Slavery In 'Free Labor' By Frances Harper

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The poem “Free Labor” was written by Frances Harper, a popular African-American poet, in 1857. Along with being an abolitionist, she was also an advocate of women’s and civil rights. Harper most likely named her poem “Free Labor” as she could have been thinking about labor that was “free” from paining slaves. "Free Labor" could also mean slavery itself. Because slaves work for free and Harper called her poem "Free Labor" as she is criticizing it. In this poem, the speaker states that she is wearing a light and comfortable cotton garment.The garment reminds the speaker of slavery as a slave made it. The cotton garment has the ability to remind the speaker of harsh conditions which the slaves encountered. The “stain and tears and blood” and the “lorn slave woman’s heart whose only wreath of household love is rudely torn apart” is mentioned as it provides imagery of how awful slavery truly was. The garment makes the speaker feel guilty as it could be seen as promoting the terrible act of slavery. This poem brings up feelings of sorrow as it was written to inform the tragic way in which slaves had to live. The overall …show more content…

Harper writes by using slang. For example, the poem says, “O'er it no toiling slave.” The author could have written the poem with slang as people used to talk in this particular way. Symbolism is used throughout the poem as the “easy garment” symbolizes the guilt with wearing an article of clothing made by a slave. The clothing itself represents ease as a former slave appears and is thankful for relief from the previous weight on his shoulder. The author uses symbolism to write words that have more meaning behind them. An example of personification in the poem is “That I have nerv'd Oppression's hand, For deeds of guilt and wrong.” The author speaks of oppression’s ‘hand’ as it shows that cruel and unjust treatment is powerful and has control over

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