Christine Hebl
Am Lit 1201/Sec 16
University of Minnesota
Literary Analysis Paper
The Death Penalty for a Slave
Introduction
The appalling horrors regarding the punishment of slaves are exposed through the
candid words of a white American in Letters from an American Farmer, specifically
"Letter IX: Charleston Slave," by Michel-Guillaume Jean de
Crevecoeur.
Through the story, Crevecoeur graphically shows the atrocity of the slave’s
punishment. He says, for example, "I shudder when I recollect that the birds had
already picked out his eyes, his cheek bones were bare; his arms had been attacked in
several places, and his body seemed covered with a multitude of wounds" (341).
This paper analyzes the elements of Crevecouer's horrific account of coming face
to face with the terrors of slavery. Specifically, the conventions of character, setting, voice, tone, language, symbol,
argument, and theme are examined.
Characters
The two main characters in this essay are an unnamed African slave and Crevecoeur, the
author. Crevecoeur gives a ghastly physical description of the appearance of the slave. He
tells how the slave is hanging in a cage on a tree. While hanging in the cage, birds and
bugs poke out his eyes, peck at his cheeks, and peel the skin from his arms, leaving a
bloody, dripping mess. Crevecoeur describes the horrendous sight when he says, "No
sooner were the birds flown, than swarms of insects covered the whole body of this
unfortunate wretch, eager to feed on his mangled flesh . . ." (341). Crevecoeur also
describes the slave’s coarse English as an "uncouth dialect." (341). The
distorted body is in a terrifying condition, and although the slave cannot see, he can
still talk and communicate with Crevecoeur.
Crevecoeur learns of the slave’s horrible pain and discomfort not only through the
slave’s appearance, but also through his words. The slave’s personality is shown
subtly, rather than directly, through the text. He begs for something to drink and
explains that he wants to die. At this point in life, nothing is motivating the encased
slave to survive.
In contrast to the physical description of the slave, Crevecoeur does not give much
description of his own appearance; however, it becomes obvious that he is Caucasian. The
slave says to him, "’Tanke you, white man . . .’" (341).
The slave
must infer the color of Crevecoeur’s skin, because he cannot see him, since the
slave’s eyes are poked out. Crevecoeur’s language and accent must be that of a
man who is white, thus giving the slave the information he needs to discern the color of the
author.
Crevecoeur’s personality is mainly shown through his horror regarding the
situation of the slave. However, he meanders through the woods before coming to the caged
slave. He says, "I was leisurely travelling along, attentively examining some
peculiar plants . . ." (340). At this point, before coming into contact with the
slave, Crevecoeur is shown to be a mild-mannered gentleman
Furthermore, it is common for white men of this era to possess little compassion for
slaves, which makes Crevecoeur an exception. Crevecoeur is motivated to help the slave,
because Crevecoeur has the personality trait of compassion and sees the human qualities
the caged African slave. Crevecoeur says, "Humanity herself would have recoiled with
horror . . ." (341). Thus, he believes that anyone in this situation would have been
aghast.
Setting
The setting of this story is quite complex. Technically, the setting is Charleston,
South Carolina in the late 18th century. The time and place are discerned
through the title of the essay, "Letter IX: Charleston Slave" and from the dates
given at the bottom of the document. More specifically, however, this story takes place in
what Crevecoeur describes as "a small path, leading through a pleasant wood"
(340). In spite of this, the sight of the caged slave soon disrupts the nice wooded area.
Crevecoeur vividly provides sensory details about the setting. First, through his sense
of touch, Crevecoeur feels the warmth of the air when he states, "the day was
perfectly calm and sultry" (340). Further proving evidence of the heat, the slave
pleads for "some water to allay his thirst" (341). Secondly, through his sense
of hearing, Crevecoeur notices the "rough voice, uttered . . . a few inarticulate
monosyllables" (341) after which Crevecoeur describes the air as feeling
"strongly agitated" (340). Moreover, through the sense of hearing, the slave
senses Crevecoeur’s approach, without the assistance of eyes. Crevecoeur says,
"The living Spectre . . . could still distinctly hear . . ." (341). The slave,
therefore, knows of Crevecoeur’s approach. Lastly, through his sense of sight,
Crevecoeur describes this area as lush and foliage-filled.
Crevecoeur values this setting as a pathway to avoid the heat of the day before coming
across the slave. For the slave, rather, the area is his place of dying and death. But for
both of them, the setting has a significant, negative meaning that will be ingrained in
their lives forever.
If this setting had a personality, it would be a deceitful one: usually extremely
beautiful and serene, except when evils (of slavery) make it frightfully ugly and utterly
terrifying. The "personality" of this setting is a significant part of the
story, as it assists in setting the tone, voice, and language.
Voice, Tone, and Language
The voice, tone, and language come together in this piece to present in graphic detail,
the situation of Letter IX: Charleston Slave. Crevecoeur’s voice in this piece
of literature is in first-person. His point of view is limited; he is not omniscient and
only expounds on his own thoughts. This point is evident by the fact that Crevecoeur only
describes the visual situations and sounds when describing the situation and point of view
of the African slave. In contrast, Crevecoeur describes how he felt in the
situations, when he says, "horrid to think and painful to repeat, I perceived a
Negro, suspended in the cage and left there to expire!" (341). Just by his use of
exclamation marks, Crevecoeur describes the anger and sadness he felt, and how he thinks
the situation is sadly and chillingly absurd.
