“She stripped and flogged me long and severely with the cow- skin; as long as she had strength to use the lash” (Salih, Pg. 16). This was the life of Mary Prince, who grew up as a slave; mistreated for years. This incident was about a jar that accidently slipped from Mary’s hands and broke, but accidents for slaves deemed for cruel punishment, rarely sympathy was given. This makes you wonder how a slave felt during the slavery period, the thoughts running through their head, the fear in their hearts and eyes. The fact that a person would rather see their grave, than live another day- that was the life of a slave, that was Mary Prince’s life and The History of Mary Prince written by Sara Salih helps you understand her attitude and thoughts
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Mary was bought by her new owner’s called the I’s. During her second day Mrs. I taught Mary different household tasks like washing clothes/dishes/ floors, baking, cooking and how to pick cotton and wool (Salih, Pg.14). Mrs. I then proceeded to have a lesson on the punishments that would be received if tasks were not completed or done right. “ She caused me to know the exact difference between the smart of the rope, the cart- whip and the cow- skin, when applied to my naked body” (Salih, Pg.14). Mary then received punches to her face and head (Salih, Pg.14). This lesson Mrs. I taught was disturbing and unnecessary for Mary to learn. It was only given to make Mary fear her owner and to work harder to not receive those punishments, but the cruelty of how Mrs. I made that right in her mind is wrong. No one should have to learn what the punishments feel like and know the difference of that feeling especially when nothing was done wrong. The abuses the slaves received for making mistakes, which is the most humane thing to do, never deserved the punishments …show more content…
D later for roughly 13 years in which she finally had the courage to stand up for herself twice after being brutally punished. Mary was sold to Mr. D by Mr. I to work in the salt ponds for his company in Turks Island (Salih, Pg. 19). The slaves here were mistreated in a different way, much harsher than how they were treated back in the West Indies. When Mr. D retired from his business in Turk’s Island he took Mary back home to Bermuda (West Indies) to wait on his daughters (Salih, Pg.22). One day Mary heard screaming and ran to the chamber where she found Mr. D drunkenly beating his own daughter (Salih, Pg. 24). “I strove with all my strength to get her away from him; for she was all black and blue with bruises” (Salih, Pg.24). This made him start beating Mary, which she stuck up for herself by saying, “Sir, this is not Turk’s Island” (Salih, Pg.24). Another time Mary had plates and knives in her hand, and the plates accidently slipped from her hands and broke and Mr. D hit her severely (Salih, Pg.24), because of how severe it was, Mary stuck up for herself again. “I would not live longer with him, for he was a very indecent man – very spiteful, and too indecent, with no shame for his servants and no shame for his own flesh” (Salih, Pg. 24). For a slave to have enough courage and respect for themselves to stick up for him or her deserves a reward. Mary was fed up for all her hard work she has done for this family to continue to be punished in such an
Mary was bought by her new owner’s called the I’s. During her second day Mrs. I taught Mary different household tasks like washing clothes/dishes/ floors, baking, cooking and how to pick cotton and wool (Salih, Pg.14). Mrs. I then proceeded to have a lesson on the punishments that would be received if tasks were not completed or done right. “ She caused me to know the exact difference between the smart of the rope, the cart- whip and the cow- skin, when applied to my naked body” (Salih, Pg.14). Mary then received punches to her face and head (Salih, Pg.14). This lesson Mrs. I taught was disturbing and unnecessary for Mary to learn. It was only given to make Mary fear her owner and to work harder to not receive those punishments, but the cruelty of how Mrs. I made that right in her mind is wrong. No one should have to learn what the punishments feel like and know the difference of that feeling especially when nothing was done wrong. The abuses the slaves received for making mistakes, which is the most humane thing to do, never deserved the punishments …show more content…
D later for roughly 13 years in which she finally had the courage to stand up for herself twice after being brutally punished. Mary was sold to Mr. D by Mr. I to work in the salt ponds for his company in Turks Island (Salih, Pg. 19). The slaves here were mistreated in a different way, much harsher than how they were treated back in the West Indies. When Mr. D retired from his business in Turk’s Island he took Mary back home to Bermuda (West Indies) to wait on his daughters (Salih, Pg.22). One day Mary heard screaming and ran to the chamber where she found Mr. D drunkenly beating his own daughter (Salih, Pg. 24). “I strove with all my strength to get her away from him; for she was all black and blue with bruises” (Salih, Pg.24). This made him start beating Mary, which she stuck up for herself by saying, “Sir, this is not Turk’s Island” (Salih, Pg.24). Another time Mary had plates and knives in her hand, and the plates accidently slipped from her hands and broke and Mr. D hit her severely (Salih, Pg.24), because of how severe it was, Mary stuck up for herself again. “I would not live longer with him, for he was a very indecent man – very spiteful, and too indecent, with no shame for his servants and no shame for his own flesh” (Salih, Pg. 24). For a slave to have enough courage and respect for themselves to stick up for him or her deserves a reward. Mary was fed up for all her hard work she has done for this family to continue to be punished in such an