Family Life During Slavery - the Known World by Edward Jones
Autor: Maryam • June 14, 2018 • 944 Words (4 Pages) • 589 Views
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However, slavery has also negative consequences on the families of both white and blacks. An example from the book is when at the dinner table Henry tells his parents that he has also bought a slave. His parents are dumbfounded and are hurt by this revelation. To them, Henry assisting in Rita’s escape made them think that he is against owning slaves. According to Henry’s parents’, he should share the same convictions with them regarding the issue of slavery. When he reveals to them that, “I bought my own man” (p.136), they are so shocked. Augustus tries to put this together but he fails and ends up saying, “You mean to tell me you bought a man
and he is yours now? You done bought him and you didn’t free that man? You own a man, Henry?” (p.137). Following the argument that ensues after this, it can only be concluded that having lived different lives being separated by slavery Henry and his parents belong to different sides in what happens to be the most important issue of their generation. While Henry perceives William as a mentor and role model, Augustus and Mildred view him as a negative influence to their son who has corrupted what they all stand for.
But even after this incident, Mildred and Augustus though not accepting or respecting what Henry has decided to do, they do not disown him and they still love him and his father even visits him at the plantation when he gets sick. Their relationship however does not recover from this revelation and they are not close ten years after that (p. 6).
It can be argued that the reason why Henry chose to oppose the beliefs of his parents and his refusal to embrace their legacy was because of him being left without them in the Robbins plantation. He does not feel the attachment to them and he certainly sees Robbins as more of a father to him (p. 42-43). In conclusion, it is clear that slavery according to the book ‘the known world’ had many negative impacts to families than positive ones.
Work cited
Jones, Edward P. The known world. Penerbit Serambi, 2003.
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