Book Of Negroes Aminata Character Analysis

The importance of characterization in The Book of Negroes
A key theme developed in The Book of Negroes is the power of mankind. Lawrence Hill develops the theme by introducing many characters that all influence Aminata in some way. It is through effective characterization that minor characters are able to influence the plot of the novel. Lawrence Hill’s, The Book of Negroes, follows Aminata Diallo’s arduous journey through slavery. As a young girl Aminata is stolen from her hometown of Bayo, Africa and is sold into slavery. Throughout the novel the reader encounter’s multiple characters that all have a colossal impact on her survival through captivity. Through the use of multiple minor characters, Hill demonstrates the need for connection

(Frater) The number of people in slavery today does not even remotely compare to those in the late 1700’s, with that being said, the reader might find it highly unlikely to believe that any person or character could ever find peace and happiness in their life; Georgia is a character from the novel that Aminata meets who manages to see life as a beautiful thing despite all the terrible things surrounding her, such as deadly diseases. Aminata is sold at an auction for really cheap and becomes slave to Robinson Appleby, owner of an indigo plantation on St-Helena Island. As Aminata reaches the plantation, a fellow slave named Georgia appears and brings her to a cabin where she takes care and tends to Aminata’s needs, until she is back to adequate health. The care that Georgia gives to Aminata generates a mother-daughter like bond between the two. Living and working on the indigo plantation came with difficult times. Aminata turned to Georgia in her times of need because Georgia always seemed to have the answers. At one point in the novel, Georgia is able to give Aminata a minor case of the pox to save her from getting a major or potentially, deadly case of the pox. In the setting of the novel, there was really no cure for this malicious disease, meaning that most cases were deadly. The pox disease was severe and made everyday life nearly impossible for the plantation workers; Aminata struggled to get through a minor case of the pox, as it hit her really hard. In this time of depravation for Aminata, Georgia was still able to make Aminata feel as though life was still sufficient and bearable. In Book Two of The Book of Negroes, in regards to Georgia, Aminata says: “…Every time she opened her mouth, she said something astounding. Something in her way of speaking made life tolerable” (Hill 129). Georgia inspires Aminata to continue to be a good person and to persist through life, no matter what