Final answer:
Mrs. Auld initially begins teaching Frederick Douglass to read, but as time passes, her husband's opposition and the societal norms of the time influence her to cease instruction, highlighting the significance of literacy as a tool of empowerment and the shifting dynamics under the pressures of a pro-slavery society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Initially, Mrs. Auld treated Frederick Douglass kindly and began teaching him the basics of reading and writing, which was highly unusual for the time since it was both dangerous and unlawful to educate slaves. Her husband, Mr. Auld, strongly opposed this and forbade her from continuing Douglass's lessons, underscoring the deeply held belief that literacy would empower slaves to challenge their oppression.
Over time, Mrs. Auld's treatment of Douglass changed, possibly due to her internalization of the societal norms and her husband's influence, which dictated that slaves should remain uneducated. Douglass recognizes this change in treatment as a key moment, illuminating the transformative power of literacy and education that he continued to pursue despite the obstacles, eventually becoming an eloquent writer and orator. He attributes his own personal development, activism against racism, and eventual escape from slavery to his pursuit of literacy, which granted him the tools to understand and fight against the injustices he faced.