The Use of Imagery to Aid in Abolition

One of the elements of poetry that I think Harper and Whittier catered to the most was imagery. Both authors set the story by providing the reader with images to put together in their head. I think that it’s one of the most effective methods for a narrative, but especially if you involve social reform.  The reader has a reaction when they can hear something or feel it, but once they are able to see it, I think it has the most powerful effect.

In Whittier’s poem, “The Hunters of Men,” he uses several different images to express different emotions of the catching of slaves. “All blithe are our hunters, and noble their match, though hundreds are caught, there are millions to catch. So speed to their hunting, o’er mountain and glen, Through cane-brake and forest,-the hunting of men!” (Whittier, Lines 6-10) These lines give the reader an image of how many slaves were really caught and how many more Africans they wanted to take away from their home. It also shows that the Africans put up a fight with the catchers because they were fighting for their life. Whittier also shows a different side to the story when he describes a man that felt guilty about what he was doing and wanted to stop. “The politic statesman looks back with a sigh, There is doubt in his heart, there is fear in his eye.” (Whittier, Lines45-46)  This entire poem sets an image for the reader because it relates the capture of Africans to become slaves, to the hunting of animals. “The Hunting of Men” is very powerful image in itself because most people have an idea of what hunting animals looks like, so when you picture humans being hunted it is a terrifying image.

Whittier’s “The Farewell of a Virginia Slave Mother to her Daughters Sold into Southern Bondage” and Harper’s “The Slave Mother” both set similar imagery for the reader because they have similar themes. Both poems describe the agony of slaves leaving their family as well as the hardship for slave children. Whittier gives a painful image in reference to a young slave being whipped. “Never, when the torturing lash Seams their back with many a gash, Shall a mother’s kindness bless them, Or a mother’s arms caress them.” (Whittier, Lines 17-20) Whittier uses the image of pain to show that these children didn’t have their mother there when they got hurt to soothe and comfort them. It also makes the reader think about the manner in which slave children were treated in comparison to other children. In Harper’s “The Slave Mother” she uses the same idea of a mother, but her story is about a slave that comforted and made an attachment to a child that wasn’t even hers. There are two stanzas that I think evoke the most powerful images. The first one shows how scared the child was because he was about to be taken away from her. “She is a mother, pale with fear, Her boy clings to her side, And in her kirtle vainly tries His trembling form to hide.” (Harper, Lines 13-16) The other stanza gives the reader a lasting image of the childe being taken away and the pain that it causes. “They tear  him from her circling arms, Her last and fond embrace. Oh! Never more may her sad eyes gaze on his mournful face.” (Harper, Lines 33-36)

I think the reason that these authors employed such vivid imagery in their poems was to open the eyes of other Americans to the true terror of slavery. Many white people, especially ones that didn’t own slaves, probably weren’t aware of everything that that happened to the slaves especially when it came to children. I think that once they had these terrifying images in their heads, they were probably more likely to act and help abolish slavery.

            

Class in "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl"

             Harriet Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” closely explains the class struggle between slaves and their masters. While reading her story, I found it easy to forget that it really happened to her because of the manner in which she wrote it. Also, it was somewhat hard to believe that a person actually experienced all of those struggles, even though w have discussed and read so many accounts of slavery. I found it interesting that Jacobs said at the beginning that she really didn’t know she was a slave at the beginning of her life until someone actually told her. “Such were the unusually fortunate circumstances of my early childhood. When I was six years old, my mother died; and then, for the first time, I learned, by the talk around me, that I was a slave.” (Jacobs, 771) That realization somewhat goes against what we think of as the relationship between a slave and their owner because many slave owners were not kind to their slaves and they certainly did not educate them like her mistress did. Jacobs goes on to say to that she actually enjoyed caring for her mistress so I guess she really wasn’t aware of any class distinction. Yes, she realized that she was working for the mistress, but she viewed her as a friend and did not think of herself as property or any less of a person. Eventually, she starts to think about the fact that she really is a slave though. “But I was her slave, and I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor.” (Jacobs, 772)

 The real issue of class does not come up until Dr. Flint comes into the picture. That is when Jacobs’ begins to think of herself as less because of the way Dr. Flint talks to her and treats her. He doesn’t view her as intelligent and he definitely just sees her as his property. He controls every aspect of her life, including who she chose to marry. “If you must have a husband, you may take up with one of my slaves.” (773) Jacobs’ hated the idea of marrying one of his slaves because it was just one more way he had control over her and set the difference between classes. Also, when she began having children, he started using them against her also. He would threaten to take them away whenever she disobeyed or spoke back to him.  In my opinion there is no lower way to tell someone you are above them, than taking control of their children; the only thing they truly have to themselves.

            The sad reality is that Jacobs’ had no control over her life until she had money, and even then she couldn’t buy her freedom. Slaves were given the opportunity to buy their freedom, but often no option to make any money on their own. The class distinctions in Jacobs’ personal accounts as well as many other instances, were primarily to dehumanize the slaves and gain as much power over them as possible.

