Plato was concerned with freedom through rationality, and for rationalitie’s sake. Douglass desired freedom for its own intrinsic value: the state of being free. They came from different times with different thought on what freedom was. THey suffered. But, Douglass and Plato tried to make their fellow slaves realise their enslavement. Douglass lived a very hard life as a slave. Yet, like Plato's prisoner, he did not know how bad his lot was, and focused only on the proverbial shadows on the wall. He was treated like an animal by his masters, and an animal he became. This changed when Douglass first learned how to read his ABC’s. Through his learning, and the actions of his master discouraging his learning, Douglass could suddenly see “the path to freedom,” similar to the man who has escaped his chains in the cave and could now see the objects that form the shadows thrown upon the cave wall(page). He is forced to admit that everything as he had once known is false. Once he has the first taste of freedom, he craves more. He learns everything he can, bribing tricking, stealing all the knowledge he can get.…show more content… For Plato,the return means a loss of status and purpose, even if he returned with the intent to educate. For Douglass it is the highest importance that he returns. SInce he is now one who has realised the truth and has more knowledge and understanding than his peers, it is his duty to return and educate. He even as an escaped slave at risk of being recaptured, tours, gives speeches, writes books, and does everything he can to free his brethren, at risk to himself. Plato, who only sees freedom through being rational, would never understand Douglass’s actions. In fact, he would see Douglass as still being a slave, by not behaving rationally. By devoting himself to saving his brethren, he becomes a slave to a cause. But Douglass would believe he is never more free because he is doing this because he choose to do
