Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Writerly Restraints in Depicting the Old South
Many southern writers, white as well as black, free as well as slave, male as well as female, regardless of what their personal convictions who wrote about the social world of the Old South frequently had to do so in a guarded or cautious manner . Sometimes the meaning of their words is subdued or obscured by conflicting views and subtleties, thus creating ambivalence and ambiguity for the reader. Carefully focusing on one writer and one of the texts we have read from the African American Perspectives of the Old South Unit (Jan. 26 and 28), point out some of the specific limitations of the work that result from the writer’s efforts to circumvent controversy. Or , as another option, evaluate the work in terms of the effectiveness with which the writer presents subversive material to his white readers. Blog should not exceed 250 words and your response must be posted no later than Thursday, January 28, at 9 am.
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The Spirituals poem, "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray," is a poem in which a slave has to write very discreetly so that the whites would not be able understand what he was saying. He talks about "in the valley" and "on my knees" like he is escaping slavery through the underground railroad. He also mentions the Jordan and "crossing over into Canaan." This is his way of saying that he is going from being enslaved to being free and that is going to the land of freedom. If he did not write this way, then whites would be able to understand what he was saying and he might get caught and get into trouble. "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" was written by Harriet Ann Jacobs who was a fugitive slave. Jacobs was able to get away and hide in a crawl space in her grandma's house. She stayed in that little area, hidden for seven years. While there, she wrote letters to her master Dr. Flint. She had to write the letters in a way that would confuse her master as to where she was. She pretended that she was in the north and had to be careful not to slip up and mention something about her kids that she would not know unless she was still there. If she did not write in this mannor that she would be caught and be severly punished as would her kids and family for helping her. By writing the way she did, she was able to confuse the reader, her master, and was able to remain safe. It was by writing this way that slaves were able to communicate to one another and remain safe and not let their masters know of anything that was really going on. This way of writing was the way to saving their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn Mark Twain,"A True Story," their colored servant explains her story of "why she never had any trouble." She starts off by explaining how her family was separated in Maryland when they were all being sold into slavery. She explains her experience all the way up to when she sees her son again. When reading this, I thought the way she made such an awful and hurtful experience happen to her into a good one to explain why she never has any trouble, really stood out to me. I thought the writer was using this in a subversive way. She obviously is a very positive person becasue he says, "Why, I thought-that is, I meant-why, you can't have had any trouble. I've never hear you sigh, and never seen your eeye when there wasn't a laugh in it." Even though Aunt Rachel has experienced something so terrible, she disguises it. The way she explains her story really threw me off to make me think it's not that bad becasue if I were to talk about losing my family, I would be very sad about it.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is very true that many southern writers masked their meanings in a way to avoid controversy. Could we imagine how much worse something like the civil rights movement could have been if southern writers had blatantly said what they meant, rather than insinuated it through their writings? Out of the poems that were read for Tuesday’s class, George Moses Horton’s, Myself, probably showed the best insinuations of hidden meaning than any other. The first insinuation begins with the second line. “Of the inspiring strains of ancient lore.” Add the first line of, “I feel myself in need,” and you see that he is speaking of needing God. He didn’t say, I need God, but he absolutely implies it. He even digs more into some aspects of slavery. “I know that I am old, and never can recover what is past.” That can be interpreted as my life as slave can not be undone. When you add that interpretation to the next line, the whole stanza reads as so: I am old, and my life cannot be undone, but maybe there is hope that my life won’t stay as is, and I can get a glimmer of things I want. The third stanza discusses about how he feels destined to do more as a slave, he can do more as slave. The fourth stanza discusses how smart he is, that he holds all of his knowledge inside, and he wonders how much longer he can do so. All and all, the poem is a brilliant example of how writers can hide messages in their words, the reader just has to look to interpret them the proper way.
