Celia, A Slave is a story of an unjust murder trial and how the jurisdiction ended the accused slave’s life. During this time, Missouri was divided by people against slavery and people for it. The actions executed during Celia’s trial portray that slaves’ trials were unjust. This story shows that the actions from the defendant were not enough and were going against the actions of those with a political agenda. There were laws in effect which would have helped her case but since there was a war looming over the judge in charge saw to it that her trial be as clean as possible. Celia’s actions were motivated by years of suffering and most importantly George’s ultimatum, whereas William Hall’s actions were driven to reduce the risk of a political …show more content…
dilemma and denying justice to save face. The beginning of Celia’s suffering under the hands of Robert Newsom is known to have started the second she was purchased and ended at her own hands after it all became too much.
Celia was purchased around the year 1850 to Robert Newsom from Audrain County. On the ride back to Newsom’s house afterwards was when the first rape incident happened. Celia was purchased on the grounds of being Newsom’s conjugal partner in secret and helping around the house. She was suffering physically from the assaults and from the pregnancies. In the five and a half years she lived with Newsom, she bore two of his children and they were considered Newsom’s property. This took a toll on Celia’s body, she spent the half the days of all of her pregnancies in her cabin. During her third pregnancy, which happened in 1854, she asked for Newsom to stop. Even then, the sexual demands from Newsom continued. As McLaurin stated “Thus Newsom brushed aside her request and, as if to emphasize his right to sex with her, informed Celia that “he was coming to her cabin that night.” ” (p. 35-34). She suffered being raped and used constantly for years. Her emotional suffering had ups and downs, the rollercoaster began when she initiated a relationship with another …show more content…
slave. Celia’s emotional suffering, decreased when she started a secret relationship with another slave but later increased tenfold for the same reason.
The relationship seemed to provide relief for Celia and it gave her a little bit of happiness. When the only happiness she had was threatened to disappear then her emotional suffering quadrupled from where it was at the beginning. It seemed that Newsom was not aware of George and Celia’s relationship since this would have likely resulted in severe punishment for both of them. When Celia got pregnant for the third time, George demanded that she ended things with her master even though that would be next to impossible. Celia was the only female slave on the plantations. There was no slave community she could have gotten support from or any allies at all. She had her two children to think about and her lover could not protect her. Her choices were limited when it came to finding something to make her master stop his advances. She attempted to see if Newsom’s daughters would help her but nothing came of that. McLaurin stated “Nor does any evidence indicate whether Virginia or Mary attempted to intervene with their father on Celia’s behalf.” (p. 32). The amount of stress this situation caused her is too ridiculous to even think of. She was a woman who feared for her life, the lives of her children from her rapist/master, had a small beacon of hope in the form of a lover becoming nonexistent and not one person could come to her aid.
