The son of a Black enslaved mother and a White father, Douglass spends much of his life trying to figure out his identity. When a kind mistress teaches him to read, the young Douglass realizes that literacy is the key to his freedom. He is sharp-witted and takes every opportunity to better his situation. Psychologically, Douglass never allows himself to be beaten into submission by the system and, quite literally, beats a slave master in a physical brawl.

This combination of physical and intellectual toughness leads Douglass to successfully escape slavery. His dreadful early experiences leave a lasting impression and become the defining theme of his abolitionist writing and speeches. Douglass is in the unique position of having experienced slavery firsthand and is articulate enough to convey the horrors of the institution to abolitionist sympathizers everywhere. He devotes the rest of his life to combating what he calls the Slave Power of the South. By the end of his life, he is regarded as the most important figure in the fight for Black emancipation.  

Auld is a slave owner who inherits Douglass from the estate of his deceased wife, Lucretia. During his early years, Douglass views Auld as weak-willed and hypocritical.