From Oppression To Enlightenment In The Butler

From Oppression to Enlightenment

Alma A. Labean

El Paso Community College

Abstract

This paper will attempt to analyze the significance of the character Cecil Gaines from the film Lee Daniels’ The Butler. As he grows from a child to a senior citizen we see how the oppression of the eras he survived have shaped his character. His character development occurs while observing historical events from the perspective of a servant. As the world changes, so does Cecil Gaines.

From Oppression to Enlightenment

The Butler is a 2013 film by Lee Daniels influenced by the Washington Post article entitled A Butler Well Served By This Election. The story is loosely adapted from the life of Eugene Allen (Dockterman, 2013). However, this is told from the perspective

Cecil had lost the support and guidance of his parents as a child. As an adolescent, he had no possessions other than the book given to him by the plantation owners’ grandmother. Since she served as a surrogate caretaker and referred to him in a demeaning manner, Cecil then began to refer to himself as a “house nigger” (Williams, & Ziskin & Daniels & Patrick & Elwes, & Daniels, 2013). Considering that Cecil grew up to serve others for a living, the struggle to break free from this derogatory image of himself seems to have followed him throughout his

He has said his thoughts as a fearful adolescent in 1933 were “Any white man could kill any of us at any time and not be punished for it. The law wasn’t on our side. The law was against us (Williams, & Ziskin & Daniels & Patrick & Elwes, & Daniels, 2013).” Still, Cecil was a present reminder of the race that was being spoken of in such an ill-mannered way. To be uncivil would have made the people he catered to feel the opinions they were sharing were evident. This was even more significant once he worked in the White House and served world leaders. Through the years of 1926 to 2009, the film does seem to vilify any white characters in one way or another. This bias presents itself in most instances where a white person is kind, it seems to be mostly politically or professionally motivated, not by their own moral decency. Cecil observed as different presidents enforced great strides in the civil rights movement, such as President Dwight D. Eisenhower with Little Rock school integration, Cecil still saw doubt and internal struggling to do what was necessary to take action for civil rights (Williams, & Ziskin & Daniels & Patrick & Elwes, & Daniels,