The Book of Negroes: Sixth Analysis

After reading "The Book Of Negroes," and analyzing it in several different ways, I have a few final thoughts on which criticism gave me the most insight into my novel. I believe that the post colonial
criticism helped me discern the major themes within the book, more so than the other types of criticism and analyses.

Post colonialism let me see the entire book as a rebellion against standards. Instead of painting Aminata as a woebegone character, she is strong, vibrant, and equal to all the other characters. She can read, write, bargain, and speak eloquently. These skills and traits would have been rare in a woman during Aminata's time, and unheard of for an African American.

However, this perspective also allowed me not just Aminata's change, but also the gradual change of independence to interdependence that  countries and tribes underwent after Europeans came and changed their governing structures. The fact that it was considered so amazing that Aminata was educated showed the vast differences between cultural standards. This was shown  from Aminata's journey from her original town where she was free and independent, to Sierra Leone, where there were no exports or any trades to support themselves. She survived, for most of the novel on the mercy of others, when originally, she had the skills and talent to easily rely on nobody but herself. The post colonial perspective really outlines this vast decline of self-reliance.

The book also demonstrated the change from individuality to what I started calling a "blanket personality," which was a certain demeanor ascribed to entire ethnicities of people. Those who were of a certain ethnicity were all assumed to be the same, with the same thought processes, ideas, and actions. This lack of personal uniqueness, and the need to conform, caused the loss of much cultural heritage. This was symbolized in the novel when Aminata adopted a new name in America, because nobody cared enough to learn her real name. A quote that I really found meaningful to this perspective was: "When it comes to understanding others...we rarely tax our imaginations," (Hill 425). Post colonialism emphasized the rigid social groupings of the time in the novel, and the lack of compassion or even empathy for any others.

I also noticed that there were several references to maps throughout the novel. Aminata is always interested in finding maps, and there are several quotes about: "elephants for want of towns," (Hill 377). I believe that this may be a symbol of the loss of culture, simply replaced by something that was easy to understand, (like an elephant to cover blank space on the page). However, there may be more meaning to this, and may be worth researching.

After putting all these aspects revealed by Post-Colonial perspective together, I believe they all come together to show the extreme loss of individuality and the beginning of double standards and conformity.

A draft of my thesis for this novel may be:

After examining “The Book of Negroes” from a post colonial perspective, it becomes clear that the author is trying to show the gradual decline experienced by England's colonies from self supporting, individual cultures to gaining a single identity based on what they were told.

The Book of Negroes-Fifth Analysis

After reading the fifth portion of the novel, I decided to analyze it using a feminist literary criticism. Aminata, being both African American and a woman seemed to have the odds stacked against her in a time of so much prejudice and discrimination. Yet, throughout the book, it becomes obvious that the narrator is not trying to demonstrate the vast injustices against women, nor is the book outwardly trying to condemn this. Instead, in a roundabout way, it focuses on the strengths of the oppressed, and that shows the immense differences between equality and injustice much more eloquently.

In the latest portion of the novel, Aminata arrives in Sierra Leone, (Lion's Head), in Africa. She stays there for a little while, with her friends before realizing her heart is still in Bayo. To get back to her home, she deals with a trader to take her into the heartland of Africa. However, the trader, Alassane, barely even accepts her offer, saying: "'I don't trade with women'...'[But] you negotiate like a man,'" (Hill 439). Aminata's swift thinking in bartering was the only reason why she was able to make a deal with Alassane. Women were very limited in what others thought they were capable of, and, for many, what they felt they were capable of. Alassane nearly turned down a business opportunity simply because the partner would be a woman, which brings me to my next point of what I believe was a double standard for women.

In order to become more of an equal with friends she made with Europeans, Aminata always spoke proper English, instead of Gullah, (the dialect African Americans often spoke in), learned arithmetic, and became able to read and write proficiently. All of this effort, when during this time it was considered an accomplishment to just be able to read, (for all cultures) is very remarkable. This illustrates how hard women had to work to gain any respect. The discrepancies are obvious: "It seemed incomprehensible. Women selling in the market, Negroes drinking with white men, and yet here I was-a slave" (Hill 192). There was a double standard; women had to work twice as hard to get recognition for any of their own accomplishments as the men.

After  looking through the novel using feminist literary criticism, I realized that it made me view the characters differently. I had been trying to make comparisons between my life and what I understood to the book, but I realized that I couldn't really compare anything that I have heard of or experienced to the encounters Aminata had. I gained a new respect for all the women in the book, who suffered and managed to still make it through.

