Freedom

The text shows that freedom is sought by people of many situations - not only slaves in the traditional sense. Freedom is a theme for several of the characters of the novel, most notably in the chapter devoted to Fredrick Douglass. Douglass is still technically a slave during the time he visits Ireland. He is living as a free man, but he knows that he could be returned to his owners at any time. He lives with that sense of dread in the years after his escape because he knows that his newfound freedom could be revoked at any time. Douglass plans to negotiate for his formal freedom by buying himself from his masters soon after leaving Ireland.

Douglass has a great affinity for many of the people of Ireland because he can tell most of them have very limited resources and their choices are limited...