ISP post #6 - The Most Insight

Now that I have completed the novel The Book of Negroes I can gladly say it is now among one of my all time favourite novels. It was very entertaining to read, and provided me with a new insight on the slave trade. I was able to look at this book with multiple different criticisms which allowed me to have a more thorough understanding of it. Each literary theory provided me with new information about the book that I wouldn't have known otherwise. By looking at the post colonial literary criticism I was able to see how history between the British and the Americans effected slaves. It also showed me what an unexpected character Aminata would have been in those times.  On the other hand by looking at this book with a feminist criticism I gained much more respect for the women in this book. They all were extremely strong even though they had to deal with many hardships.

Although both of these criticisms were very helpful I found that the Archetypal criticism provided me with the most insight on the text. This type of criticism allowed me to find typical patterns that appear  in this type of text and see how they worked in this novel. I was also able to view what patterns the author kept and the areas that he chose to take some creative freedom. This criticism allowed me to analyze the characters in the book and compare how they develop to other novels.

Studying this novel with the Archetypal point of view allowed me to see the choices the author made about his book, and how these choices effected the development of the characters and the plot.

Some character archetypes that are seen in this book are, the great mother, and the wise old man. There are many characters in this novel that could fall under "The great mother" archetype. For example there is Aminata's mother from her homeland. Her mother teaches her everything she knows and is a great role model for Aminata as a child. Another mother like figure in this novel is Georgia. Georgia takes Meena under her wing when she arrives at the Appleby plantation and helps her survive. Although Georgia was not an actual mother she was like one to Aminata. Dolly was another character that was a great mother. Aminata was very scared and lonely when she arrived in Charles Town. Dolly made her feel welcome and in her times of sorrow she comforted her: " 'What's the matter, honey chile?' The sympathy in her voice made me cry even more. Dolly got up out of bed and came to put her arm over my shoulders.'One day your man come back and you start all over again,' she said." (Hill, 236). The next mother we encounter is Aminata herself. Aminata becomes a leader to the people she teaches in New York and many of them rely on her for guidance. She also gives birth to two children who sadly were both stolen from her. Even though she looses both of her children her motherly instincts remain. Aminata is able to take the knowledge she has gained from the other motherly figures in her life and used it to help her become a strong motherly figure to her community.

In many novels there is the "Wise old man" character that people can go to for guidance. In this novel the wise old man is Daddy Moses. He is one of the first people that Aminata meets when she arrives in Nova Scotia. He brings her to Birchtown and helps her find a place to live. The entire community respects and cares for Daddy Moses. They all come together to hear him speak whenever they can and they help him move about as he is blind.

By studying the text with this view I developed a stronger understanding of the reasoning behind using these archetypal character and leaving some others out. For example "the hero" character is not really involved in this novel. Some may argue that Aminata is the hero but she isn't really. She helps many people in many different ways but she is still just an average person. And at the end of the day she cared about herself before she helped others. Aminata was a real person, she may have been a hero in some peoples eyes but she was not the hero of the book. I think it was a smart decision to not have her as the hero of the book. If she had been an outstanding hero I don't think the book would have felt as real, and it would have definitely made Aminata more difficult to relate to.

These are just some of the many archetypes that make this novel so interesting to read! The way Lawrence Hill carefully selected which archetypes to use and which ones to exclude made this novel diverse from many others that I have read. This type of criticism allows the reader to understand why the characters and plot are the way they are based off of the authors choices.

Works Cited

 Hill, Lawrence. "The Book of Negroes." (2011): n. pag. Abstract. (n.d.): n. pag. Print.
 

   

   

ISP #5 - Feminist Literary Criticism

The Book of Negroes is full of strong female characters. It seems strange that in this type of book there would be so many well represented women. This book is written about a time when women were seen as useless and were often considered to be objects not people. Also this book was written by a male author so one may suspect the protagonist to be a man, but that is not the case. The protagonist in this novel is Aminata Diallo, she is the definition of a strong, intelligent, and independent women. From the moment she is taken to be a part of the slave trade, to the moment she dies in London, England, Aminata never stops fighting.

