Analysis Of Nat Turner

The Fires of Jubilee, by Stephen B. Oates, tells an account of Nat Turner’s rebellion. Beginning with Nat’s early life and finally ending with the legacy his execution left the world, Oates paints a historical rending of those fateful days. The Confessions of Nat Turner by Thomas R. Gray and approved by Nat himself is among Oates’ chief sources. Oates is known as a reputable historian through his other works, and has strong credentials however, in the case of The Fires of Jubilee there are some limitations. It is, therefore, worth analyzing Oates’ interpretation for reliability. In doing so one sees that The Fires of Jubilee, because of its weak use of citations, failure to alert the audience of assumed details and the way in which

First of all, both Frederick Douglass and Nat Turner has a lot of similarities. Both were well-educated slaves, and education helped them to be different from other slaves. In fact, while learning to read and write, Douglass understood his real life of being a slave because he could develop his imagination and interpret what was happening around him. For example, at the end of the chapter two of his book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself”, Douglass mentioned the slave song that he sang with other slaves when they were going to the Great House Farm which is the Colonel Lloyd’s plantation. When Douglass was a slave, he could not understand the real meaning of the song; however, when he grew up

Gray was filling in the empty spots he did so in his own words, and

Graphic novels such as Nat Turner by Kyle Baker challenges the ways in which notable traditional novels refer to slavery by using panels to convey his message on the topic more explicitly. Kyle Baker discloses the power of learning contrasted with the disempowerment of not being educated by using powerful graphics. In the graphic novel, slaves were told who to be and how to be. Their opinions were never heard nor asked. Since birth, they had someone who told them that learning was forbidden for their kind. By showing the reader the state of the slaves, Kyle Baker introduces ignorance as a key factor to controlling individuals into accepting what they are told without questioning whether is right or wrong. It makes people weak and more likely to be manipulated. Baker also introduces the idea of how much power knowledge can give to an individual. Knowledge is power because what you have learned cannot be taken away – it can only be enhanced. Without knowledge, there would be no disobedience to an unjust act. Baker depicts the idea that knowledge is power through Nat Turner, who discovered different worlds through reading, became more eager to learn, and used what he had learned from his readings to become a leader. The chapter “Education” is an important chapter for this novel because it shows who was allowed to be educated, who was not, the benefits of being educated and the consequences.

The story of Nat Turner’s rebellion, that took place in Southampton, Virginia, on August 22, 1831, is somewhat of a lost event. This is because this particular stand was not the most successful at first, but it resulted in the later years as an rewarding rebellion. Nat Turner’s rebellion affected racism and slavery, by being a leader, by being influential, and by showing bravery. All three of these things must be used in order to have a successful rebellion in this situation especially.

Books are filled with stories of colonial resistance such as the Boston Tea Party, the burning of effigies, and the Revolutionary War. There are many stories of Daniel Shay's rebellion against the young federal government. Yet one story that receives little attention is the story of Nat Turner's rebellion. This being one of the first rebellions and acts of abolition of slavery you would think that this amazing story would be in every textbook throughout the world. His story is an excellent example of how some slaves fought back and resisted their oppressors. Overall, I was extremely impressed with this work. I think Stephen Oates was truly interested in what he was researching, as this is reflected in the book. He makes important the inhumane treatment and crude conditions that a slave had to endure under their control. His skill as a writer is excellent, and he does a very good job bringing the reader into the story. Oates believes that Nat Turner's rebellion was a critical turning point in American history, especially Southern history. I was especially impressed with his ability to describe what was happening. The detail fills the mind with a well-drawn picture of the scenery, smells, attitudes, and needs of the blacks and whites of this part of the South. Lastly I would say that this book is not only enjoyable, but also an important historical work that is helpful in understanding race relations of the past and

     The story takes place in Southampton County, Virginia where little Nat Turner is introduced. Nat led a normal childhood for the most part, supervised by his beloved grandmother. They were working as slaves on a plantation owned by Benjamin and Elizabeth Turner. The Turners became Methodists due to the emphasis on free will and salvation. The

John Turner apparently never really was of enough intellectual substance to figure out how to stay on the "straight and narrow" side of life. A young black man on probation who can't pay his fine is doomed to find more trouble and that was John Turner. A young black man who has sired four children with different women and can't seem to keep a job even though he gets help in finding work that was John Turner too. As the author writes on page 285, when the "two worlds collide the street prevailed"; the street and its "code" were too powerful for John to turn away from because he was always suspicious of the various jobs he had.

With this vision Nat Turner was sure that he had received a message from God telling him to kill his enemy that lay near. He was certain that God wanted him to take their weapons and do the deed of taking care of the evils that have been placed upon the earth. Turner was quoted saying “I communicated the great work laid out for me to do, to for in whom I had the greatest confidence (Nat turner, The Confessions of Nat Turner)”. God told Turner to wait for his signal to begin, so for days at a time Nat Turner gathered his trusted friends and slave family into the woods and explained his visions to them and the plan of the rebellion that would happen when he gets his third vision from God.

Nat Turner was born a unique child, who did not have the normal interests as most children his age.Turner was thought to have a special gift, because he could describe events that had transpired in history before he was born. People went around calling him a prophet.“Nat’s parents, his grandmother, and other Turner slaves all agreed that he was “ intended for some great purpose.” “ They showed the other slaves how Nat had congenital bumps and scars on his head and chest. Africans tradition held that a male with markings like these was destined to become a leader.” ( Oates 12). Hearing these things growing up led him to spend most of his time praying and fasting. Turner made claims that God gave him signs and visions.

Nat Turner was a man with a vision that would change America forever. His vision may

Oates, Stephen B. The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion. New York: Harper & Row, 1975. Print.

Nat Turner was an African American slave who was born in Southampton County, Virginia on October 2, 1800. He started working on southern plantations 1831. When he was younger, everyone thought of him as being very smart. They saw that he was smart when he was about 3 or 4 years old. While young Nat Turner was playing with some of his friends, his mother heard him tell the children about something that had happened to him when he was born. She later had asked him about what he told the children. She asked him details about the incident, and it confirmed that he knew about this past event. From that time on, other slaves believed that in addition to his unique view, his physical markings were a sign that he would be a prophet.

What was the importance of Nat Turner and where does he stand in American history? Nat Turner is an American slave, who has been forgotten about in history as well in the hearts of African-Americans. He led and organized one of the bloodiest slave rebellions in American history. This rebellion was "…the rebellion that served to change the course of American history in the three decades before the Civil War" (Goldman 10). Within this paper, it is to analyze on his impact on the nation.

Nat Turner was a man with a vision that would change America forever. His vision may