When Douglass applied to Master Thomas in the spring of 1838, to hire his time, his request was promptly rejected. The conversation with Master Thomas shows how the slave owners wanted the slaves to remain under them with no hope for the future. The slave owners greed was highlighted for he wanted the slave to never think of escape but to remain obedient to his master.
Master Thomas did not want Douglass to utilize his intelligence rather he wanted him to be completely dependent on him for his happiness and future. Frederick Douglass never allowed this discouraging remarks to daunt his efforts to escape.
