In
the beginning of this novel there are many different levels and forms of
freedom and enslavement that some characters seek to attain or escape, while
there are other characters that are content with the form of slavery that
constrains them (conscious or unconscious of that slavery).
I
would like to avoid comparing everyday constraints that are normal in and
outside of civilizations. The limit of you knowledge and education is a
constraint. Living under someone else’s roof and rules is a commonality and a
constraint as well. This barely compares to the forced labor and relations to
someone who treats a person as property and an object, a tool to be used,
instead of a living, breathing, shitting, and complex human beings we all are. So as a
precursor to further discussion of the novel and its relation to the theme of
Freedom and Enslavement, I think automatically treating a desire for Freedom or
the hindrance of it to be a result of being enslaved or enslaving someone would
be misguided and should be avoided.
Some
interesting things I would like to note about this segment of the novel is
that, Ms. Douglass is a slave owner and a Christian. I previously stated that I
would like to avoid comparisons between everyday constraints and slavery,
however religion, in this specific case Christianity, has aspects that can be
compared to slavery. In a human to god relationship, the human is subservient to
God, and commanded to follow certain rules. There is a punishment if you do not
do what is commanded (hell, which seems a bit worse that lashes from a whip)
and there is a reward if you follow the commands (you end up in heaven where
you basically worship a being to no end for eternity). In this way the relationship
of a believer to the believe in deity, if assumed to exist, is slavery in the
sense that the believer has to do what is commanded, otherwise they are
punished, with no say on the matter. What they receive for obeying rules is an
occupation of worshiping a being and doing the will of this deity (again with
no say in the matter). If the reality of the believer is assumed to be true,
the options of a human being are to obey commands and be rewarded with a forced
occupation or role (“labor”) or to be punished (whips, death), for eternity.
I
would like to explore the relationship of the two sisters and the idea of slave
ownership from their perspective in another post. I do not yet have an opinion of their
intentions with, and views on slavery, as another human being (if they don’t
already view them as less than/a lesser human being).
In
the next post I will also discuss Huck’s actions with and comments on Jim, and
Tom’s view on Jim, and Huck in relation to his treatment of Jim.
Great start Jeremy! I like how you are thinking outside of the box about your topic. There is more to just the surface of the ideals. I often think that the widow and her sister act as slaves to their religion because they make the choices they think are expected of them, not the choices they necessarily want.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting view point in which the first few chapters were observed in. Until, now I had not viewed the book in this way. You were right and I found it ironic how both of the sisters were slaves to their religion as their slaves was to them. The only question I have for you is that, how come the sisters being slaves to their religion and knowing how hard it is to follow someone's (deity's) commandments would expect the same to other people?
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