Persuasion In Lydia Maria Child's The Quadroons

Persuasion is a tactic used by abolitionist writers to persuade their audience that dehumanizing another human being based on their skin color, is wrong. From the story “The Quadroons”, one thing that differentiates Lydia Maria Child from other abolitionist writers is that she uses fiction and pathos, and not your typical non-fiction narrative, to persuade her predominately white audience that discrimination is, in fact, unethical. In the story, one sees Child use of an interracial couple’s forbidden love to show the treatment her characters undergo because of the color of their skin and their fair share with the law. Throughout the story, Child gives numerous examples of the treatments that two characters- Rosalie and Xarifa- have to …show more content…
It is common for one to see this reoccurring pattern in romance fiction, where abolitionist writers bring in the tragic Mullata in order to persuade their audience with the message that they are trying to get across, which is to end slavery. Child’s use of Mullata’s is shown through both women. She uses their physical characteristics as a way to form a connection with her audience. Child wants her audience to see that both these women could be just like them (white) because they are light skinned and the only thing that makes them different is the name of their race- African-American. Due to the fact that Rosalie and Xarifa are people of color, it gives the townspeople the leverage, especially the white women, to treat both of them like the scum beneath the earth. Those around them are envious of the beauty being projected by Rosalie and Xarifa, two light-skinned African-Americans. Another …show more content…
“Rosalie, though she knew it not, had been the daughter of a slave; … and in an unlucky hour, they discovered their claim on Angelique’s grand-child” (189). It turns out that Rosalie is a slave as well. Life for her and her family would’ve been different if Rosalie were to have been married to Edward. It wouldn’t have put their daughter’s life in danger, but since it 's illegal to marry a person of color there isn’t hope for Xarifa, for she will be repeating what her ancestors had to go through. “The gentle girl, happy as the birds in springtime,..was ruthlessly seized by a sheriff, and placed on the public auction-stand in Savannah” (189). Growing up, Xarifa’s lifestyle is very different from her ancestors. Xarifa lives in a sheltered environment, which is already a privilege considering the fact that she is an African-American. It was until, Xarifa’s world came tumbling down when she was taken away to be sold like her grandmother. Not much can be done for Xarifa because she is no longer free. There is no one to protect her, so she is claimed by the master that once owned her grandmother and is set out as an object to be sold for