Final answer:
The author's main purpose in writing pieces like those mentioned is to persuade and inform the reader about the significance of literacy and education, especially in the context of former slavery, while also providing entertainment and compelling narratives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Author's Main Purpose
The author's main purpose in writing a piece can vary, whether it is to persuade, inform, entertain, describe, or explain. When considering the provided narratives and themes, it becomes apparent that authors like Frederick Douglass and Mark Twain often used their writing to do more than merely recount events or provide amusement. They strategically crafted their works to advocate for the power of literacy, to express the profound importance of education to former slaves, and to challenge the status quo of their times.
For instance, in Washington's recount of a former slave's journey to pay for freedom, the purpose extends beyond the story itself. It illustrates the longing for autonomy and justice that was felt during and after the period of enslavement. Similarly, when Douglass describes the fear of slaveholders regarding the literacy of enslaved people, it underscores the transformative nature of education as a tool for liberation.
Stories told by authors during this era often served dual purposes. They entertained, certainly, but they also sought to persuade readers to reconsider their views and to inform them about the realities of slavery, the resilience of those enslaved, and the intellectual capabilities that were denied recognition due to pervasive, racist ideologies.
The theme of reliance on knowledge against fear, highlighted in Twain's dialogue, and the powerful recounting of Douglass's quest for literacy both serve to educate an audience while implicitly persuading them of the necessity and power of such self-determination.