Overall, when I look through the novel, one phrase seems to stand out among the rest: "When it comes to understanding others...we rarely tax our imaginations" (Hill 425). This statement is so true, even among today's society. When it comes to those who are oppressed, challenged, or just different, we rarely think to extend a helping hand. Although today's society is leaps and bounds ahead of the world described within The Book Of Negroes, this quote rings true for most of humanity. In the case of this novel though, it is especially correct for women.

The Book Of Negroes: Fourth Analysis

The fourth part of the novel I analyzed using a Post Colonial perspective on the events happening within the book. Throughout the fourth part, the main character, Aminata, has another child, but she is taken away without her consent by Aminata's former employers. Disheartened, she decided to start a new life in Sierra Leone, a free town, back in her homeland of Africa.

When analyzing this portion, I found that there are many aspects of this book relating to Post-Colonialism, and the western world. However, parts of the book are, in fact, a rebellion against colonialism. The Western world believed that women were below men in the social ranking, and everybody else in the world was below those of European descent. The book is written through the view of an African American woman who rebelled against the standards, and learned to become more educated than was common for people of that time.

Looking deeper into parts of the book, it is also obvious that there is a loss of personal identity within a post colonial world. It is instead replaced with a cultural identity that extends over everyone of a certain ethnicity. For example, a preacher asked Aminata: "'Have you come from New York?...And are you of African persuasion?" (Hill 322). The first question asked, right away, was what kind of ethnicity Aminata was. This, unfortunately, shows a loss of personal pride and individuality. You weren't simply a person. You were your culture above all, it determined how people saw you. Aminata found this out quickly: "What is a 'wench?' 'Woman,' he said. 'Is Mrs. Lindo a wench?' He sat up straight. 'She is a lady'" (Hill 203).

Something else I realized after looking farther into the novel was that there was a stark difference of standards between different cultures. Aminata was considered almost a novelty to many people, because she was both African and a woman, yet she could read and write extremely well, "Clarkson asked for an assistant...I stepped forward, so he asked me also, 'Would you point me to Mr. Meena?'" (Hill 367). Clarkson was astonished that Aminata was so educated; that wouldn't have been such a considerable accomplishment for someone of a different ethnicity. There was a double standard: what Europeans could achieve, and what everyone else could achieve.

Looking critically at the book, the differences left by the colonization of the world are obvious: the start of slavery, societal rules, the feudal system, and much more. However, there are also parts that aren't as apparent: lack of respect, loss of individuality, and repression of beliefs. Even today, racism still occurs as a result of past losses and dominations caused by colonial oppressions.

After reading this part of the book and analyzing it with a post colonial perspective, I now have some questions as well. What would the world be like today if the Europeans hadn't colonized most of it? Would there still be as much discrimination and feudalism as was experienced by Aminata?

The Book Of Negroes-Third Analysis

The latest part of the book that I read is up to page three hundred and eighteen. Throughout the book, innumerous immoralities, discrepancies, and human violations have been presented. I think though, that the biggest discrepancy that stood out to me as an issue in this book is the lack of regard for human life for people different from the leaders of the colonial world, embodied in the slave trade.

There was no need to keep a promise, respect, or even listen to someone who was a slave. There were no rules on fair treatment or wages for slaves. This sense of self-entitlement and greed that drove this mistreatment of people, is a major issue within the book. However, a question arose from this: what made the European settlers believe they were so superior? What made them feel they were on the "moral high ground?" So, the main issue in my book that I am looking into is: how people can justify evil in their own actions.

To search into these issues deeper, I found some references to Carl Von Linnaeus, who first began anthropology in the mid eighteenth century. He began to class all people based on appearances, and ascribed personalities to the appearances as well. For example, one of Linnaeus’ writings states: "Homo Europaeus as white, fickle, sanguine, blue-eyed, gentle and governed by laws...Homo After as black, phlegmatic, cunning, lazy, lustful, careless, and governed by caprice." (qtd. in NALIS 3) This is an early example of racial discrimination, but is also one of the reasons that Europeans believed that they were better than the Africans. They needed economy, and cheap work, and according to their experts, the Africans needed saving from themselves. This was their method of justification, and it isn't uncommon. Throughout history, every country or person who has committed an immoral act has had some sort of justification for it in their own minds.

