Lois Burdoo Character Analysis

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An Admirable Act
Imagine if a child you dearly loved stood waiting while people cast their bids on her. What would you do? Amos Fortune, a freed slave, faced this exact situation. Lois Burdoo and her five children lived in great poverty. After the tragic death of her husband, Moses Burdoo, she struggled to provide her children’s daily needs. Eventually, she became unable to care for her oldest two children, Polly and Moses, and sadly put them up to vendue. Amos should have bought Polly because of three essential points: generosity embodied him, love inspired him, and poverty consumed her.
First of all, generosity embodied him. Since he first met the Burdoos, he always contained a powerful urge to help them. He desired to make a difference in their lives and he recognized Polly as the perfect opportunity. Amos took great pleasure in helping others, especially through providing them with their freedom. He knew Polly did not have much longer on earth and wanted her to die peaceful and free. “She wasn’t ever a slave,” Violet reminded him. “She was born free.” He shook his head. “She wasn’t free when she was so poor.” (pg. 160) Although Violet believed that …show more content…

Polly’s mother could no longer manage to take care of her, and therefore, she required the care of another person. All her life she grew up without obtaining proper care and because of this she was incredibly weak and in need of nurturing. Polly needed a home where the people cared for her and gave her peace and rest instead of forcing her to labor. She was unable to complete even the simplest of household tasks and Amos knew this. He provided a safe and peaceful home for her final days. Polly sat still and afraid while being sold. She knew not of what the outcome of the sale would result as and greatly worried. When Amos bought her, he brought comfort and reassurance to both her and her mother. Polly needed Amos, and he came through to

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