Final answer:
Douglass' master's reaction to his complaints reflected the fear of slaveholders towards the empowerment of enslaved people through literacy, which was used as a form of control and subjugation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering Douglass' master's reaction to his complaint, we must understand the context in which Frederick Douglass lived and narrated his experiences. The narrative showcases a complex relationship between the slaveholder and the enslaved. Douglass acknowledged the corrupting nature of slavery on both the oppressor and the oppressed. This level of sophisticated thought highlights the destructive effects of slavery during this historical period. Furthermore, Douglass' interaction with his master revealed the insidious nature of suppressing literacy among slaves as a form of control and subjugation. Fearing the potential empowerment of enslaved people that literacy could bring, the slaveholder, Mr. Auld, reacted harshly to Douglass' pursuit of knowledge. The narrative of Douglass is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of such brutality, illustrating a grim picture of the time when literacy was both the means of empowerment and a source of brutal retaliation for enslaved individuals like Douglass.