Seeing no other way out, Celia came to the conclusion of using physical force to stop Newsom. McLaurin stated that “Celia was determined to break off the sexual relationship with her master, even if it meant acting upon her threats.” (p. 34). It seemed that Newsom did not take her threats seriously but there is no evidence stating his reactions. Celia was close to her braking point but the final straw seemed to be when Newsom came into her cabin that fateful night. She has intended on hurting him not killing him. It came down to being forced to act upon George’s demand and out of fear. Celia was majorly influenced by George who gave her an ultimatum for their relationship, either choose him or choose her master. McLaurin said “George informed Celia that “he would have nothing more to do with her if she did not quit the old man.”” (p. 30). Celia wanted to comply desperately with George’s ultimatum. Celia had struck Newson once, he fell to the floor while trying to catch her. Celia then acted out of fear for her life, knowing that he would harm her if he got the chance to get up and possibly her children. She hit him again and killed him. The entire time this was happening the only emotion present was fear. She feared George leaving, feared dying, feared dealing with Newsom, feared for her children. She could not run away and leave her children and she could not take them with her. There isn’t actual proof that shows how Newsom felt about Celia truly, or proof if Celia did communicate with people outside Robert Newson’s plantation. She had no protection from anyone whatsoever. McLaurin stated “Since George had felt it necessary to deliver that ultimatum, it seems reasonable to assume that Celia, for a variety of understandable reasons, including her concern for her children, had not been inclined to confront her master.” (p. 40-41). George and Newsom both had Celia be the vulnerable one in their triangle. Celia’s confessed after much questioning to the murder. Her actions were more than morally justified but her fate was decided by a court who did not know of all the events or cared. William Hall’s actions were those of a man with Unionist views, who wanted to avoid a political dilemma. During this time, Missouri was divided by people against slavery and people for it. Most of the South was for it but there were few who opposed it. Mr. Hall’s jurisdiction in the trial were being observed by everyone. He made sure to rule in a way that would not attract more attention from either side of slavery debate in politics. Missouri was overlooking what was happening over in Kansas regarding slavery. The citizens of Callaway County were concerned about slavery and wanted to keep their “property” safe and under their control. Hall made sure to choose a defender for Celia that would prove to be a “genius” political move for him. McLaurin stated “Critics could not charge that Celia had been denied adequate representation.” (p. 86). Judge Hall did what he could to reduce the risk of anger from the public, politicians and those involved in the slavery debate. Judge Hall was not exactly looking for justice for the accused, but was looking to make himself come unscathed after the trial finished. Judge Hall worked the trial to his favor, justice for the accused was not the most important item on the political agenda. He did allow for Jameson to have two assistants. McLaurin stated “The fact that he made the appointments, however, again underscores the probability that Hall wished the trial procedures to be perceived as correct and fair, insofar as the laws of Missouri allowed.” (p. 87). The jury appointed was unfair given that they were 12 all-white all male jurors. Throughout the trial, Judge Hall either denied motions or other actions from the defendant’s lawyers that would allow for the trial pass in favor of Celia. This would be seen as favorable to those who wanted to abolish slavery and could spurn on the fight. McLaurin stated “Handled badly, Celia’s trial could provide additional grist for the propaganda mill of the northern abolitionists, become yet another sensational tale of the brutal exploitation of a young, innocent, helpless slave girl.” (p. 81). He denied the request of the defense inform the jury that it was done in self-defense of a sexual assault. Then denied a motion for a new trial and sentenced her to be hanged. His refusal on the issue was appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court but it was rejected. The fact there was a civil war looming near seemed to have affected the Supreme Court ruling. Judge William Hall’s actions did not seem morally justified at all. They were done calculating the political outcome caused by the verdict of her case and looking to save face. Hall did not rule for justice, but rather ruled for himself in the end. Celia was not tried fairly in court, was not dealt a good hand by fate in life and her choices lead to her death. She acted primarily on emotions and the result of being used in such a horrid way for years. Celia’s motivations were to end the suffering and hold on to the small ray of happiness she had found. William Hall’s motivation was to save face, and to avoid the risk of fueling the fire in the slavery debate. Celia was motivated by years of suffering and George’s ultimatum but her actions morally justified given that the incident was done out of self-defense, whereas William Hall’s motivation came from reducing the risk of a political scandal and keeping his slate clean of any blemishes.
The purpose of this essay is to compare three very similar cases, the Scottsboro Trials, Brown v. Mississippi, and the fictional trial of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird; and to prove why the defendant of the third trial never had a chance. Each took place in the rural South in the 1920’s and 30’s and involved the unfair conviction of young black males by all-white juries pressured by the threat of mob violence. Each lacked the evidence sufficient for conviction, most especially for the death penalty. Last, heroes emerged from each trial and made small but solid steps towards equal justice for all.
