Suffering in Harriet Wilsons Our Nig Essay -- essays research papers

Harriet Wilsons Our Nig is a novel that presents the harshness of racial outrage during the 19th century combined with the traumas of abandonment. The story of Frado, a erst free-spirited mulatto girl abandoned by her white mother, unfolds as she develops into a woman. She is face with all the abuse and torment that Mrs. Belmont, the antagonist, could subject her to. Still she survives to obtain her freedom. finished the events and the accounts of Frados life the reader is left with a painful human race of the lives of indentured servants. Though the novel is not told from Frados perspective, her story becomes much sympathizing and sentimental from a third person narrative. Wilson uses her supporting characters to express Frados emotions and to show her development. Through her style, the reader becomes more than aware of the Belmont family and rules of orders prejudices through how they react to Frados suffering. For instance Aunt Abby, one of the more sympathizing characte rs, says we found a seat under a shady tree, and in that respect I took the opportunity to combat the notions she seemed to entertain respecting the loneliness of her condition and wish of sympathizing friends (54). While Aunt Abby makes an effort to console Frado, there is no echt sympathy in her words. They are mechanical and rehearsed. Aunt Abby does not truly care for Frado but she does pity her situation. Unlike Aunt Abby, James offers a more sincere regard for Frado. He buys her a puppy and often protects her from his mothers brutal thrashings. He even intends to bring her theme with him to live. He does not possess the indifference of his father or the cowardliness of his sister, Jane. Being one of the few characters who emits a genuine aura of lodge in James i... ...monts but is sadly disappointed by her untoward state in the end of the novel. Slave narratives are not meant to be uplifting but this story brings depressive reading to a whole reinvigorated level. Fr ados story is one of unrelenting abuse and pain. Through Wilsons style the reader understands every point of view and especially the views of prejudice and racism. The title Our Nig relates one of the most insulting realities of Frados existence. She was property in a sense. Her labor and her efforts were equated to those of a horse that could be broken when necessary. Frados encounters and relationships further distinguish this novel from other slave narratives. This story shows what society and what the human spirit is capable of. People can cause the big suffering of others but People can also rise up from the depths of despair and overcome great obstacles.