Throughout this speech, Douglass alludes to several social and political issues relevant to the situation at hand, at the same time that he reflects on broader, more philosophical ideas. What philosophical issues does he raise in the section beginning, "In his natural condition, however, man is only potentially great" (paragraph 16)

1. at the conclusion of chapter 13, the monster realizes that he has none of the qualities or possessions that human beings value, and so he worries the he will be forever miserable. he says, “oh, that i had for ever remained in my native wood, nor known nor felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst, and heat! ” this statement recalls one made by victor frankenstein in chapter 10: “if our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might nearly be free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows, and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us.” questions: what do these two statements suggest about the impact of knowledge? how do the statements affect the way readers view the monster and victor?