When Aminata was young, she had to learn very quickly how to survive as a slave. While on the boat, she took shelter with the surgeon, although he scared her greatly. This smart decision may have saved her from dying on the ships. She makes many more smart decisions after this that are key to her survival. She listens to everything Georgia tells her which gains her respect. She then makes friends with Mamed who teaches her how to read (177) which is a huge benefit to her later in life. Aminata then makes friends in New York that help her plan her escape from Lindo (284). Yet the only reason she met these friends was because of her ability to read. She was able to make good friends in New York and she ended up helping many of them to freedom in Nova Scotia. Although survival was hard in Nova Scotia Aminata's hard work paid off and she was able to survive, even through the loss of her daughter. Meena eventually was able to lead herself and many other slaves back to Africa; "I would never see May again, and it was time to move on."(416). While there, she had to work very hard to survive. At the end of her life, she headed to England to share her story. She became very sick but that didn't stop her. She found her daughter and wrote her life story and then eventually peacefully died. Aminata's story was nothing short of amazing, and difficult. Her strong will and wits are all that kept her alive. From a feminist perspective she is a very strong female character. One thing with Aminata is that she is incredibly strong and she is still very easy to relate to and real. I think the way that she cried at night for her lost children, and the way she longed for her husband made her seem like a much more real person. These real qualities make it easier for other females to connect to her and her struggles.

Aminata is just one of the many strong female characters demonstrated in this novel. There is Aminata's mother who shows extreme bravery when they are attacked, with the way she, "faced the men and called out like a warrior,"(30). Then there is Georgia who is independent and intelligent and is a huge role model in Aminatas life. These are just some of the many strong female characters. With such an abundance of strong female characters you would assume that females have more power in this novel. However that is not the case. There are many cases throughout this novel where all of these strong women are mistreated and discriminated against. For example when Aminata is raped by Mr. Appleby, this amazing women is put into a state of fear and shame because of this mans actions. After this occurs Aminata says "Still I couldn't move, trapped by my own pain and shame."(184) she almost seemed to be reduced to nothing. Another case in this novel where women are not treated fairly is in New York where many women were used purely for sex by the soldiers then were tossed aside once they became pregnant.

I feel like the treatment of women in this novel compared with the characteristics of these women provides the contrast needed to view the true inequality of men and women during this time period. It is clear the women were viewed as objects not people. Using  a feminist criticism it makes it easy see how unfair women were treated during this time, it also makes it very clear that Lawrence Hill has a great respect for women and that he wanted them portrayed in a positive way.

Work Cited

Hill, Lawrence. "The Book of Negroes." (2011): n. pag. Abstract. (n.d.): n. pag. Print.

ISP #4 Postcolonial Criticism

Looking at The Book of Negroes with a postcolonial critisism made me more aware of the struggle between first world and third world groups. Throughout this book there is a war going on between the American Colonies and the British, for control of the United States. The power switches hands multiple times, but the British are losing more and more control all the time. Although the USA is not completely out of the control of European colonial powers, it is getting close. This constant battle in the book creates two sides and forces the citizens of America to choose who they support. The conflict between the Americans and the British provided a great opportunity for the slaves to seek freedom. One of the opportunities that arose was that slaves were given the option to become free if they fought for the British army. This benefited the British army and gave some hope of freedom to the slaves. "The British were promising us freedom if we fought for them."(302) Because of the upheaval of the war and the beginning of change in beliefs about slavery, some slaves could start to claim their freedom without such a large fear of punishment.  The Americans were so busy directing their anger and manpower towards fighting the British that the slaves, such as Aminata,  had a chance to escape. As Sam tells Aminata "War is inevitable, and the Brits are in for the surprise of their life. They have no idea how angry people are. If you flees now, Lindo won't have time to hunt you down."(285). This rise in conflict is exactly what Aminata needed to be able to escape to freedom.

The postcolonial criticism also focuses on the power difference and highlights Aminata's strength. African people were brought to America and enslaved. This book describes the brutality and racism that these people faced everyday (203). This shows how strong and determined Aminata truly was because even though all the odds were against her she learned to read, write, and speak eloquently. Having these skills was unusual for an African American slave, because most never had the opportunity. By developing these skills Aminata proved to other slaves that there is hope for them all.

It is also interesting how the author chose to have a black female as the protagonist. In history women were usually known to have less power then men, then when you add the fact that she is African it makes it even more likely that she won't have power. Historically you would assume that this character would have no power and would not be valued. This is not the case, Aminata ends up having a very powerful voice and aiding many of her friends to freedom. She is valued and appreciated by all that know her and has helped a lot of people. This is not what you expect this from that type of person in history, but Aminata defied the odd and proved the stereotypes wrong.  

Work Cited

 Hill, Lawrence. "The Book of Negroes." (2011): n. pag. Abstract. (n.d.): n. pag. Print. 