Prior to the Civil War, the young United States of America was in a period of rapid expansion. Hoping to find prosperity in new land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase, Americans ventured westward. Along with this expansion, however, came the increasing tension over slavery. Conflicts arose, and in one particular town, where a slave named Celia was accused of the murder of Robert Newsom, her owner, tested the ambiguous laws and human rights ideals of that age. In “Celia, A Slave,” Melton A. McLaurin identifies the moral dilemmas confronting Americans regarding slaves and conveys how the patriarchal system and “abused” usage of law benefited the powerful and disadvantage those outside of the group, especially people of color. By critically analyzing and cross examining historical events and evidence with records of Celia’s trial, McLaurin offers an enlightening view of the prominent issues of slavery that plagued antebellum southern society.
Melton McLaurin’s book Celia, A Slave is the account of the trial, conviction, and execution of a female slave for the murder of her “master” Robert Newsom in 1855. The author uses evidence compiled through studying documents from Callaway County, Missouri and the surrounding area during the middle of the Nineteenth Century. Although much of what can be determine about this event is merely speculation, McLaurin proposes arguments for the different motives that contribute to the way in which many of the events unfold. Now throughout the book the “main characters”, being Celia, her lawyer Jameson, and the judge William Hall, are all faced with moral decisions that affect the lives of two different people.
In times when slavery was abundant, female slaves faced oppression in many ways unthinkable. Collectively, the multitude of injustices changed the way American society functioned. Celia, A Slave tells the truly tragic story of Celia, a young slave girl, and her attempt to resist oppression. Celia was sexually abused and repeatedly taken advantage of by her slave master, Robert Newsom. Eventually, Celia retaliated and murdered Newsom. Though her fight of self-defense was supported by many, Celia was hung as punishment for the crime she had committed.
Slavery is a term that can create a whirlwind of emotions for everyone. During the hardships faced by the African Americans, hundreds of accounts were documented. Harriet Jacobs, Charles Ball and Kate Drumgoold each shared their perspectives of being caught up in the world of slavery. There were reoccurring themes throughout the books as well as varying angles that each author either left out or never experienced. Taking two women’s views as well as a man’s, we can begin to delve deeper into what their everyday lives would have been like. Charles Ball’s Fifty Years in Chains and Harriet Jacobs Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl were both published in the early 1860’s while Kate Drumgoold’s A Slave Girl’s Story came almost forty years later
In Harriet Jacobs’ autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, personal accounts that detail the ins-and-outs of the system of slavery show readers truly how monstrous and oppressive slavery is. Families are torn apart, lives are ruined, and slaves are tortured both physically and mentally. The white slaveholders of the South manipulate and take advantage of their slaves on every possible occasion. Nothing is left untouched by the gnarled claws of slavery; even God and religion become tainted. As Jacobs’ account reveals, whites control the religious institutions of the South, and in doing so, forge religion as a tool used to perpetuate slavery, the very system it ought to condemn.
The challenges and difficulties slaves faced at the time of Celia’s trial left white Americans viewing them with little entitlements. Celia’s trial brought a new perspective into society in a time where slaves, especially females, were without hope. Her story was a beneficial challenge to the institution of slavery because it reached the thoughts of many involved in the controversy during the 1850s and left an effect on the standards of
This account of enduring adversity begins with a man by the name of Robert Newsom. After his wife passed away he apparently craved the need for sexual fulfillment. He came to the conclusion that the best possible way to nourish his craving was by purchasing a young, healthy slave to keep as his personal "mistress". So at the age of 14, Celia became a white-man's sexual object. Over time Celia accepted her role in the Newsom household and bore two of Newsom's children. Towards the end of her five years at the Newsom farm she began a personal romance with another slave by the name of George. Finally, George's masculine pride erupted and he demanded that Celia end this sexual relationship with Newsom. Celia went to Newsom in an effort to stop the nature of their affair, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Out of desperation it is believed that Celia even went to Newsom's two daughters, Virginia and Mary, who still lived with their father, to plead protection from him and his enforced sexual interactions, with no luck once again.