The problem described above was shown several times within The Book Of Negroes. It was shown in the people running the slave trade, who believed they were providing a service to rich Americans, and saving the Africans in the process by converting them to Christianity. It was shown in those who believed that Aminata couldn’t do anything because she was both a woman and an African American, “The man with the sunburn was astonished to find himself checkmated and enraged to see Lindo turn the guineas over to me” (Hill 243). It was shown in the discrimination that was apparent throughout the whole book.

The dictionary describes this under self-justification: “the act or an instance of making excuses for oneself” (Merriam-Webster). This is a major problem in both today’s society and back in the seventeen hundreds, and was presented mainly in the third portion, dealing with Meena’s escape to freedom from her slave owner.

“The Slave Trade: How and Why It Started.” National Library and Information System Authority. n.p., n.d. Web. April 17 2015. Retrieved from http://www.nalis.gov.tt/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=7eYHyaW4IAY=

“Self Justification” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2015. Web. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-justification

Hill, Lawrence. The Book Of Negroes. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2007. Print.

The Book Of Negroes-Second Analysis

           After delving further into “The Book of Negroes,” I have begun to analyze it using archetypal literary theory. It has made some new thoughts and ideas abundantly clear. The most often used setting of literature is the naïve youth or hero journeying from inexperience to maturity and knowledge, with the help of other common figures, and some symbolism to draw parallels to realism.

            This book has exhibited many of these main components of archetypal criticism. For example, the main character, Aminata began as a sheltered, happy little girl. As the novel progresses though, we see her character become more mature and experienced through the hardships she had to endure. There is also some symbolism in her trip walking in the coffle and travelling on the ship. It is symbolizing not only her journey to a new land, but also her inner journey of growth as she learns to leave her deceased parents and old ideals behind. A symbolic image of this is: “Georgia made me repeat it, but the best she could do was to say ‘Meena.’ In this new land, I had a different name…A new name for the second life of a girl who survived” (Hill 130). Once she reaches America, she tries to fit in, even occasionally eating pork, which is forbidden in her religion. This represents letting go of some of her old ideals, but also the metaphorical ending of a journey that is so commonly used in archetypal literature.

            The next portion of the book consists of the “battle.” Having to perform some feat or fight the monsters and demons is a common part of literature. Aminata having to deal with a cruel slave owner who beats and harasses her is really her struggle, and the author embellishes this through the descriptive and symbolic language. There is also the distinct feeling of good verses evil, which is a very common literary technique. You never see any good traits displayed in Aminata’s master, Robinson Appleby, yet you never see many bad traits displayed in Aminata either. It is easy to tell which of the characters represents who is right and who isn’t.

            I believe that since most archetypal literature have a pattern of naivety, then a journey of growth, a battle, and then a return, that Aminata may go back to her homeland some day, thus completing the typical plotline.

            However, not only the plot was described by archetype. Some of the characters were as well. I found Fanta to be an interesting character, because at times she acts like a mother figure to Aminata, yet she also kills another woman’s baby. It is hard to tell what she is going through, and her actions are unpredictable. Yet she is unmistakably the mother figure in this literature, which is later handed over to Georgia, a fellow slave on the plantation Aminata is taken to.

            The character that is obviously the villain is Robinson Appleby, which is proven time and time again, as he harasses, beats, and even kidnaps Aminata’s baby to sell him, “Georgia said ‘He’s long gone. Master Apbee done sold him good'.” (Hill 188). In contrast, Solomon Lindo, the man who buys Aminata from Appleby, becomes the mentor to the main character, teaching her to bargain, read and write, and speak proper English.

            Overall, the book has so far followed a lot of the typical archetypal literature pattern, with descriptive imagery and symbolism used throughout.

First Impressions: The Book Of Negroes

            I have started reading The Book of Negroes, by Lawrence Hill, and finished the first part, (Book One). So far, it centers around an old woman who lives in England, who is re-living her tumultuous past throughout the book, which is interspersed with her memories. Her name is Aminata Diallo, although it was later changed to Meena Dee, after she was forced into slavery. Her story starts with a seemingly idyllic life in Bayo, (Africa), when she is approximately eleven years old. However, nothing can be perfect, as demonstrated in the metaphor: “Pink is the taken as the colour of innocence…but as it spills across the water... do not fall into its pretty path” (Hill 7).

