Anne Frank and Frederick DouglassEveryone has hope in something whether it is possible or seemingly impossible. Anne Frank and Frederick Douglass, among many differences and similarities, both had hope in something others may not have believed to be possible. They never gave up their hope that they so desperately clung to when they were in bondage. Anne Frank and Frederick Douglass were both held in bondage, each in a different way.
Frank was kept from the public eye for fear she would be caught and killed by the Germans. Even before she went into hiding she had to abide by so many restrictions that she had no freedom at all. On the other hand, Douglass was born a slave and had never known what it was like to be free, kept in bondage by his master. Despite everything they both kept their hopes that they would be free one day and people would no longer discriminate against them. Also, while Frank and Douglass were in bondage they had several people who helped them along the way. They couldn’t have made it without these helpers.
Douglass had his master’s wife and the young white boys who helped him learn his alphabet and his basic reading. He also had the Underground Railroad abolitionist to help him on the road to freedom. Frank also had help from some friends of her dad, Kraler and Koophuis. They helped hide them and bring food and supplies to Frank and her family. In addition to having helpers, Frank and Douglass both were good writers. Even though Douglass basically had no education at all, and Frank had a very good education they both had the same desire to write.
Anne Frank’s diary and Douglass’ Narrative are examples of their excellent writing skills. Douglass longed to be able to read and write for the hope that one day it would help him to become free. In contrast, Frank’s education was just part of her life as a school girl. Being able to write benefited both Frank and Douglass and helped them get through their troubles by letting Frank express herself in the secret annex and by helping Douglass reach the north. Although Frank and Douglass both had hope they had hope in different things. On one hand, Frank hoped that one day she would become a famous writer and that the war would end and peace would return.
“if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again. ” On the other hand, Douglass hoped that one day he would be a free man. When talking about running away to the north Douglass said “I consoled myself with the hope that I should one day find a good chance. Meanwhile, I would learn to write. “In the end Douglass finally got to see his hope for freedom become a reality. He escaped to the north and became a free man.
Unfortunately, Frank died a few months before the war ended and never got to see her hope for peace become truth and even though Frank didn’t know she would be a famous writer like she hoped her diary is what made her dream come true. In conclusion, Frank and Douglass led very different lives but were tied together by a hope that discrimination would be abolished even when everything around them told them it wouldn’t happen. Discrimination has come a long way in the short time from Douglass’s day and World War II, and needs to continue on this path to extinguish it. .
