Commentary Of 'The Narrative Of Mary Prince'

Whites often believed the myth that slaves did not care about their own children. Her parents were quoted about the selling of two children “a source of great anguish and continuing resentment by both parents.” Ever since her sisters were sold, Harriet lived with the fear that she would be sold and relocated, as well. When Sarah Bradford wrote Harriet Tubman’s autobiography, she recalled when Harriet described:

The autobiographical accounts of both Mattie Jackson and Kate Drumgoold give an insight of what it feels like to be a slave, and in their case, female slaves. Slavery is quite dehumanizing. As slaves, most people experienced abuse, which they suffered from the cruelty of those who considered themselves as, the masters. Additionally, as slaves, one of the downsides was that most individuals in slave societies were separated from their families. The slaves were, in no occasion, treated as equals to their white masters. An instance that showed how slaves were separated from their families is an account of Drumgoold. She narrated her childhood experiences and how her family was separated inevitably.

The following essay shall asses to what extent Mary Prince’s story was published in her own words after being recorded down by Susanna Strickland and then edited by Thomas Pringle for publication.

My cousin, the Queen of England, Elizabeth I, has had me imprisoned for the last 19 years. I am to be executed for corresponding with Anthony Babington who has been plotting to kill Elizabeth. I chose to write my life, my story, in a measly journal so that whosoever lands upon it my see how I, Mary, Queen of Scots, portray it. I have lived it, so only my Creator knows it better than I.

One of the most strategic and dehumanizing components of slavery is the fact that it separated people from their families. In The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, it is evident that the idea of being sold to another white family and separated from your own is a devastating that can happen to a slave on short notice. For example, Douglas was born and raised on Colonel Lloyd's plantation in Talbot County in Maryland. However, at the age of seven or eight with only a few days notice, Douglas was told he was going to work with the Auld Family in Baltimore. This meant

Life in slavery was not just harsh because of the countless hours they had to be working with little or no pay, but there was also a constant fear of families and loved ones being separated or killed. At any time, a slave could have been sold to a "different owner, or a slaveholder’s death could lead to the breakup of an enslaved family"(433).

The History of Mary Prince was a seminal work of the nineteenth century, which today remains an important historical device. Mary Prince’s story is not unique, but the circumstances and context surrounding her novel are. Defying contemporary standards and beliefs, The History of Mary Prince demonstrates the atrocities of slavery, but also a distinctive and deliberate political message. The History of Mary Prince is not only important for its demonstration of human suffering and the legal history it documents, but it also offers insight into the British abolition movement. Twofold, it remains an important text through both its straightforward portrayal of facts and experience as well as its underlying careful manipulation of political and moral themes. The History of Mary Prince served as an influential abolitionist piece of writing, but furthermore can incite multiple layers of interpretation and analysis of the abolition movement.

Throughout Mary Prince 's narrative, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, it is clearly evident that the brutal treatment from Prince 's mistresses, which she inflicts upon her slaves, is a common occurrence. Through her perspective, she tells the readers about the harsh treatment she receives from both her masters and mistresses. By doing so, she achieves sympathy from the readers, who could possibly be of the middle-class demographic. In Prince 's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, she chronicles her life as a slave in order to demonstrate the inhumane treatment by the slave

For instance, they were kept captive and were allowed to say and do very little. In the text, Douglass says, “ immediately chained and handcuffed; and thus, without a moment’s warning, he was snatched away, and forever sundered, from his family and friends.” In other words, this slave was snatched from his loved ones and forced into the hands of a different owner. Another example of slaves being dehumanized , Douglass states,” Frequently, before the child has reached its twelfth month, its mother is taken from it, and hired out on some farm.” To conclude mothers were taken from their children to work without any

