1. But she was restrained by an overruling Providence and finally decided to stay contentedly through her period of service, which would expire when she eighteen years old
(Harriet E. Wilson, Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black k, p. 60)
This passage was a result of the protagonists decision to still stay in service and postpone her plans of leaving or escaping the cruel Mrs. Belmont. Running away would be the only choice for her to finally be free from the cruel punishment of the people. Frado planned for days and nights on how she will escape and where will she go but she remained on her servitude with the hope that when she turns 18, she will be absolutely free already.
2. It was strange sight to see these black men rallying around the Stars and Stripes, when white men were trampling them under foot and riddling them with bullets
(Frances Ellen W. Harper, Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted, p. 36)
This sentence is a significant and creative allusion to the realities that black slaves where experiencing in the past. This passage describes how black men like Robert were insistent of joining the Union Army and fight for America despite the maltreatments they are experiencing from white men. They were treated as slaves but when comes to rallying behind their nations flag, they are ready to march behind the same race as their oppressors if it is the only way for them to achieve freedom.
3. The conditions were all favorable to story-telling. There was autumnal languor in the air, and a dreamy haze softened the dark green of the distant pines and the deep blue of the southern sky
(Charles Chestnutt, The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales, p. 124)
This passage was from the story entitled Daves Neckliss. It was a very significant line because it was used as an effective transition between the real events taking place, which was Julius eating ham in one Sunday afternoon, to his recollection of past memories. It also describes the setting and current mood of Julius surroundings.
4. From what I know of the effect of these holidays upon the slaves, I believe them to be amount the most effective means in the hands of the slaveholder in keeping down the spirit of insurrection
(Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave, p. 79)
This line is meaningful because it described how rare holidays such as Christmas result to the shelving of the ideas of insurrection from the population of the slaves. It significantly describes the relationship that slaves and their owners share. Surely, the author said, if these holidays would be taken away from them like everything else, riot and rebellion will be inevitable.
5. Some of the facts in this strange story circumstances of which he was ignorant, though he had the main facts correct I learned afterwards from other sources, but I have woven them all together here in orderly sequence
(Charles Chesnutt, The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales, p. 162)
The passage was from narrator, describing how he learned about the story that he will narrate next. The story is about the Murchison family and some of the strange things that happened in their lives. This line is significant because it tells us readers that the tale we are about to read had been a compiled evidence from several sources.
6. I knew what I did, and I did it deliberate calculation
(Harriet Ann Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, p. 191)
This line was effectively used by the author to describe how she had accepted, and even eagerly planned, her affair with another white man in order to escape the advances of her master. It is a significant line because it details how much damage, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, was done by the owners to the main protagonist of story. Linda saw her relationship with Mr. Sands as both gratifying, because he was really kind to her, and perfectly timed, because it was the right opportunity to seek revenge to her owners.
7. Which you rather have, a black heart in a white skin, or a white heart in a black one
(Harriet E. Wilson, Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, p. 9)
This was the line used by Jim to Mag to convince her to marry him after her surprisingly proposed. Jim had always had affection for Mag and he willingly took care of her and loved her even during those times when Mags fellow whites left her. Jim was telling Mag in this passage that even if he has black skin, his heart is purely white and only meant for her.
8. Dey could hear sumpn moaning en groanin bout de kitchen in de night-time, en ween de win would blow dey could hear sumpn a-hollerin en sweeking lack it wuz in great pain en sufferin
(Charles Chesnutt, The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales, p.52)
This line was from the story Po Sandy, where the lead protagonist Sandy was turned into a tree by his wife as a way of helping him to be free. But this resulted to his death. The line significantly described what the people believed to be Sandys manner of haunting the house. Because of these noises in the kitchen, nobody was ever brave to stay in the place again.