Women and the Plight of Native Americans

            The authors of these works come from very different backgrounds, however, the theme of their writing coincides. Apess, Sigourney, as well as other writers of their time (Thomson, Wordsworth, Whitman) all discuss people that were the second-class citizens in society, women and Native Americans.

            Apess takes a more literal and direct approach in discussing the plight of the Native Americans because he had experience in discrimination since his mother was Native American. Apess does not understand why white people degrade other races and treat them as a lower class, since they are all children of God. He brings up certain viewpoints and reasoning from the white perspective talking about why they took over the Native Americans. He makes it clear that they were thought of as uncivilized and uneducated, but it was obvious that they had still had many talents that could be beneficial to Americans if they cooperated with them.  “Now, if these people are what they are held up in our view to be, I would take the liberty to ask why they are not brought forward and pains taken to educate them, to give them all a common education, and those of the brightest and first-rate talents put forward and held up to office.” (641, Apess) He states that Native Americans still have the same principles and feelings even though they have a different skin color. Apess’s main point through his writing is that Native Americans are no less than whites and should not be treated as any less. “If black or red skins or any other skin color is disgraceful to God, it appears that he has disgraced himself a great deal- for he has made fifteen colored people to one white and placed them here upon this earth.” (642, Apess) He also brings in his personal life by stating “And I can tell you that I am satisfied with the manner of my creation, fully-whether others are or not.” (642, Apess)

            Sigourney also highlights these important issues of the time with her poems “Indian Names” and “To a Shred of Linen.” Her approach to the status of women and the plight of the Native Americans is a little more metaphorical. “Indian Names” explains that while Native Americans have been killed and vanished from this country, they will forever have an imprint because they were the ones who first settled and treasured this land. “Your mountains build their monument, though ye destroy their dust.” (1205, Sigourney) In each stanza Sigourney describes he traditions and belongings of the Native Americans that have disappeared, but she ends with a line describing how their memory and culture will live on. This poem is a testament to the original settlers of the United States and how they will always be a part of our history, despite the desperate actions of the hateful white settlers. “To a Shred of Linen” is slightly more light-hearted, but still just as important in describing the status of women. This poem is written through the eyes of a woman who’s only worth is thought to be a housewife. Her husband believes that she is not intelligent and that reading and education make her disobedient. Sigourney brings in some satire by making light of the man’s thoughts “For men have deeper minds than women-sure!”, but it does not make her point any less important because women at that time were trying so hard to be treated as intelligent equals, just as the Native Americans were.

Blog #3

When I first began reading “The Wife,” I thought it was going to incorporate the old stereotype of men being superior to their wives and not caring about their wife’s opinion or feelings. As I continued to read, I was pleased to find that Irving took a different approach to his short story.

He somewhat sets the wife as the core and the base of the marriage because her husband depends on her so much for support. In Irving’s time, as well as in present day, people feel that women should just dote on their husband and obey them. Men and women must be equals in their marriage and communicate with one another on decisions. Even though in Irving’s story the wife is still portrayed as the homemaker and not contributing to the income, she still plays a large role in the family dynamic because her husband depends on her through their difficult time.

In this country we tend to gage happiness or success on how wealthy someone is because it is a value that is very tangible and Irving touches upon that in “The Wife.” Leslie is afraid to tell his wife about his income because he is afraid she will not stay with him or will be unhappy. He himself is unhappy with his lack of wealth. Most people in the United States would assume that just because someone does not have a lot of money it means they are not as happy as someone who is wealthy. However, Irving believes that having a loving family what will stick with you is worthy of happiness and tells his friend that he was richer than before.

Irving’s value also shows that even though we set a high standard on monetary worth in America, we also place a lot of value on having a family and making a life beyond our own to be happy. Irving tells his friend that he could wish him nothing better than to have a family because they can share in your prosperity, but if not they are still there to make you feel better. 

Blog #2

            This reading on American Literature sparked a train of thoughts in my head from the get-go. It made me reflect on how amazing it is that writing and print culture can have such a major effect on our culture and society. When you piece through history, you can just sift through facts with out stumbling upon important literature or pieces of writing from that time. Whether it is a government document, newspaper article, or novel it doesn’t matter because they all can give you insight into that time period and what people were thinking and feeling.

            The very first page of this introduction discusses the Declaration of Independence, which I think is a prime example of what large impact writing has on our lives. Who would ever of thought that one document filled with words and signatures would ignite the birth of our country and the land that we are so proud of? It all started with an idea and our founding fathers just put their thoughts onto paper, which caused a movement and action. Along with the Declaration of Independence there were so many other documents that influenced the American Revolution. Even newspapers were extremely essential because they helped spread ideas and information among the colonists on how to gain their freedom from the British. I really think all of those concepts just coincide really well with the idea that knowledge is power. A well informed person can certainly make a much bigger difference than a well armed one. As long as people have information and education, they can make a difference in world and have an effect on others. It doesn’t matter how big or small the problem is.