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

Harriet Wilsons Our Nig is a novel that presents the harshness of racial prejudice during the 19th century combined with the traumas of abandonment. The stage of Frado, a one time free-spirited mulatto girl abandoned by her white m another(prenominal), unfolds as she develops into a woman. She is faced with all the abuse and torment that Mrs. Belmont, the antagonist, could subject her to. Still she survives to obtain her freedom. Through the events and the accounts of Frados life the reader is left with a painful reality of the lives of indentured servants. Though the novel is not told from Frados perspective, her story becomes more 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 aware of the Belmont family and societys prejudices through how they react to Frados suffering. For instance aunty Abby, one of the more sympathizing charac ters, says we found a seat under a shady tree, and there I took the opportunity to combat the notions she seemed to reserve respecting the loneliness of her condition and want of sympathizing friends (54). While Aunt Abby makes an effort to console Frado, there is no real sympathy in her words. They are mechanical and rehearsed. Aunt Abby does not genuinely 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 home 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 concern James i... ...monts but is sadly disappointed by her unfortunate advance in the end of the novel. Slave narratives are not meant to be uplifting but this story brings depressive reading to a whole new level. Frados story is one o f 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 close 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 immense suffering of others but People can besides rise up from the depths of despair and overcome great obstacles.