Frederick Douglass confrontation with Mr. Convey shows how it relates to Ralph Waldo Emerson philosophy about being a nonconformist. There are many similar ideas being “free” from Emerson’s Philosophy and literally being free from the chains that control you. The idea of being a non-conformist, being your own man, and self were some of the main points Emerson focused on. Frederick Douglass on the other hand both believed the same thing but he truly experienced the hardships when those ideas are taken away from you. Frederick Douglass purpose was to be free and not controlled by any man who hides behind their skin color constantly. For example, both Emerson and Douglass have the same philosophy of being a nonconformist. As Emerson said in his essay, “Whoso be man, must a non-conformist”. During the time when slavery was legal, it was usually death who fought their masters both…show more content… Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what after my constitution; the only wrong what is against it…” Emerson says no self-nature right should be taken from you by anyone except your self-choice. After his battle with Mr. Convey something great happened “My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place; and now resolved that however long I might remain a slave in form, that day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact.’ Even after many years of being a slave who pushed Douglass down or whipped him to a bloody pulp he still fought for his will to live and did not let anyone push him down. In both books, “Self-reliance” and “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, both believe in the same idea’s of freedom. However Frederick Douglass fully experienced what it meant to be a man who was controlled constantly and beat. Both believe to be free and both have a similar definition of that