The tone of this essay is very serious, almost angry, and subtly persuasive. The
seriousness is emotionally charged, therefore trying to convey some evil qualities of
slavery. The tone is evident when Crevecoeur states his opinions sharply. He says, "I
stood motionless, involuntarily contemplating the fate of the Negro in all its dismal
latitude" (341). It is evident the tone is almost mournful for the slave.
The language is displayed by the author’s use of quotes in providing a detailed,
horrific mental picture of the scenes. For example, when the slave asks for water, Crevecoeur finds a shell. He says, "I filled it with water, and with trembling hands
I guided it to the quivering lips of the wretched sufferer" (341). Although passages
like this are written very straight forward, without metaphors and similes and other
descriptive writing techniques, a vivid mental picture is still formed by his way of
thoroughly describing his feelings.
Another important aspect regarding the language of this piece of literature is the use
of certain words, including "travelling" and "surprized." These words
are not spelled in the modern American English way. Thus, it exudes the historical aspect
of this essay.
Symbols
The symbols in "Letter IX: Charleston Slave" are perceived by the reader,
rather than purposely placed by Crevecoeur. One symbol can be found from the thirst of the
slave. At one point, Crevecoeur explains how the slave pleads for something to drink.
Crevecoeur says, "Urged by the irresistible power of thirst, he endeavoured to meet
it as he instinctively guessed its approach by the noise it made in passing the bars"
(341). The passage of the water through the bars from a white person’s hands to a
black person’s hands could symbolize the chance for change in the treatment of slaves
or could even symbolize brotherhood between the races.
Another possible symbol is the cage. The caged black slave could symbolize a
slave’s place in society. The typical wealthy, white Americans of this time period
treated these black men, women, and children as sub-humans totally under the control of
white people. Furthermore, the bars of the cage could symbolize the laws and rules placed
upon slaves to keep them from escaping the horrible life of a slave.
Yet another inferred symbol is found through the birds. The birds pecking away at the
slave’s body might symbolize how the slave owners "pecked" away at the
emotional and physical well being of slaves. Another symbol related to the birds is found
through the slave’s blood. Crevecoeur says, "From the edges of the hollow
sockets and from the lacerations with which he was disfigured, the blood slowly dropped,
and tinged the ground beneath" (341). The blood of a slave seeping into the earth
could symbolize the permanent damage and remembrance slavery left on Earth.
Argument
The argument in this non-fiction essay or story is quite subtle and perhaps
inadvertent. Crevecoeur’s argument is that the punishment of slaves can be too brutal
for the white man not only to experience themselves, but even too brutal for the white
race to look at. Perhaps, Crevecoeur does not mean to display his opinion through
this work, but it is evident. His subtle argument is evident at the very beginning of this
piece. He says, "The following scene will I hope account for these melancholy
reflections, and apologize for the gloomy thoughts with which I have filled this letter:
my mind is, and always has been, oppressed since I became a witness to it" (340).
Through this experience of witnessing the gruesome scene of a dying man in a cage,
Crevecoeur is forever changed and rightfully so.
Even though Crevecoeur experienced what "Humanity herself" would have been
horrified by and cares enough to document it, he is not necessarily a hero. He does not,
for example, propose any change to the current laws. However, he sarcastically shows the
redundant ignorance of the white people when he explains, that they "supported the
doctrine of slavery with arguments generally made use of to justify the practice; with the
repetition of which I shall not trouble you at present" (341). Perhaps he was not
courageous enough to do something like propose new regulations for the benefit and well
being of slaves, but he knew that his work could easily show what he believed to be the
horrors of slavery for future generations.
Theme
There are two prominent themes throughout Crevecoeur’s memoir. One major theme is
the horror Crevecoeur feels when coming across the African slave in a cage. Throughout
this piece of literature, he displays this terrible sight: "my nerves were
convulsed" (341). He tries, while fighting his terror and working against his social
standing, to do as much for the slave’s benefit as possible. He says, "I sought,
through trembling, to relieve him as well as I could" (341). After his efforts to
help the slave were accomplished, the theme of regarding the horror of the caged slave is
further explained. He says, "my mind is, and always has been, oppressed since I
became to witness it" (340). Crevecoeur, therefore, explains how the trauma of this
day will be forever embedded in his mind.
Another theme discussed towards the end of the literature is the role of white people
and how they exhibit ignorance and dehumanization towards the slaves. After Crevecoeur
leaves the slave and goes to dinner, the other white people are not as struck with the
pain and terror as that of Crevecoeur, which he describes as a "dreadful scene of
agonizing torture" (341), rather they explain the circumstances and reasoning behind
the caging of a man. He says that they explain, "the reason for this slave being thus
punished, was on account of his having killed the overseer of the plantation . . ."
(341). Thus, they make it seem as if this brutal suffering is justifiable punishment for
another human being. Perhaps the ignorance of these men would change if they were in the
same situation as Crevecoeur and witnesses this viciousness first-hand.
Conclusion
Through this literary analysis of Letters from an American Farmer, particularly
"Letter IX: Charleston Slave," by Michel Guillaune Jean de Crevecoeur, it is
imperative to realize how the horrors of slavery and the human qualities of slaves were
oftentimes overlooked and deemed unimportant. Crevecoeur, in a sarcastic and angry tone,
says, "They told me that the laws of self-preservation rendered such executions
necessary" (341). Thus, it is reassuring for modern society to know that even some
non-slaves of this era noticed the inhumanity of slavery and were saddened and scarred by
its violence.