9. It was now certain that she was to become a permanent member of the family. Her labors were multiplied she was quite indispensable, although but seven years old
(Harriet E. Wilson, Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, p. 18)
This passage described Frados situation in the Bellmonts after a year of residence there. When her mother first left her, Frado was hopeful that she will return to get her. But now Frado is beginning to feel the permanency of her lifes set up. Her chores have also increased tremendously that even if she was just seven, most of the household works were placed on her shoulders.
10. But what right has public opinion to interfere with our marriage relations Why should we yield to its behests
(Frances Ellen W. Harper, Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted, p. 231)
This line was the answer of Dr. Gresham to Iola when she rejected his marriage proposal for the second time. Iola insisted that she could not marry him because there are several barriers that separate them the strongest of these would be the strong public belief that the colored people should only marry people from the same race. Iola believes that even if they try to dissolve these barriers, they would only experience great hardships. But Gresham, who is still very much in love with Iola, insists that these ideas of punishments may just be Iolas personal fears and could not really happen anymore.
Charles Chestnutts work entitled The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales is a collection of stories from an old, Black slave named Uncle Julius, but is actually narrated in this book by a white man named John. The narrator had hired Julius to help him take care of his plantation. Uncle Julius is fond of telling stories of magical folklore that are always embedded with significant subtle allusions about the reality of slavery in their land. Though the narratives are retold by John, the way Chestnutt had written the book reflects the general portrayal that White men have towards the slaves and how the Blacks return the favour of criticisms towards their owner, though not in an openly public manner. Chestnutt delivered the criticisms by highlighting the weaknesses of John to see the subtle messages of Julius stories while his wife Annie recognized them from the start. In a few narratives of Julius, like the Po Sandy and Daves Neckliss, he critiqued Johns perspective on the overall issue of slavery. Firstly, after Julius told the story of Sandy and Tenie, Johns wife was obviously moved and she acknowledged that it was the cruel system of slavery that pushed the two lovers to separation. But Johns reaction was disbelief on the possibility of a woman turning a man into a tree. Johns prejudice among the slaves was also reflected in his reaction of hinting a refusal for Julius group to use the old school house for a spiritual gathering. He even dared to mock about what they shall do with Sandys spirit, to which his wife answered that the spirit does not usually visit such meetings.
In Julius story Daves Neckliss, John acknowledged that the old mans perspective of the past is very different from theirs. Johns concept of slavery is very similar to the popular idea about the practice. His assumption about slaves is that they are bitterly angry and always indignant of their rights. But Julius behaviour, and even his stories, reflects a different kind of reality. His narrations of slave owners cruel deeds are hinted with disapproval but without much anger. And when he narrates strange stories of slaves that he knew before, the stories are infused with human inner life that explains how slaves are looked upon by the white society. Julius is a simple yet clever man that serves as an epitome of a hopeful man who managed to keep his values dominant and is insistent of dreaming for the next generation. His stories are essentially for the purpose of inspiring and reliving the realities of the past. In this particular story that was sparked by the ham that Johns wife fed to him, we see the cruelty that white landowners impose on the slaves who they deem as incapable of intellect and goodness. Even Johns refusal to eat the ham again implies that she could really feel the wretchedness and discrimination that was experienced by the slaves.
In both stories, we see brilliance in Julius simplicity. He is really different from the usual concept of slaves. Towards the end of the two stories, he was able to gain something because of his narrations. The old schoolhouse in Po Sandy which was supposed to be broken down for its lumber to be used in Johns kitchen was retained and Julius group was able to use it again. In Daves Neckliss, Julius was even able to take home the rest of the remaining ham. But most importantly, Julius stories critique the assumptions of John about slaves by emphasizing that they are not as stupid or morally lacking as the white people believe. They follow their authorities but they are not without hope that in the end they will be liberated as well and might even gain more because of being locked up to slavery for a long time. The stories of Julius that are filled with magical and strange events are actually effective in delivering a message of how slaves are capable of seizing their freedom for their own sake.
