In Frederick Douglass's A Tale of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, one of the main themes is how the institution of slavery has a effect on the moral health of whites the slaveholder. The power that slave owners have over their slaves is great, as well as corrupting. Douglass uses this theme to point out that the institution of slavery is harmful to everyone involved, not just the slaves. Throughout the narrative, Douglass uses many 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 narrative. Also Thomas Auld. Douglass links this theme to the primary concern of authorial control. While this is a personal account, it is also a propaganda tool and is used as such. Douglass's intent is to convince readers that the system of slavery is horrible and harmful to all, and therefore should be completely abolished. Douglass makes it very clear 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 moves to Baltimore, it becomes 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 kind woman who wishes to teach Douglass to read and write. Douglass himself is surprised by how kind she is at first, and states that Sophia Auld had never owned slaves before, and was therefore not affected by the evils of slavery. Douglass notes that she does not wish to punish him just to keep him submissive as his former masters did, and she does not hit him and does not mind 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 caused by slavery, immediately orders her to stop when he hears about it. Here we see the contrast of two starkly different people regarding the institution of slavery. Sophia Auld is pure, innocent, untouched by the evils of slavery. Hugh Auld, on the other hand, has experience with the slavery system and knows that to keep slaves obedient, they must also be kept ignorant and fearful.