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Gwen Bristow Black Steeple Analysis

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Imagine going to church on a gorgeous Sunday morning and looking up at the tall, formidable steeple but it was painted a deep black as if it were meant to be invisible. In Gwen Bristow’s Celia Garth the St. Michael’s church steeple was painted an oppressive black during the British siege of Charleston to make it unable to be seen by British ships from the harbor. Since the steeple was painted black instead white, it was no longer notably noticeable, making God have a lesser presence in the minds of the people of Charleston. The Charleston citizens interpreted the black steeple as a foreshadowment of death to the people of Charleston, and it frightened them. In addition, the black steeple symbolized the British oppression, acting as a constant reminder that the British were coming. Bristow utilized the black …show more content…

St. Michael’s steeple was painted black instead of the usual white by the rebels so it could not be easily seen by the British, but changed the connection between God and the people of Charleston. The less conspicuous steeple worsened the connection between God and the people of Charleston by no longer reminding them of heaven. The main purpose of the steeple was to help visually enhance the lines of the church, which directed the viewers’ eyes vertically to the heavens (“The History of Church Steeples”). A black steeple made the visual connection between the church and the sky less noticeable because the lines on St. Michael’s steeple were no longer visible from the ground. Without the white steeple to direct peoples’ eyes to the sky, there was nothing to remind the public to stay true to their

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