Harriet E. Wilsons work entitled Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black follows the story of a young mulatto slave named Frado. She is the youngest daughter of Jim, a free Black man who died when she was still very young and Mag, a white mother who dislikes her and her siblings. At the beginning, Frados parents lived a happy marriage. But because of the race of their father, their whole family experienced indifferent treatment in the society. Soon, her mother got fed up with the oppression she was experiencing because of her union with a Black man and this prompted her hate towards her children. When Mag remarried and decided to live a new life, Frado was given away to the Bellmont family to serve as a slave. Many Black and mulatto children experience being taken away from their families and being sent to white families to live as slaves even at very young ages. But Frados experience was different because it was her own mother who disowned her. From the moment that her mother began detesting her, she could already be considered homeless even if technically, she was sent to live with another family. Frados experiences dictate how the behaviors of people are shaped by the general reaction of the society. Mag represents all the states of the nation that chose to continue the practice of slavery, either because the industry is helpful to them or because they are pressured to infuse oppression in their system also. In the household of the Bellmonts, she is gravely maltreated by Mrs. B. Even during her first few days in her new house, she was already referred to as their niggers. Even though Mr. Belmont and his two sons Jack and James are very nice to her they were not able to protect Frado always against the beating she receives from Mrs. B. Homelessness and being left alone by their parents is also what majority of the black race experience. At the right age, Black will also be liberated just like how Frado was able to liberate herself.
Frances Ellen W. Harpers novel entitled Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted is about the life of Iola Leroy, a young female slave. What makes Iola unique and significant are her white complexion and blue eyes, physical features that are very rare for slaves. The story details that this became possible because of the exceptional love story of her parents. Iolas father is Eugene Leroy, a wealthy slave owner who was abandoned by all his family and friends when he got sick. The only person who showed compassion to him was Maria, a slave who is one-quarter Black. Marias care for Eugene led to a romantic relationship and eventually marriage.
They had three children, Harry, Iola, and Grace. To free his family from slavery, Eugene opted to move his whole family to the north. The couple also wanted their one eighth Black children to be raised life whites and they did not bother telling them anymore of their social standing until the day that Eugene died and his selfish brother plotted plans to steal all their money and sell Marie and her kids. Marie began disclosing their real identities to her children before they got separated. When Iola reached the proper age wherein she could already understand her lifes destiny, she began accepting her real identity and decided to look for her mother. Iolas life story is composed of finding, losing, then finding again. When she had found out the truth, she was not easily resolved with her real identity. Then she lost all her family members. But during the most important turning point of her life, she had begun finding the ability to accept and embrace her true race. Eventually she was also reunited with her mother and found herself a new family to start a new life with.
Harriet Ann Jacobs narrates through her character Linda Brent the story of her own life in the book entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Linda Brent was a mulatto girl that was left an orphan at very young age.
Her parents early demise forced her to slavery even at a young age. The story begins with the narration of a her happy childhood that she experienced in the care of her family and her very first owner, the mistress of her mother who turned out to be a good woman that treated her nicely. The book recounts how she never felt as if she was a slave, until the day that that her mistress died and she was passed on to a new owner. Before their father died, he tried to buy the freedom of Brent and her brother, William. But he was unsuccessful and soon enough he also died, leaving them with no parents to care for them except for their grandmother, Aunt Martha, who really had not much power to save them from being slaves in the Flint household. This began her lifes hardships that reflect the reality that many female slaves experience. In Jacobs story, readers get the idea that Lindas mother and her first owners served as her earliest saviors from the life of cruel slavery. Had they not died, she may have been spared from her grave experiences. Losing the only two women who had the capability to protect her made her both hopeless and homeless. But she learned how to fight and create possible ways for her to completely escape her owners. Eventually, Linda herself became a mother, although her lifes circumstances forced her to not have a chance to take care of her children. But for her children not to suffer as she had, Linda continued to fight and find ways for her children to experience a real home. Her determination reflects all the other determined Black parents who sacrificed their lives for their children to have a chance for a good life.
