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The Bondswoman's Narrative Sparknotes

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The Known about Slaves The Bondswoman’s Narrative is the only known novel by a female African American slave, and therefore it contains both personal and informed perspective of slavery. Crafts’ novel taught me that rivalries existed between the slaves, that the conditions of house slaves compared to field slaves varied drastically, and that not all slaves came from Africa nor were they strictly designated for labor. Her words were enlightening and cast light upon another side of slavery not frequently spoken of. Crafts’ experience in the Wheeler household most directly show her encounters with household rivalry among the other slaves. A previous favorite of Mrs. Wheeler, a girl named Maria, resented Hannah’s position as waiting maid. Maria did everything in her power to elevate herself in Mrs. Wheeler’s eyes and to tarnish the image of Hannah. She went as far as to directly lie to Mrs. Wheeler, which resulted in Hannah’s punishment and her consequent exile to field work. It showed that there were slaves who would turn against their own kind instead of joining together to fight against a common enemy. …show more content…

While some house slaves may have enjoyed some measure of comfort, like Charlotte who had a small room and belongings while under the servitude of Mrs. Henry, field slaves enjoyed no similar comfort. Crowded together in a tight and unsanitary space, women and children were crammed together like cattle. Also, and perhaps it was just the difference in masters, but Mrs. Henry’s house slave Charlotte was allowed to choose her husband based on love, while Mrs. Wheeler’s exiling of Hannah was accompanied by a command that she was to marry another slave, Bill. Slavery is typically associated with brutal fieldwork, but there are other sides of it as

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