Freedom of Religion- ISP #3

In our North American society, the freedom people have with their religion, has become a prominent issue. In North America, everyone has the right to practice whichever religion they choose. However, this right does not mean that these people will not face discrimination for their religion. Many people that are Muslim see this type of discrimination every day. There are many cases in the news where people have been mistreated for no other reason then their region. In California, on April 22nd seven women were asked to leave a restaurant. It has been indicated that they were asked to leave only because of their religion (6 of the 7 women were wearing Hijab's). No other customers were asked to leave even though they had been at the restaurant longer then the seven women. This is just one of many examples of how the freedom of religion is still an issue in our North American society.

In the novel The Book of Negroes, Aminata faces a similar issue. Aminata is also a Muslim women, Since the moment she left Africa she has been warned not to let her religion show. When she gets on the boat on the way to the Appleby plantation she begins to speak with a man. When she tells this man that she is "a freeborn believer" he becomes very upset with her and says " 'You must never pray in that manner. It is dangerous, and the toubab will correct you with the whip. The toubab will correct us all' " (140). This is just the first of many warnings that Aminata receives about praying. To Aminata her religion makes her feel connected to her homeland and her family. After she gets off the boat Aminata tries to pray to comfort herself, she then says, "But in the toubabu's land I couldn't pray by myself. Praying inside my head felt lonely and futile. As nights came and went, thoughts of Allah faded." (123) This is an issue that still affects people today. They start to feel disconnect from their religion because staying connected causes too many issues; it seems easier to let go. Aminata would often try to pray when she was scared or hurt, but whoever was with her would tell her to stop immediately. She was not allowed to practice the religion of her choice, and she would get punished if she did. Eventually Aminata found a man, Mamed, who was a believer like her (173). This discovery helped her build a new relationship. Her friendship with Mamed lead to Aminata learning how to read. The ability to read made her much more valuable to her future owners. Perhaps finding friendships such as this could help people in our society feel safe and more welcome to practice their religion freely. Freedom of religion was an issue then and it is still an issue now. There are laws against judging people based on their religion, but it still happens. People may not risk being beaten based on religion such  as Aminata did, but they might find themselves to be excluded or mistreated.

Work Cited

"Hijab Discrimination: California Muslims Sue over Religious Intolerance - Firstpost." Firstpost 
           Hijab Discrimination California Muslims Sue over Religious Intolerance Comments. N.p.,
           2016. Web. 05 May 2016.

 Hill, Lawrence. The Book of Negroes. Toronto: Harper Perennial, 2011. Print. 

ISP Blog Post #2 : Archetypal Literary Criticism

I chose to start by looking at my novel with a archetypal literary criticism. It is clear that in The Book of Negroes there are many aspects that were created based off previous archetypes. One that stood out very clearly to me was the way the protagonist moved from innocence to experience. I have not even completed the book and already there is a clear change in Aminata. When we first meet her she is just a child, playing in her village and getting into trouble. Her father gives her a shoulder ride and "[she] laughed and slapped his shoulder playfully..." (25). When you read this part of the story she seems like a very average little girl that is playing with her father. We soon find out that Aminata has much more experience then you would expect for a young girl. She helps her mother deliver babies on a regular basis, which is something that takes a large amount of maturity. Not long after we read the part about her playing with her father,  she goes to a delivery with her mother (27). This is when it starts to become clear that Aminata is very mature and advanced for her age. On the way back from this delivery is when one of the major turning points of the book occurs. "From behind a grove of trees stepped four men with massive arms and powerful legs." (29), these men attacked Aminata, her mother, and the rest of her village. During the attack her parents were killed and she was taken away with another group of people. This group of people was being led to a boat that would take them to another land. During the trek to the boat you would expect Aminata to be a mess, but she controls her emotions and uses her wits to create a better situation for herself. "I wondered what my ba and fa would tell me to do. Keep walking! That was all I could imagine. Don't fall." (34), any other child in this situation would be completely lost, but she thinks of what her parents would tell her to do, which was a very intelligent thing to do. Aminata's intelligence is even further proven and developed while she is on the boat. Dispite all of the fear she must have been feeling, when she was asked "And you speak his language too?" (68) without hesitation she says yes knowing it will make her more valuable, since she can translate for people. This was a great move by her because it ended up getting her more food and a better place to stay on the boat, which most likely saved her life. Eventually, after a large amount of struggle and travelling Aminata, still only age 12 at this time, arrived at the Robinson Appleby's indigo plantation (141). At the plantation Aminata meets Georgia. Georgia takes Aminata in like a daughter and teachers her everything she knows. By learning from Georgia's experiences Aminata is able to better herself and keep herself safe at the plantation. She knows that she must work hard and follow the rules to avoid getting in trouble. I am sure that Aminata has a lot more growing to do as a character in this novel. It is already clear how much she has changed in such a short amount of time. She has gone from a sweet little girl, to a young women that can deliver babies and make smart decisions for herself. It is clear that this author has followed the fundamental plot archetype of the protagonist moving from innocence to experience.