(Harriet E. Wilson, Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black k, p. 60)
This passage was a result of the protagonists decision to still stay in service and postpone her plans of leaving or escaping the cruel Mrs. Belmont. Running away would be the only choice for her to finally be free from the cruel punishment of the people. Frado planned for days and nights on how she will escape and where will she go but she remained on her servitude with the hope that when she turns 18, she will be absolutely free already.
2. It was strange sight to see these black men rallying around the Stars and Stripes, when white men were trampling them under foot and riddling them with bullets
(Frances Ellen W. Harper, Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted, p. 36)
This sentence is a significant and creative allusion to the realities that black slaves where experiencing in the past. This passage describes how black men like Robert were insistent of joining the Union Army and fight for America despite the maltreatments they are experiencing from white men. They were treated as slaves but when comes to rallying behind their nations flag, they are ready to march behind the same race as their oppressors if it is the only way for them to achieve freedom.
3. The conditions were all favorable to story-telling. There was autumnal languor in the air, and a dreamy haze softened the dark green of the distant pines and the deep blue of the southern sky
(Charles Chestnutt, The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales, p. 124)
This passage was from the story entitled Daves Neckliss. It was a very significant line because it was used as an effective transition between the real events taking place, which was Julius eating ham in one Sunday afternoon, to his recollection of past memories. It also describes the setting and current mood of Julius surroundings.
4. From what I know of the effect of these holidays upon the slaves, I believe them to be amount the most effective means in the hands of the slaveholder in keeping down the spirit of insurrection
(Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave, p. 79)
This line is meaningful because it described how rare holidays such as Christmas result to the shelving of the ideas of insurrection from the population of the slaves. It significantly describes the relationship that slaves and their owners share. Surely, the author said, if these holidays would be taken away from them like everything else, riot and rebellion will be inevitable.
5. Some of the facts in this strange story circumstances of which he was ignorant, though he had the main facts correct I learned afterwards from other sources, but I have woven them all together here in orderly sequence
(Charles Chesnutt, The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales, p. 162)
The passage was from narrator, describing how he learned about the story that he will narrate next. The story is about the Murchison family and some of the strange things that happened in their lives. This line is significant because it tells us readers that the tale we are about to read had been a compiled evidence from several sources.
6. I knew what I did, and I did it deliberate calculation
(Harriet Ann Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, p. 191)
This line was effectively used by the author to describe how she had accepted, and even eagerly planned, her affair with another white man in order to escape the advances of her master. It is a significant line because it details how much damage, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, was done by the owners to the main protagonist of story. Linda saw her relationship with Mr. Sands as both gratifying, because he was really kind to her, and perfectly timed, because it was the right opportunity to seek revenge to her owners.
7. Which you rather have, a black heart in a white skin, or a white heart in a black one
(Harriet E. Wilson, Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, p. 9)
This was the line used by Jim to Mag to convince her to marry him after her surprisingly proposed. Jim had always had affection for Mag and he willingly took care of her and loved her even during those times when Mags fellow whites left her. Jim was telling Mag in this passage that even if he has black skin, his heart is purely white and only meant for her.
8. Dey could hear sumpn moaning en groanin bout de kitchen in de night-time, en ween de win would blow dey could hear sumpn a-hollerin en sweeking lack it wuz in great pain en sufferin
(Charles Chesnutt, The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales, p.52)
This line was from the story Po Sandy, where the lead protagonist Sandy was turned into a tree by his wife as a way of helping him to be free. But this resulted to his death. The line significantly described what the people believed to be Sandys manner of haunting the house. Because of these noises in the kitchen, nobody was ever brave to stay in the place again.
9. It was now certain that she was to become a permanent member of the family. Her labors were multiplied she was quite indispensable, although but seven years old
(Harriet E. Wilson, Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, p. 18)
This passage described Frados situation in the Bellmonts after a year of residence there. When her mother first left her, Frado was hopeful that she will return to get her. But now Frado is beginning to feel the permanency of her lifes set up. Her chores have also increased tremendously that even if she was just seven, most of the household works were placed on her shoulders.
