laws. Perhaps one of the most impressive things about Frederick Douglass's life was the fact that, except for a few months at the beginning of his engagement to Mr. and Mrs. Auld, he was a self-taught person who took it upon himself to expand his knowledge. Frederick Douglass discovered the power of knowledge and applied it to his life at many different stages. First, he discovered that knowledge is power. Secondly, he went to great lengths to gain all the knowledge he could. Third, he used that knowledge, which he had acquired through years and years of clandestine self-taught learning, and used it to escape the brutal life of a slave. Finally, he used the knowledge he gained to speak publicly against the institution of slavery and pledge to earn the right to universal suffrage for all men. He presented many ideas, which we can see today were very strong moral beliefs arising from his abolitionist point of view. Fredrick Douglass discovered that knowledge is power from an early age. One of Douglass' first inklings that knowledge is power can be found on page 30 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, when he recounts a chance encounter of a slave from one of the colonel's farms. Lloyd and Colonel Lloyd himself. He says Colonel Lloyd stopped him a...... middle of paper...... a message to the changing human situation. His plight, from birth to escaping slavery, is a truly inspiring story that demonstrates that knowledge and its proper application can change the world. Frederick Douglass truly discovered the power of knowledge and applied it to his life in all its many phases. This theme is clearly shown and developed in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave through his constant references to how his knowledge and skills supported him in his attempts to escape Southern slavery. Works CitedAfricans in America: Judgment Day. October 27, 2011. Douglass, Frederick. An account of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2003. What the Black Man Wants. By Frederick Douglass. Boston. April 1865.