The issue of Slavery in the South was an unresolved issue in the United States during the seventeenth and eighteenth century. During these years, the south kept having slavery, even though most states had slavery abolished. Due to the fact that slaves were treated as inferior, they did not have the same rights and their chances of becoming an educated person were almost impossible. However, some information about slavery, from the slaves’ point of view, has been saved. In this essay, we are comparing two different books that show us what being a slave actually was. This will be seen with the help of two different characters: Linda Brent in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Frederick Douglass in The Narrative of the life of Frederick
Ultimately, I believe Linda Brent’s somatic rights was more important to her than anything. She grew up knowing full well that as a woman, her body automatically belonged to someone else; whether it be her master or whatever mate he chose for her. Linda continuously fought and rebelled against this notion. Although she could have had a nice and comfortable cottage to herself being Dr. Flint’s mistress, she chose the opposite and more challenging path because along with that cottage would come the constant torment of owing her body to him. Linda sacrificed everything to be free from this distress, including going into hiding and isolating herself for 7 years.
Le Guin uses this history to create a story that symbolizes the troubles slaves went through to make others happy. She says:
In her essay, “Loopholes of Resistance,” Michelle Burnham argues that “Aunt Marthy’s garret does not offer a retreat from the oppressive conditions of slavery – as, one might argue, the communal life in Aunt Marthy’s house does – so much as it enacts a repetition of them…[Thus] Harriet Jacobs escapes reigning discourses in structures only in the very process of affirming them” (289). In order to support this, one must first agree that Aunt Marthy’s house provides a retreat from slavery. I do not. Burnham seems to view the life inside Aunt Marthy’s house as one outside of and apart from slavery where family structure can exist, the mind can find some rest, comfort can be given, and a sense of peace and humanity can be achieved. In contrast, Burnham views the garret as a physical embodiment of the horrors of slavery, a place where family can only dream about being together, the mind is subjected to psychological warfare, comfort is non-existent, and only the fear and apprehension of inhumanity can be found. It is true that Aunt Marthy’s house paints and entirely different, much less severe, picture of slavery than that of the garret, but still, it is a picture of slavery differing only in that it temporarily masks the harsh realities of slavery whereas the garret openly portrays them. The garret’s close proximity to the house is symbolic of the ever-lurking presence of slavery and its power to break down and destroy families and lives until there is nothing left. Throughout her novel, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs presents these and several other structures that suggest a possible retreat from slavery, may appear from the outside to provide such a retreat, but ideally never can. Among these structures are religion, literacy, family, self, and freedom.
In Harriet Jacobs Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the author subjects the reader to a dystopian slave narrative based on a true story of a woman’s struggle for self-identity, self-preservation and freedom. This non-fictional personal account chronicles the journey of Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897) life of servitude and degradation in the state of North Carolina to the shackle-free promise land of liberty in the North. The reoccurring theme throughout that I strive to exploit is how the women’s sphere, known as the Cult of True Womanhood (Domesticity), is a corrupt concept that is full of white bias and privilege that has been compromised by the harsh oppression of slavery’s racial barrier. Women and the female race are falling for man’s
In the play Trifles, Susan Glaspell brings together three women through a crime investigation in the late nineteenth century. Glaspell uses symbolism, contrast of sexes, and well-constructed characters to show that justice for all equally important to finding the truth.
In “The Trial of Girlhood” and “A Perilous Passage In the Slave Girl’s Life” Jacobs’s narrative emphasizes the problems that are faced by female slaves. She shares the sexual abuses that are commonly practiced by slave master against young female slaves. She does this through revealing the unique humiliation and the brutalities that were inflicted upon young slave girls. In this narrative we come to understand the psychological damage caused by sexual harassment. We also realize how this sexual harassment done by the slaveholders went against morality and “violated the most sacred commandment of nature,”(Harriet 289)as well as fundamental religious beliefs.