Research Paper On Clotel By William Wells Brown

Gracee Reeves

Julie King

ENG 252

19 April 2023

Title

"Clotel" by William Wells Brown is a powerful novel that presents a critical account of society's flaws. Through its portrayal of cultural, political, and religious aspects, the novel sheds light on the injustices and inequalities that have persisted in American society. At its core, "Clotel" is a call to action for individuals to recognize and challenge the oppressive systems that have emerged in our society. Brown encourages his readers to critically assess the prevailing power struggles and to consider alternative ideas for a more just and equitable society. “Clotel” by William Wells Brown is a social commentary that critiques aspects of society to highlight their flaws and hopefully

Brown uses various cultural aspects of society, such as music and family ties, to support his argument. Brown says, "Nothing was more grievous to the sensitive feelings of William, than seeing the separation of families by the slave-trader: husbands taken from their wives, and mothers from their children, without the least appearance of feeling on the part of those who separated them” (Brown 11). This shows the impact that separation of family ties had on the African American population at the time. In addition, Brown employs music to reinforce his claims by saying “some minutes stood matters thus, and the cries of the bull, mingled with the hoarse growls of the bear, made hideous music, fit only for a dance of devils” (201). In the novel, he describes the harsh realities of slavery and the impact it has on individuals and society as a whole. Brown's unique perspective as an escaped slave and his use of cultural elements make “Clotel” a powerful commentary on the moral and social issues surrounding slavery in the mid-19th

Brown uses religious themes to highlight the difficulties his characters encounter and to reveal the hypocrisy of white religious leaders who defend such immoral behaviors while preaching morality. Through his characters, Brown addresses the most pressing issues of the day, from the horrors of slavery to the delicate topic of intermarriage, and he does so with delicacy and sensitivity, illuminating the complexity of human experience in a striking way. This hypocrisy is shown when Brown says “Although Mr. Peck fed and clothed his house servants well, and treated them with a degree of kindness, he was, nevertheless, a most cruel master. He encouraged his driver to work the field-hands from early dawn till late at night; and the good appearance of the house-servants, and the preaching of Snyder to the field negroes, was to cause himself to be regarded as a Christian master” (Brown 137). Along with highlighting how religion was used to excuse the treatment of Black people as less than human, Brown also demonstrates the fortitude and tenacity of individuals who held fast to their faith in the face of such injustice. An example of this is when Brown says “But suppose even this was not the case (a case hardly to be imagined), and that you have by no means, known or unknown, deserved the correction you suffered,