ReplyDeleteOld Southern writers, used their writing as a tool to help express their feelings during this time. They did so in a way to not go right out and say what they really felt, most of the time it is hidden beneath the text. If a writer was blunt and out right spoken during this time, it would have stirred up too much controversy, and being the South, things were kept conservative. Through these writings like Mark Twain “A true story” it shows how we are led to see how slavery was and how slaves reacted to every day life. For example how Aunt Rachel is always smiling, that’s her way of “staying out of trouble.” Another thing that is implemented through this story is to show that just because a slave is of a different color doesn’t mean they don’t have the same feelings as the white people did. “Well, sah, my ole man-dat’s my husban’- he was lovin’ an’ kind to me, jist as kind as you is to yo’ own wife......Dey was black, but de Lord can’t make no chil’en so black but what dey mother loves ‘em an’ wouldn’t give ‘em up, no, not for anything dat’s in dis whole world.” This really shows how in the Old South, through writing, people were slowing trying to convay that blacks were just like whites were, that they love and feel just like them.
ReplyDelete-Cait Fulcher
During the 1800s Southern writers often used subtext in their writing. The writers were both white and black and also included some slaves and former slaves. They were not able to straight out tell their opinions on certain topics to the public. People objecting to the institution of slavery might be looked down upon in the south or in the event it was a slave writing about their dissatisfaction with slavery they could get into a lot of trouble. In the writing, “A True Story,” by Mark Twain the readers are introduced to the character Aunt Rachel. She is a servant to a white family. Aunt Rachel always seems happy and never lets anything get her upset. She tells her story to her master about how she became separated from her family. The reader knows she must be upset about being away from them, but if Aunt Rachel told her master about how it was upsetting and that she did not like being enslaved she could be punished for thinking in that way. Typically, slaves were not allowed to have their own thoughts. They were supposed to believe what ever their masters told them and think in the same way. Also, the masters thought the slaves should be happy that they were being taken care of. However, there were slaves who were mistreated. The use of subtext in the writings and songs the slaves sang offered hope that they would eventually have a better life.
ReplyDeleteFirst off I would like to say that Jacobs reading of “From Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” is easily the best reading we have had by far. She does leave out some information from the white women reader but only to leave out things that no women would want done to them and no reader would want to read.
ReplyDeleteThe reason this reading was better than the other was because Jacobs presents subversive material it a straight forward way. She does not hide from her past or keep useful information from the reader. It’s a well written narrative in that she shares emotions with the reader that she had during the time in which you are reading about. A few examples of this are in chapter five when she is writing about her teenage years growing up under Dr. Flint and all the horrors that went along with that. There is also the emotion that comes with any mother when seeing and hearing her children through a one inch peep hole for seven years while she hid in an attic. When she finally does open up to the reader about what happened between her and Dr. Flint she tells her readers she had another free white man’s children in order to stop the threats. She even finds a since of pride in being an object of interest to a man who is not married and not your master.
Mike Goins
In the Story "A true story" by Mark Twain, You listen to the sad story of Aunt Rachel's experience as a slave. Although it is a sad story, she does not treat it as one. She remains the happy person they describe her as in the beginning. This gives the audience a different view on slavery and how it has effected those involved. Under the title of Mark Twain "A true Story" it say "Repeated word for word as i heard it." This could be Marks Twain's ways of using caution. It could be a way of telling his audience that he is not picking a side or trying to create an illusion of write and wrong. He is just telling a story he heard, and the audience can take it however they would like. This could be his way of avoiding conflict as a writer.
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting how so many of the southern writers had to disguise their writings and songs to hide their real meanings. I love writing and music and have written a bit on my own but I have never felt the need to disguise my true meanings behind false pretenses to convey secret messages to other people. I find it strange only because I have never had the need to do so. Now, when considering the oppression and conditions the African Americans were under, where they could lose their few privileges if they were caught, I find it incredibly ingenious that they would use some of those modes of communication to comment on their state of life.
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up in the south, I have long heard many of the songs that are classified as spirituals. The one that we studied that is most familiar to me is “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” I have heard that song so many times that I automatically start in on “Coming for to carry me home!” I never once thought that those words could have different meanings. But when I look at them in that light, particularly the lines “I looked over Jordan and what did I see?” “A band of angels coming after me” “If you get there before I do” “tell all my friends I’m coming too” that is very obviously talking about the flight to freedom that many slaves partook in. That flight on the Underground Railroad often led to the Ohio River that many slaves drowned in trying to swim to freedom on the other side. These spirituals often held deeper meanings like this one and it is interesting to look at the reasons behind those secrets.