Within the realm of philosophy, new ideas are formed, applauded, often questioned, and most carefully analyzed. These new ideas are what provoke thought, and help move progressive thinkers forward. This can be said to be true in Frank Jackson’s case, with his essay “What Mary Didn’t Know”. Jackson presents an argument that challenges the thoughts of physicalism, physicalism being, “…the challenging thesis that [the actual world] is entirely physical” (Jackson 291). Jackson creates what he calls the ‘knowledge argument’. In his essay Jackson presents the example of Mary, a woman who lives in an entirely black and white world. She is confined to her room, and everything is controlled so that all that Mary views is black and white. It is

Throughout Mary Rowlandson's account of being captured by Native Americans, she mentions her family frequently; however, she hardly mentions them by name or talks about what they were like. This immediately creates a feeling of distance in the reader's mind, because it could suggest many things about what her family was like before they got separated. She also shows us what looks to be a great deal of distance between her and her youngest daughter Sarah who died in her arms. When Rowlandson first mentions her youngest daughter she calls her a "poor wounded babe" (130) which suggests that there is a distance between the two. However, this may not be the way that the events actually happened because she wrote the narrative six years after she was reunited with her family. This opens up the idea that this may also have been a way for her to cope with losing a child in her arms. It could also show that she may have not been the only person to write the narrative. These two ideas work together because if Rowlandson does not have to write all of the painful parts, she would not have had to relive the guilt or sorrow. Mary Rowlandson makes the reader think she is distant from her family because she uses it as a way to cope with the pain of being separated from them, and to show the Puritans that being close to god will help you with any pain.

For the most part, separating the families was the worst possible thing to do. It only made things worse on the slaves, though the owners didn’t care. They didn't even care if the slaves ate or got enough water, and they didn't get breaks throughout the day either. Though, some of the slave owners had a somewhat okay or good relationship with a slave, but that wasn’t for all. (pg. 9) Financial problems caused slave owners to sell their slaves nine times out of ten. It was made aware in the book that the selling of Shelby plantation, and Harry and Tom, that the owners were very upset with the situation. (pg. 29) Usually most slave owners think of slaves as worthless, no good meanings of life, and they just have them to do work that they don’t want to do. For example, owner Legree would kill a slave in a heartbeat and it didn’t even phase him. (pg.288)

In The History of Mary Prince, an autobiography of a former Caribbean slave Mary Prince, Prince shows readers how she resists slavery and its oppressive rule. Published in 1831, Prince uses her autobiography as anti-slavery propaganda and shows the struggles of every slave. Through the autobiography, Prince portrays her resistance to cruelty and immorality while being enslaved by horrid masters. Although she was not always overtly resistant in her earlier days as a sl, Prince illustrates her rebellion through the publishing of her autobiography, marriage, religious conversion, opposition to removal from England, and physical and verbal resistance. With the help of those that surrounded her in England, Prince exposes her readers to the true,

Throughout the semester we have discussed a few captivity narratives such as: John Smith, Mary Rowlandson, and Cotton Mather. From a personal standpoint, Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative was one of the best selections we have read in class thus far. It is a prominent source of biblical encouragement to those of the Puritan religion and some other religions that put God above all human and nature. Throughout the short story, a Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mary Rowlandson, it describes the eleven weeks, approximately around eighty two days, were Rowlandson was held captive. Rowlandson demonstrates how strong her faith is throughout the entire time she was gone away from her family, losing her daughter Sarah and the problems she and the other captives had to face during that amount of time. She keeps her faith through the Lord and he delivers her prays in the end, because she stayed faithful to him.

Shortly after Mary Stuart's 1660 death, Adriaen Hanneman painted a portrait of her titled, Posthumous Portrait of Mary I Stuart (1631- 1660) with a Servant. Mary Stuart I was a reigning monarch of the Netherlands with royal ties on both sides of her family by birth and by marriage. In Posthumous Portrait of Mary I Stuart (1631- 1660) with a Servant, Adriaen Hanneman uses a pyramidal composition with strong diagonal lines, contrasting colors and luxurious textures to direct the viewer’s attention to the gaze and face of Mary and to emphasize her social status and nobility as a Dutch monarch.