Nightjohn Thesis

Corroborating Nightjohn ‘Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.' -George Santayana. The 1800’s. An atrocious time in which slavery was at its peak. African Americans were discriminated because of the color of their skin and were treated with impudence. NightJohn by Gary Paulsen is a historical fiction that follows the life of a slave named Sarny, the main character, and Nightjohn, who teaches young slaves to read and write. Although Gary Paulsen’s novel, Nightjohn, is considered historical fiction, the descriptions of the harsh restrictions, brutal punishments, and resistance to conditions can be corroborated with multiple sources. During the time of slavery, slaves had many harsh restrictions bestowed onto them. This is portrayed in Nightjohn when Sarny is not …show more content…
These punishments are shown in Nightjohn when slaves are whipped when their actions do not please their master- Old Waller- or attempt to run away. According to an interview with Mingo White - a former slave-, he states, “I went to the field… and picked cotton with the rest of the hands. I kept up too, to keep from getting any lashes…” This rather relates to Mammy when she is whipped by Old Waller, when she refuses to reveal to him who has been teaching Sarny to read. This also relates to Nightjohn, when he arrives at the plantation with scars of the lashes he endured. Another piece of evidence is in the excerpt of an autobiography of Solomon Northup, Twelve Years a Slave. He writes, “... dogs used on Bayou Boeuf for hunting slaves ar ea kind of blood hound, but a far more savage breed… They will attack a negro, at their master’s bidding…” Related to the novel when Alice, one of the slaves, attempts to run away, but is found by Waller. He then releases the vigorous dogs on her, ripping and tearing her skin. As shown above, the slave owners has many horrid punishments for their