The overall message of this essay can be best described as the essay is the frederick douglass

The overall message of this essay can be best described as the corrupting power of slavery.

While Douglass emphasizes education as the key to freedom in "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass", the overall message is slavery and its effects on both slaves and slaveholders. He coveres how slavery was morally damaging to everyone involved, and it was an affront to Christianity.

The corrupting power of slavery.

Explanation:

"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" is a memoir written by Frederick Douglass in 1845. Frederick Douglass was a famous orator, American reformer, and a former slave.

Frederick Douglass was born sometime between 1817-1818, in slavery. He was separated from his mother after he was born. When Douglass turned seen, he was given as slave to Hugh Auld. Auld's wife, Sophia Auld was kinder to Douglass in beginning, and taught him how to read and write. But, Hugh stopped her from doing so, cautioned her that she will make him unmanageable, by teaching him reading and writing. Years passed by, and Douglass received new apprenticeship in Baltimore’s trade industry. He started hiring out extra time for Hugh Auld, and started saving money. One day he made his escape to New York. And there started working with abolitionist movement.

In his memoir, he shares one instance when Edward Covey, bought a girl named Caroline, to be his slave "breeder." He hired a married man who would sleep with her and bear more slaves for Covey.

Such instances from his memoir shows the inhumanity of men towards men's in the form of slavery. And how cruel and corrupting slavery is.