Beattie: An Essay on Truth (130-133)
James Beattie goes after the argument of Hume and Aristotle, which is that some races of man are inferior and meant to be slaves. Now I find this to be a foolish statement, but it was of coarse accepted at the time as history shows. It is refreshing to listen to Beattie's choice of argument against these sets of similar ideals. The basic idea is the notion that progress and discovery come with time and given the time and teachings, anyone could become enlightened. "The inhabitents of Great Britain and France were as savage two thousand years ago, as those of Africa and America are at this day. To civilize a nation , is a work which requires long time to accomplish." (131). Hume stating that he had never seen a Slave express ingenuity is not surprising since there was not only a language barrier, but they are seeing tools they have never seen in a land they do not know. Beattie uses Hume's argument against him with plain knowledge.
Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (133-136)
Reading about Mary Wollstonecraft was a joy due to the fact that her daughter Mary Shelly is one of my hero's for being the most amazing woman to read about. Her history is rich and very similar to her mother in the way of being independent and following her heart (she was involved with a married man). Wollstonecraft's writing about the rights of a woman and the arguments she presented were brilliant when looking at the audience she was reaching for. She draws a parallel between a military man, the epitome of manhood and likes the life and manner of such to a woman. She states that they are bred to submit to those higher in command, to obey, and to be polite and well groomed "May not the same remark be applied to a woman?" (136). This insinuation must have been an utter outrage and I would have loved to have seen the reaction of men and the private conversations of women over the topic.
Behn (225-246)
Concluding the tale of Oroonoko I found myself conflicted. Many times he is spoken of as a great or noble man even to the end (246). However, how great a man can he be if he murdered his wife and unborn child just so that his wounded pride may be revenged (243)? We see that he is treated so much better than all of the slaves by being spared from hard labor, being given his wife, a home, and land. He was not treated as a slave and once married nor was Imoinda. Therefore, what would make them think their baby would be taken as a slave? I do have a theory that he simply longed for death and the release from his troubled life. The narrator constantly mentions suicide as a reoccurring theme, and sadly he is spared from this and is instead tortured and murdered. Though one would think he had all he longed for, he was still a general at heart, and would not die a farmer or slave, but a warrior as the expense of his family.
"... and though he suffer'd only the Name of Slave, and held nothing of the Toil and Labor of one, yet that was sufficient to render him Uneasy; and he had been too long Idle, who us'd to be always in Action," (228).
I don't find this tale to be one of strong argument of civility for the slaves, but more an argument against the uncivilized ways of slave owners. As illustrated by the capture, sale, and murder of Oroonoko/Caesar (246).
De La Cruz Poems (262-264)
The tone of these writings are harsh but beautiful. It is lovely that such honesty and beauty could flow together so well. In Poem 145 De La Cruz writes a poem that I would intemperate as the fate of a woman. We read, "...this object, in which flattery has tried to overlook the horrors of the years..." (262). This is to say that you can praise a woman, flatter her, but the issue of equality remains. This fact is summed with the poems fatal finally with "... a palsied will to please which, clearly seen, is corpse, is dust, is shadow, and is gone." (262). Palsied, stuck or not able to move. When one does not move forward, there is no hope for change.
No comments:
Post a Comment