In Frederick Douglass's account of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, one of the major themes is how the institution of slavery has an effect on the moral health of the slave owner. The power that slave owners have over their slaves is great and corrupt. Douglass uses this theme to emphasize that the institution of slavery is bad for everyone involved, not just the slaves. Throughout the story, Douglass uses several of his former slave owners as examples. Sophia Auld, once such a kind and caring woman, transforms into a cruel and oppressive slave owner over the course of the story. Thomas Auld also. Douglass connects this theme to the primary concern of authorial control. Although it is a personal account, it is also a propaganda tool and is used as such. Douglass's intention is to convince readers that the system of slavery is horrible and harmful to all, and therefore should be completely abolished. Douglass shows very clearly in his examples how exactly the transformation occurs and how kind and moral people can become those who beat their slaves and pervert Christianity in an attempt to justify it. When Douglass moved to Baltimore, it became the property of Hugh Auld. There he is cared for by Hugh's wife, Sophia. The reader's first impressions of Sophia are favorable; she is a warm and gentle woman who wants to teach Douglass to read and write. Douglass himself is surprised at how nice she is at first and he mentions that Sophia Auld has never owned slaves before and so was unaffected by the evils of slavery. Douglass notes that she does not wish to punish him just to keep him submissive like his former masters did, and she does not beat him or even care at all when Douglass looks into her eyes. Sophia also teaches Douglass the alphabet and several words. However, her husband Hugh, who has already undergone the transformation brought about by slavery, immediately orders her to stop when he hears about it. Here we see the contrast of two distinctly different people regarding the institution of slavery. Sophia Auld is pure, innocent, spared from the evils of slavery. Hugh Auld, on the other hand, has experience with the slave system and knows that to keep slaves obedient, they must also remain ignorant and fearful..