Work Cited

 Hill, Lawrence. The Book of Negroes. Toronto: Harper Collins, 2007. Print. 

First Impressions: The Book of Negroes

I have thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this book. This novel was suggested to me by a previous teacher, she mentioned that it was a fast paced book with one exciting event after another. I started reading the book with these expectations and I have not been disappointed. This book starts out in a very interesting way. The first chapter is written as if the main character (Aminata) is speaking directly to the reader, explaining where she is now, before she tells her story. I did wonder at first, why the author chose to start his novel with the protagonist later on in life speaking towards the audience, instead of starting at the beginning of her story. I now realize that by doing this, it allowed the reader to create a stronger connection with the character. It was almost as if she were talking directly to us. The author does a great job at being very descriptive which allows the reader to clearly picture what he is describing. One image that has stuck in my mind is the trail of dead bodies in the water following behind the boat. This vivid image helps reinforce the message that the lives of the slaves were not valued. The relationship between Georgia and Aminata is very interesting to me. To me it seems very much like a mother and daughter relationship. The way Georgia acts often leads me to wonder how she has gained so much respect from the "toubabu"; it is almost as if they fear her. I have a feeling that since she is so close to Aminata something bad will happen to her, just as it has to everyone else she loved. The topic of slavery is not something that I have extensive knowledge about. I think my lack in prior knowledge has allowed me to read this book with very little bias and conflicting ideas. Something else I wondered is how did Lawrence Hill (author) become so passionate about this topic, as he would not of experienced it personally. The way he writes makes it seem like he knows the pain that these people have endured. While looking into this I discovered that his parents were deeply involved with human rights issues, which is how he got interested in this topic. Although this book was written almost 10 years ago it is still relevant, because it explores the topic of slavery. It is a well written book that grasps the reader's attention. Reading this book has made me realize that I need to start paying even more attention to the social issues in the world around me. I did not know much about slavery before and this book has made an impression on me. When I am reading a book that I am very interested in, I don't often take breaks to think about what I have read and ask questions, but while reading this book I have started to think about what I am reading.

Strengths and weaknessess as an essay writer

Writing essays has always presented somewhat of a challenge for me. It just isn't something that comes easily to me. Over the past few years of high school my essay writing has most definitely progressed but there is still room for improvement Something that I do well while writing an essay is coming up with a strong argument that gets the point across. I tend to be able to come up with strong supporting points but I then have trouble structuring them in my essay in an effective way. I hope to be able to learn how to properly structure an essay in a way so that my ideas are clear and easily understood. Another thing I think I will struggle with is breaking out of the typical essay pattern we learn in grade 9 and 10. Making sure to avoid doing things like restating the thesis in the conclusion, or having the typical 3 paragraphs with an idea for each. I think breaking out of this trend will allow me to expand my essay writing. Something else I struggle with is being able to keep "my voice" in the essay without it sounding unofficial. I find that my writing style becomes too casual when I write using my voice. I sometimes write the way I would speak in a conversation which can make my writing confusing to read. I also need to work on my in-text citations, thinking about when I should use them to have the strongest affect. My goal for myself as a writer is to be able to use my strong ideas to create a well-structured essay that has a sophisticated voice, and good in-text citations. I will try to achieve this goal by spending more time on the planning stage. While planning I will think about what structure I want my essay to take, and also what some good points to cite would be. 

About Me

Hey everyone,
I am in grade 11 at Ernestown Secondary School. ESS is a very small school with around 500 students. I love going to school here! I am taking this course to try and reach ahead for next year. In school I enjoy chemistry, and biology. I also really enjoy reading, I am currently reading The Book of Negroes and am really enjoying it. One of my favourite book series is Lord of The Rings. I am always looking for a new book to try if anyone ever has a suggestion!

Outside of school I spend most of my time with my friends or at the barn. I ride at a barn called ADK Stables, I have been riding there for quite a few years. Through out the summer it is where I spend most of my time. It is one of my favorite places to be. I also really enjoy traveling, last year I went on an exchange to France. I got to visit some very interesting places there. One of my favourite experiences was when I went to Venice. Visiting multiple different countries gave me a very eye opening experience about how different cultures work. I was also able to improve my ability to speak French. In the winter one of my favourite things to do is ski, I love spending days out on the hill. I am hoping to try snowboarding soon!