Andrew Woods
In "A True Story" by Mark Twain, the character, Aunt Rachel, is not the typical African-American in a southern story. Aunt Rachel is the cook for a white family but she has a lot of power for the cook. She expresses her emotions much like a normal white person would have done in the "early south." She was the emperor of her domain and she let people know if they were bothering her. Most slaves were afraid to speak up and only did as they were told. Aunt Rachel was potrayed differently because even though she a a nice, happy person she spoke up when she needed to. In one of the last scenes of the story, Rachel speaks her mind to the other slaves when they come in and are making a raucous. This potryal of a slave is much different than normally seen in early southern literature. Twain avoided conflict by having Aunt Rachel speak out only to other slaves instead of to the white family she worked for.
ReplyDeleteMark Twain wrote "A True Story" and it described some of the experiences that Aunt Rachel, a servant of a wealthy white family. There were many horrible things she had to endure in her life including the loss of her seven children to slavery and her husband. She spoke in great detail of when she was basically watching her children be auctioned off into slavery and get smacked in the face from showing so emotion. She spoke of her troubles and how she was looked down upon as a colored person. However, Mister C never knew how much pain she was really feeling. So many slaves and servants had to hide their true feelings because of being punished or looked down upon because they were 'inferior'. Aunt Rachel had to be careful of how she acted so she kept a happy face on to avoid upsetting whom she worked for. She kept everything in so well because was such a strong woman and she had to endure so much. In this same way, Mark Twain as the author had to be careful of what he said to make sure that people of his time were not upset of the perspective he was giving about slavery. Slavery was a very touchy subject due to the north not agreeing with the south. Mark Twain kept the story in context and most likely had to be careful of how he described the different people in it to avoid problems.
ReplyDeletePaige Coleman
In the south, there had to be a lot of deception when it came to writing literature. The writing had to be in code so not everyone could understand. The stories they write are for the people going through the same situation as their own. The song “Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot” is a perfect example of coded words. “Sweet Low” is a meaning to other slaves who are going on the Underground Railroad telling them to stay low in their travels. “Sweet Chariot” is code for the families along the Railroad who are helping the slaves escape to freedom. In the Bible, Elijah rode a chariot of fire to Heaven, which he considered his final home. “Coming for to carry me home” just explains the freedom they are running towards “Look over Jordan and what did I see? A band of angels coming after me” is talking about when they were on the edge of freedom, they looked over the final barrier which was a river, and on the other side were families waiting to welcome the slaves to their freedom. Finally “If you get there before I do, tell all my friends I’m coming too” means if you make it to freedom first, tell my family and friends I am coming soon behind you and to be waiting. They spoke in code to tell the slaves: people are willing to help and to keep their spirits lifted about what lies ahead.
ReplyDelete-Scott Wilson
Southern writers of this time period sometimes had to hide the true meanings behind their writings for several reasons. Slavery was such a controversial and passionate issue that divided the country people feared physical violence for saying something about slavery that others may find unpopular. Because of this authors did not always say exactly what they meant; using figurative language or say something slightly different from what they actually mean. This would allow an informed reader to know what the author truly meant but would not create controversy in the eyes of the average citizen.
ReplyDeleteIn the George Horton’s poem, Myself, this technique is displayed. Horton starts of talking about the strains of ancient lore and how he finds himself in need. This is a reference to God and stories in the Bible. In the next stanza he talks about how he was not feed until he was old and he can’t get back the time he lost as being a slave, but future generations will be born free and fair better than he did. In the fourth stanza he talks about how he has always been very smart but he could never fully take advantage of his intelligence because he was a salve and was not allowed to receive a proper education.