10. But what right has public opinion to interfere with our marriage relations Why should we yield to its behests
(Frances Ellen W. Harper, Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted, p. 231)
This line was the answer of Dr. Gresham to Iola when she rejected his marriage proposal for the second time. Iola insisted that she could not marry him because there are several barriers that separate them the strongest of these would be the strong public belief that the colored people should only marry people from the same race. Iola believes that even if they try to dissolve these barriers, they would only experience great hardships. But Gresham, who is still very much in love with Iola, insists that these ideas of punishments may just be Iolas personal fears and could not really happen anymore.
Charles Chestnutts work entitled The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales is a collection of stories from an old, Black slave named Uncle Julius, but is actually narrated in this book by a white man named John. The narrator had hired Julius to help him take care of his plantation. Uncle Julius is fond of telling stories of magical folklore that are always embedded with significant subtle allusions about the reality of slavery in their land. Though the narratives are retold by John, the way Chestnutt had written the book reflects the general portrayal that White men have towards the slaves and how the Blacks return the favour of criticisms towards their owner, though not in an openly public manner. Chestnutt delivered the criticisms by highlighting the weaknesses of John to see the subtle messages of Julius stories while his wife Annie recognized them from the start. In a few narratives of Julius, like the Po Sandy and Daves Neckliss, he critiqued Johns perspective on the overall issue of slavery. Firstly, after Julius told the story of Sandy and Tenie, Johns wife was obviously moved and she acknowledged that it was the cruel system of slavery that pushed the two lovers to separation. But Johns reaction was disbelief on the possibility of a woman turning a man into a tree. Johns prejudice among the slaves was also reflected in his reaction of hinting a refusal for Julius group to use the old school house for a spiritual gathering. He even dared to mock about what they shall do with Sandys spirit, to which his wife answered that the spirit does not usually visit such meetings.
In Julius story Daves Neckliss, John acknowledged that the old mans perspective of the past is very different from theirs. Johns concept of slavery is very similar to the popular idea about the practice. His assumption about slaves is that they are bitterly angry and always indignant of their rights. But Julius behaviour, and even his stories, reflects a different kind of reality. His narrations of slave owners cruel deeds are hinted with disapproval but without much anger. And when he narrates strange stories of slaves that he knew before, the stories are infused with human inner life that explains how slaves are looked upon by the white society. Julius is a simple yet clever man that serves as an epitome of a hopeful man who managed to keep his values dominant and is insistent of dreaming for the next generation. His stories are essentially for the purpose of inspiring and reliving the realities of the past. In this particular story that was sparked by the ham that Johns wife fed to him, we see the cruelty that white landowners impose on the slaves who they deem as incapable of intellect and goodness. Even Johns refusal to eat the ham again implies that she could really feel the wretchedness and discrimination that was experienced by the slaves.
In both stories, we see brilliance in Julius simplicity. He is really different from the usual concept of slaves. Towards the end of the two stories, he was able to gain something because of his narrations. The old schoolhouse in Po Sandy which was supposed to be broken down for its lumber to be used in Johns kitchen was retained and Julius group was able to use it again. In Daves Neckliss, Julius was even able to take home the rest of the remaining ham. But most importantly, Julius stories critique the assumptions of John about slaves by emphasizing that they are not as stupid or morally lacking as the white people believe. They follow their authorities but they are not without hope that in the end they will be liberated as well and might even gain more because of being locked up to slavery for a long time. The stories of Julius that are filled with magical and strange events are actually effective in delivering a message of how slaves are capable of seizing their freedom for their own sake.
