# Edward Covey — Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass character guide

> Edward Covey in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Edward Covey, Mr. Covey, Covey, Mr. Edward Covey, Ned

**First appearance:** 0012-x

## Snapshot

A pious farmer with a reputation as a slave breaker, Covey works men past endurance and calls it godliness, nearly extinguishing Douglass's will.

## Who they are

Covey rents Douglass out from Thomas Auld and grinds him through six months of ceaseless field labor in every weather, earning his nickname by breaking bodies and spirits alike. Douglass describes being reduced to a brute under Covey's discipline, his intellect and hope collapsing together. That ruin matters because it sets the stage for the confrontation that redefines what Douglass believes he is.

## Relationships

### [Hugh Auld](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/hugh_auld)

_professional_

Covey rents Douglass from Hugh Auld to break his spirit through harsh labor and punishment.

### [Cousin Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/cousin_tom)

_professional_

Cousin Tom works as Covey's slave and often participates in or witnesses Covey's abuse of Douglass.

### [Sandy Jenkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/sandy_jenkins)

_professional_

Sandy Jenkins is a slave on Covey's farm who gives Douglass a root for protection against Covey's beatings.

### [William Freeland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/william_freeland)

_professional_

Covey and Freeland are neighboring slaveholders, with Covey known as a brutal slave breaker while Freeland is comparatively lenient.

## In the story

### [Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/chapters/narrative-of-the-life-of-frederick-douglass)

A notorious slave breaker who Douglass is sent to, known for his cruelty.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/chapters/ix)

Hired to break Douglass; known as a 'nigger-breaker' and a pious Methodist class-leader.

### [The Determination to Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/chapters/x)

Slave breaker who brutalized Douglass and bought Caroline as a breeder.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in connection with the fight and the roots given by Sandy Jenkins.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters/edward_covey
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/narrative_of_the_life_of_frederick_douglass_se/characters