-Alex Fisher
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ReplyDeleteLinda Brent gives examples of physical and mental abuse in her narrative entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Brent says “Dr. Flint was an epicure. The cook never sent a dinner to his table without fear and trembling; for if there happened to be a dish not to his liking, he would either order her to be whipped, or compel her to eat every mouthful of it in his presence” (454). Female slaves were never given the easy way out. They were punished for almost all of their actions if they were not performed to meet there masters expectations. Some of the specific limitations of Linda Brent’s work that result from her efforts to circumvent controversy are evident in the ways in which she describes her story, her message of pain and suffering is conveyed yet the book is still geared to White women. I think the true pain was not exposed in this story in an effort to appeal to a specific audience.
ReplyDeleteFaran Brady
In Harriet Ann Jacobs’ “From Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” she does a good job using subversive material to keep the reader interested. When Jacobs describes her life as a teenager, she explains to the reader that her master Dr. Flint, is being cruel towards her but she does not tell the reader what he is specifically what he is doing to harm her. Jacobs pleads directly with the reader to understand what she is going through and that they not judge her too harshly. She asks that they try to put themselves in her position before the pass any kind of judgment or even begin to think about what she is going through. Since the reader does not have a clear idea of what she is experiencing they continue reading to look for more clues. As the reader progresses in her story, they learn more and more about Jacobs and her past. Also, the way that Jacobs writes the letters to Dr. Flint is important because she had to be careful that she did not give away any hints. If she had made any accidents she would more than likely have been found and punished along with her children.
ReplyDeleteKristen Whitaker
In the "Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl" we find a powerful narrative of the atrocities a black woman went through during slavery. She addresses white women in particular to be thank for their situations and to inform them about the horrors of black female slaves. This story is a shinning example of early African American feminist literature. Linda Brent is a pseudonym for Harrit Jacobs the real writer. Jacobs also uses fictionalized names in regards to other characters. I think this shows the amount of caution and covertness one would have to use when writing as a slave or giving a slave narrative.
ReplyDeleteSouthern writers during the time of slavery were confronted with many issues when addressing the sour subject of the enslavement of African Americans. To try and maintain their reputation while still allowing some of their voice to shine through, southern writers had to continually write in a code. Whether that be leaving out certain information or hiding their own opinions, some method of disguise was used. Author Harriet Ann Jacobs, under the pseudonym of Linda Brent, wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, a novel about her own trials and tribulations she faced as a slave during the 1800’s. The use of the pseudonym alone proves that caution was necessary when publishing this work. She did this to protect her reputation and her family from any racist attack. Jacobs also concealed some of the more vulgar and less attractive features of her sexual experiences while in slavery to insure that the reader, a white woman, would continue reading and thereby hear Jacobs cry to abolish slavery. Overall, Jacobs achieves this goal by being honest about her experiences for the most part, and the things she concealed were for her safety and to make sure her voice was heard.
ReplyDelete-Megan Perry
I really enjoyed how Mark Twain expertly avoided conflict in his, A True Story. He both sympathizes with Aunt Rachel but at the same time, shows his ambivalence towards slavery in the South. A great way in which he does this is he allows Rachel to talk through the whole story without him commenting. This allows Rachel to tell her story from her perspective and allows Mark Twain to avoid any controversy over his writing.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed these readings for this week because I was truly able to feel the emotions and understand what the slaves were going through at that time even though they had to “encode” and “mask” what they were saying in fear of getting caught. In the spiritual, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” the readers can see that the slaves used the word “chariot” which is a Biblical term and when they combined it with the word “home” it would have seemed like to their masters that they were talking about going “home” to Heaven, but in actuality they were most likely talking about escaping through the Underground Railroad to meet up with their families. When they used the phrase, “A band of angels coming after me” they were referring to the people who helped with Underground Railroad and that they were they people that were coming to free them from slavery. The slaves had to “encode” and “mask” their songs and stories because if they did not, then their masters might have figured out that they were trying to escape and then they could have been horribly mistreated for that. Then, in Horton’s “Division of an Estate” the readers are able to see that he uses animals in his poem as if they are people with true emotions and feelings. I believe he used this method in order not to show his weakness of being concerned of not knowing what the future held for him since his master was dead.
ReplyDeleteElisha Robbins