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.