# Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass — Character guide

> Key figures in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass.

- [Frederick Douglass](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/frederick_douglass.md): The narrator and protagonist, an enslaved man who escapes to freedom and becomes an abolitionist.
- [Edward Covey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/edward_covey.md): A notorious slave breaker who brutally beats and dehumanizes Douglass.
- [Captain Thomas Auld](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/captain_thomas_auld.md): Douglass's master in St. Michael's, a cruel and hypocritical slaveholder.
- [Hugh Auld](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/hugh_auld.md): Douglass's master in Baltimore who forbids his wife from teaching Douglass to read.
- [Austin Gore](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/austin_gore.md): A cruel overseer on Colonel Lloyd's plantation who kills a slave named Demby.
- [Colonel Edward Lloyd](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/colonel_lloyd.md): Wealthy plantation owner and Douglass's first master's father-in-law.
- [Aunt Hester](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/aunt_hester.md): Douglass's aunt who is brutally whipped by Captain Anthony, a formative trauma for Douglass.
- [Henry Bailey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/henry_bailey.md): A fellow slave and friend of Douglass who participates in the Sabbath school.
- [William Freeland](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/william_freeland.md): A relatively kind master who hires Douglass and allows him to teach other slaves.
- [Sandy Jenkins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/sandy_jenkins.md): A slave who gives Douglass a magical root for protection against Covey.
- [Demby](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/demby.md): A slave shot and killed by overseer Austin Gore for refusing to come out of a creek.
- [Lucretia Auld](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/lucretia_auld.md): Captain Thomas Auld's first wife who shows some kindness to Douglass as a child.
- [Sophia Auld](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/sophia_auld.md): Hugh Auld's wife who initially teaches Douglass the alphabet but is forced to stop.
- [David Ruggles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/david_ruggles.md): Abolitionist who helps Douglass in New Bedford after his escape.
- [Nathan Johnson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/nathan_johnson.md): A free black man who welcomes Douglass in New Bedford and helps him find work.
- [William Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/william_hamilton.md): A master who hires Douglass and treats him relatively well.
- [Thomas Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/thomas_hamilton.md): A master who hires Douglass and is involved in the slave trade.
- [Thomas Lowe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/thomas_lowe.md): A master who hires Douglass and is known for his cruelty.
- [Mr. Severe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/mr_severe.md): A cruel overseer on Colonel Lloyd's plantation who whips slaves frequently.
- [Mr. Hopkins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/mr_hopkins.md): An overseer on Colonel Lloyd's plantation who is less cruel than Mr. Severe.
- [William Gardner](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/william_gardner.md): A master who hires Douglass and is known for his harshness.
- [John Harris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/john_harris.md): A fellow slave who participates in the Sabbath school with Douglass.
- [Henry Harris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/henry_harris.md): A fellow slave who participates in the Sabbath school with Douglass.
- [Andrew Auld](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/andrew_auld.md): Captain Thomas Auld's brother, a slaveholder.
- [Betsey Bailey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/betsey_bailey.md): Douglass's grandmother, who cares for him as a young child.
- [Barney](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/barney.md): An elderly slave on Colonel Lloyd's plantation.
- [Betsy Freeland](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/betsy_freeland.md): A slave woman on Freeland's farm who is kind to Douglass.
- [William Hughes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/william_hughes.md): A slave who participates in the Sabbath school.
- [Samuel Harrison](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/samuel_harrison.md): A slave who participates in the Sabbath school.
- [Wendell Phillips](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/wendell_phillips.md): Abolitionist who wrote a letter prefacing Douglass's narrative.
- [Anna Murray](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/anna_murray.md): A free black woman who helps Douglass escape and later becomes his wife.
- [Mr. Butler](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/mr_butler.md): An overseer on Colonel Lloyd's plantation.
- [Mr. Plummer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/mr_plummer.md): A cruel overseer on Colonel Lloyd's plantation.
- [George Cookman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/mr_george_cookman.md): A Methodist minister who preaches to slaves.
- [Jacob Jepson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/jake_jepson.md): An elderly slave on Colonel Lloyd's plantation.
- [Daniel Lloyd](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/daniel_lloyd.md): Colonel Lloyd's son who befriends Douglass as a child.
- [Bill Smith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/smith.md): A slave who participates in the Sabbath school.
- [Mrs. Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/mrs_hamilton.md): Wife of William Hamilton, a slaveholder.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters