Living in the twentieth century as a middle class Caucasian male, Thurber has been exposed to a great deal more opportunity then Douglass. Thurber's education is, for him, something that is required for a stable and happy future. It is not required for freedom, as in Douglass" case. This is one reason that we find such dissimilar writing styles. Thurber is free to be humorous and playful with his audience, where Douglass can only portray the determination and desperation of the situation.
Race issues are also dealt with when contrasting Thurber and Douglass. For Douglass, being a black male born in the United States in the nineteenth century, puts him in a position of subordination. Opportunity for him is something that is scarce. The road to opportunity and freedom lay full of danger and possible death. Douglass even has the intelligence to foresee the need of education if he is ever to make it to freedom. Education for a black male in the nineteenth century is also something of great importance if this individual ever desires freedom. For Douglass, learning how to read and write is the first step to being free. Thurber is a Caucasian male born in a place of opportunity and freedom. He has never known the restrictions of colour. He hasn't tasted the life of constraint and servitude that Douglass has always known. He has led a privileged life of formal education, and will continue to be educated until a secure future is within reach. This is why he may seem somewhat lackluster about his performance in school: "having failed at military at the end of each preceding year" (Thurber 174). Thurber's ever present humor and persistent mediocre performance in school reminds us of his colour, where Douglass" serious tone, and thoughtful tactics, serve to remind us of his life of servitude and quest for freedom during the time of slavery. .
It is hard to ignore the blatant difference in class between Thurber and Douglass.