Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

How do the masters treatment of the slaves as depicted in chapter 11, affect Douglas ?

Frederick Douglass

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This finally changes his life. As Douglass details in this final chapter, he did not want to reveal the facts concerning his escape in order to prevent harm from coming to those who helped him, or make it more difficult for those blacks still bound by the chains of servitude who might escape via the same means. In 1881 he finally revealed the facts, which were that on September 3rd, 1838, he boarded a train from Baltimore bound to New York, borrowed the uniform and seaman's protection papers of a free black friend, and rode the train without being recognized by white acquaintances or being challenged by the conductor.

Douglass has thus physically escaped from slavery, and psychologically escapes by changing his name from Frederick Bailey to Frederick Douglass.