Final answer:
Mr. Auld's treatment of slaves, as depicted in the excerpt, affects Douglass in several ways. Firstly, it empowers him to understand the importance of education. Secondly, it sparks his resentment and bitterness towards slavery. Lastly, it exposes the moral complications and hypocrisy of slaveholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mr. Auld's treatment of slaves, as depicted in the excerpt, affects Douglass in several ways. Firstly, Mr. Auld's attempt to prevent slaves from learning how to read and write reveals the fear slaveholders had of the power that literacy could give enslaved people. This empowers Douglass to understand the importance of education and motivates him to pursue knowledge. Secondly, Mr. Auld's ill treatment of slaves sparks Douglass' resentment and bitterness towards the institution of slavery, further fueling his desire for freedom. Lastly, witnessing Mr. Auld's cruel treatment of his own children, who were born to slave women, exposes the moral complications and hypocrisy of slaveholders. This realization deepens Douglass' understanding of the dehumanizing effects of slavery and reinforces his determination to fight against it.