Freedman highlights Douglass and Lincoln's shared childhood experience of reading a single book, emphasizing their rise from adversity through self-education and determination, underscoring universal themes of self-improvement.
In the lines 128-135, the author, Russell Freedman, highlights the shared childhood experience of reading a single book between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. By drawing attention to this commonality, Freedman seeks to emphasize the parallel paths of these two influential figures and their rise from humble beginnings to greatness.
The inclusion of this shared experience serves to underscore the idea that both Douglass and Lincoln, despite their different backgrounds, faced early adversity and limited access to education. The mention of Douglass as a young slave named Frederick Bailey, who owned just one book, portrays his determination and resilience in seeking knowledge even in the face of oppression. Similarly, the reference to Lincoln's similar experience in New Salem reinforces the notion that both men, through self-directed education and perseverance, transcended their circumstances.
Freedman's purpose in highlighting this shared childhood experience is to convey a universal theme of self-improvement through education and hard work. By featuring this common thread in their stories, he suggests that the ability to rise above challenges and shape one's destiny is not limited by background or circumstances. It underscores the idea that both Douglass and Lincoln were architects of their own fortunes, emphasizing the transformative power of education and personal initiative.