Learning to Read by Douglass and One Writers Beginnings by Welty

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Is it easy to become literate?
Abstract
The debate over whether it is easy or hard to become literate has dominated the academic field for a long time. There have been alignments on both sides with each side coming up with their own points to support why they take such a stance. This paper analyses the facts of this philosophically oriented debate on the view that it is surely not easy to become literate. This stance does not intent to imply in any way that, it is not worthwhile to learn to read and write. It is in view of two books involving two people who face different challenges in the process of acquiring literacy.
Involvement of other people
One factor that really makes it hard for one to become literate is the fact that, for one to become literate there has to be guidance from another person. In the normal circumstances, a child will be taken to school where they will be taught to read and write by the teacher. They will also learn from the fellow learners.
For the adults learning to be literate, they could make anyone who is literate and willing to help them their teacher. Douglas (pg 101) says that he adopted the attitude of befriending the white boys who would guide him to read. This quote means that; he made friends with the white boys because he knew he could not make it to being literate on his own. He needed guidance from a person who is already literate. Since he could not access the conventional guidance of a teacher, he resorts to the easily available guidance, which turns really fruitful.
In other abnormal situations which may involve adults trying to become literate, there has to be involvement of another person. This person has to give guidance on the basics of literature. For instance; the wife of the master who gets involved in giving literature guidance to the slave, acts in the part of a teacher. Douglass (pg100) says that the kind hearted wife of his master used to give him guidance on how to read and write.
One cannot wake up and find that he is literate. It is a process and it has to be under guidance of another person. This guidance may not even be direct. For instance, one could just be eaves dropping on others as they undergo the process of becoming literate and they gain the skills of literature. But the bottom line is that, it is not easy to become literate because one cannot initiate the process in himself, another person must be involved to give guidance.
However, this guidance does not always have to follow a particular pattern. For instance, not everyone goes to school at the early age to get literate. This does not mean that, because they did not attend the classes at those early ages, they cannot learn to be literate later. As long as one gets a person to give the guidance required to initiate literacy, they can learn to be literate.
It can rightfully be argued that, even if a per...