Analysis Of Thomas Gray's Confessions Of Nat Turner

A pivotal moment in American, but more importantly black history was the slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831. Thomas Gray’s Confessions of Nat Turner is a publication of the rebellion including an explanation of the incident from Nat Turner himself. His confessions inspired black activists including Sherley A. Williams who penned Dessa Rose in 1986. Williams’ novel adds to Turner’s confessions by bringing to light the impact of historical fiction and non-fiction storytelling, gender roles, and an understanding of human compassion in the face of bigotry. Together these novels grant slaves and blacks cultural significance by re-defining the ideology of freedom. The discernable difference between the tales

While her initial escape is done with the aid of black men, she and Rufel become prime leaders in subsequent escapades. There is observation of how women were treated simply as incubators and objectified in order to turn slaveholder profits and were at the will of men, both black and white. In a state of dream/memory, Dessa recalls, “Charlie going try for ‘Youth’ now he done lost ‘Booty,’ someone called out,” (Williams 75). This quote comes during a scene in which slaves on the plantation are not only choosing sides for a corn husking competition, but also doubles as a moment in which male slaves choose women to breed with. This quote explains these two sides: in choosing Dessa, Charlie is gaining the power of youthful hands to shuck corn, but he also obtains the youth of a woman who can bear children with the benefit of the attractive physical attributes. Women struggles in slavery were doubled compared to men as they were not free to even choose whom they were to lay with, master or fellow slave, and were continuously objectified. In Nat Turner’s confessions, there is a scarce female presence within the rebellion. Nathan shares with Gray, “my grandmother, who was very religious, and to whom I was much attached,”(Gray 44) and gives note to where Nat Turner picked up his strength in religion. This can be argued as speaking volumes of the impression that a woman had

Thankfully, the very nature of the rebellion forced the slave holding states to reconsider their stance on slavery. Although Gray presumably intended to use his publication as a means of profit or to caution slaveholders to the possibility of slave uprisings, what he indirectly created was proof that slaves were more human than perceived by the general white public. Nat Turner’s words show him to be a educated, religious, family man, and overall humane. One of the more powerful exchanges that occur between Gray and Turner: “Ques. Do you not find yourself mistaken now? Ans. Was not Christ crucified?” (Gray 48). Within this portion of his storytelling Nat gives religious reasoning behind his revolt, which appeals to the religious and human spirituality of oppressors and those that were pro-slavery. Dessa follows with humane aspects as a lover, mother, and one who is deserving of friendship no matter the circumstances. These details allow these protagonists to become profound in order to fuel the black culture’s fight to overcome stereotypes and general misconceptions about who they are as living beings. Their oppressors are able to empathize and hopefully change their stance on racial