Harriet E. Wilsons work entitled Our Nig Sketches from the Life of a Free Black follows the story of a young mulatto slave named Frado. She is the youngest daughter of Jim, a free Black man who died when she was still very young and Mag, a white mother who dislikes her and her siblings. At the beginning, Frados parents lived a happy marriage. But because of the race of their father, their whole family experienced indifferent treatment in the society. Soon, her mother got fed up with the oppression she was experiencing because of her union with a Black man and this prompted her hate towards her children. When Mag remarried and decided to live a new life, Frado was given away to the Bellmont family to serve as a slave. Many Black and mulatto children experience being taken away from their families and being sent to white families to live as slaves even at very young ages. But Frados experience was different because it was her own mother who disowned her. From the moment that her mother began detesting her, she could already be considered homeless even if technically, she was sent to live with another family. Frados experiences dictate how the behaviors of people are shaped by the general reaction of the society. Mag represents all the states of the nation that chose to continue the practice of slavery, either because the industry is helpful to them or because they are pressured to infuse oppression in their system also. In the household of the Bellmonts, she is gravely maltreated by Mrs. B. Even during her first few days in her new house, she was already referred to as their niggers. Even though Mr. Belmont and his two sons Jack and James are very nice to her they were not able to protect Frado always against the beating she receives from Mrs. B. Homelessness and being left alone by their parents is also what majority of the black race experience. At the right age, Black will also be liberated just like how Frado was able to liberate herself.
Frances Ellen W. Harpers novel entitled Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted is about the life of Iola Leroy, a young female slave. What makes Iola unique and significant are her white complexion and blue eyes, physical features that are very rare for slaves. The story details that this became possible because of the exceptional love story of her parents. Iolas father is Eugene Leroy, a wealthy slave owner who was abandoned by all his family and friends when he got sick. The only person who showed compassion to him was Maria, a slave who is one-quarter Black. Marias care for Eugene led to a romantic relationship and eventually marriage.
They had three children, Harry, Iola, and Grace. To free his family from slavery, Eugene opted to move his whole family to the north. The couple also wanted their one eighth Black children to be raised life whites and they did not bother telling them anymore of their social standing until the day that Eugene died and his selfish brother plotted plans to steal all their money and sell Marie and her kids. Marie began disclosing their real identities to her children before they got separated. When Iola reached the proper age wherein she could already understand her lifes destiny, she began accepting her real identity and decided to look for her mother. Iolas life story is composed of finding, losing, then finding again. When she had found out the truth, she was not easily resolved with her real identity. Then she lost all her family members. But during the most important turning point of her life, she had begun finding the ability to accept and embrace her true race. Eventually she was also reunited with her mother and found herself a new family to start a new life with.
Harriet Ann Jacobs narrates through her character Linda Brent the story of her own life in the book entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Linda Brent was a mulatto girl that was left an orphan at very young age.
Her parents early demise forced her to slavery even at a young age. The story begins with the narration of a her happy childhood that she experienced in the care of her family and her very first owner, the mistress of her mother who turned out to be a good woman that treated her nicely. The book recounts how she never felt as if she was a slave, until the day that that her mistress died and she was passed on to a new owner. Before their father died, he tried to buy the freedom of Brent and her brother, William. But he was unsuccessful and soon enough he also died, leaving them with no parents to care for them except for their grandmother, Aunt Martha, who really had not much power to save them from being slaves in the Flint household. This began her lifes hardships that reflect the reality that many female slaves experience. In Jacobs story, readers get the idea that Lindas mother and her first owners served as her earliest saviors from the life of cruel slavery. Had they not died, she may have been spared from her grave experiences. Losing the only two women who had the capability to protect her made her both hopeless and homeless. But she learned how to fight and create possible ways for her to completely escape her owners. Eventually, Linda herself became a mother, although her lifes circumstances forced her to not have a chance to take care of her children. But for her children not to suffer as she had, Linda continued to fight and find ways for her children to experience a real home. Her determination reflects all the other determined Black parents who sacrificed their lives for their children to have a chance for a good life.
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