            One day, she and her mother are captured by slave traders, and her father is later shown to be captured as well. Her parents both try to fight and escape, and in doing so, lose their lives. Aminata is then placed alone in a coffle, (people attached by chains),  with only two others that she knows, Fomba and Fanta. She later makes friends with a boy who is aiding the captors, named Chekura. She learns how to survive by using her talents taught by her mother as a midwife, and through her knowledge of several languages. The portion ends with all the captives being loaded into a vessel and sailing for America.

            Some interesting characters that I found within the novel were Fomba and Fanta. Their names are very similar, but their personalities are complete opposites. Fomba is very innocent and has almost no worldly knowledge, even though he is middle aged. Fanta is selfish and believes herself to be superior to others, proven by: “Fanta told the others to ignore him…Fanta mistreated the woloso” (Hill 18). Yet they both suffer because of their dispositions after being captured. This demonstrates the craftiness needed to adapt and survive as a slave. You needed to be smart, to adjust, but not too smart, or else the captors would worry that you could start a mutiny. These two characters effectively demonstrated this need for subservience, yet also some intelligence to be able to survive; there is also some slight irony due to the fact of the similarity presented in the names.

            Another literary device that interested me throughout the novel was the author’s tone of acceptance. Aminata grew so used to the terrible treatment she received that she simply seemed to stop caring as much throughout the book. It is an interesting progression, as she was shown becoming extremely upset when she is caught playing with another person’s bucket at the beginning of the novel, “ 'It’s not for you to touch'…I ducked and ran out of her home, knowing she would not follow” (Hill 19). Yet later, she never flinches when she watches a friend get whipped. This development doesn’t seem to be a positive or negative advancement of her character, but one of necessity, which is very sad.

            Throughout the novel, I tried to connect to today’s standards verses the old standards demonstrated in the book. It is extremely difficult, because today’s rules and ideals about equality are so different than those. It is almost impossible to imagine a time when you could beat or kill a person simply because they are different from you.

            This book reminded me of another book I read a few years ago, called A Desperate Road to Freedom, by Karleen Bradford. It also dealt with the slave trade, only it focused more on the slaves’ escape into Canada. I found this interesting, because it tied something I am familiar with to an unfamiliar subject for me. I wondered whether it is possible that later in the novel, an escape may be made to the northern states or even Canada.

My Strengths and Weaknesses as an Essay Writer

              

               I have always endeavored to improve my essay writing, because it can always be enhanced! Over the past couple years, I have developed some strengths. For example, writing a strong essay question is something I have become proficient at. I can find a good idea to use for the thesis based on the given reading material. I have also become adept using good transitions between sentences and paragraphs. It does take multiple revisions for me to get these right though.

                However, I also have several weaknesses as a writer. I have trouble not switching from past tense to present tense; I have to constantly reread my essay out loud to make sure I haven’t switched tenses in the middle of a paragraph. I also have to be careful about not writing "run on" sentences. I know we were taught how to avoid this in elementary school, but, even now, I use so many commas and semicolons that some of my sentences go on forever! Once again, reading the essay aloud to myself helps me to find these errors.

                One goal that I have this semester for my essays based on the tips and points in our reading material is: to improve the “voice” of my writing. Sometimes my writing may make sense, and have the proper connecters, but when you actually read it, it doesn’t sound natural, or flow quite right. My goal is to be able to recognize when this happens, so that my writing sounds more consistent. I’m hoping to improve this by working on my diction, so that the language sounds more natural to people when read aloud.

Welcome to My Blog!

Hi everyone!


I'm Celine Vereecken Smith, and this is my first blog post ever, so I'll see how it goes!

I'm sixteen years old, (although most people don't seem to believe me when I tell them)! I live out on a farm, which I enjoy, although it can be annoying having to constantly commute everywhere.

I also love to read-people constantly have to take my books away to have a decent conversation with me! All the librarians at the local library know me by name because I'm there so often, annoying them to order new books! Painting is a major hobby of mine as well, as you can probably tell by the picture...


An Emily Carr inspired painting, displaying our current weather!

I enjoy travelling, but unfortunately, I have never left North America. I do have a lot of family who still lives in Belgium though, and they send Flemish chocolate frequently. At least I can enjoy foreign cuisine without leaving the country!

As for sports, I used to be involved in cross country, and dance. I also ride horses, and have gotten into dressage. I enjoy tennis as well, although I don't play competitively.

This summer I hope to get a job at the Edison Museum, because I enjoy giving tours, and I am also a bit of a geek. However, the building was temporarily shut down due to structural flaws, but I'm hoping it will reopen!

That's pretty much all about me, I hope to get to know everyone else too!