Final answer:
The passage delves into the cruel and contradictory nature of slavery, as detailed in Frederick Douglass's personal narrative, which highlights the moral complexities and the resilience of the human spirit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage provided describes the harsh realities and contradictions within the system of slavery, particularly regarding the treatment of slaves. Through the use of personal narrative instruction, the excerpt from Frederick Douglass's narrative reveals the moral complexities and cruelties faced by slaves, including those born to white masters and the varied experiences of slaves based on their location, such as plantation versus city slaves. The narrative is also a critique of the ignorance some people hold about the true nature of slavery, as well as a testament to the human desire for freedom and dignity despite the oppression of enslavement.