The color black can represent a descent in literature. Since black and white are diametrically opposed symbols, one can infer that the color white can represent ascension in literature. Ascension refers to the act of moving through ranks. Joseph Conrad and Natasha Trethewey use white as a symbol in their works to show the differences among ranks of people. Conrad in his novella Heart of Darkness and Trethewey in her collection of poems entitled Native Guard both use a white symbol, ivory for Heart of Darkness and cotton for Native Guard, to convey the freedom of certain socioeconomic groups.
Conrad uses ivory in Heart of Darkness in order to convey the vast economic freedom of the Europeans as compared to the lack of economic freedom …show more content…
In the times before the Civil War in the southern part of the United States, African Americans were forced to work on plantations and harvest the goods being grown on them. The work was laborious and time-consuming and caused widespread suffering among this group of people. If the work was not completed on time or if it was completed in a manner that was not approved by the plantation owner, the slaves would be beaten or even killed as punishment. For small breaks to relieve themselves from the horrors of work on the plantations, the slaves would lean against “sacks” filled with cotton (Trethewey 22). Their mutilated and relaxed bodies seemed to ask “how much cotton?”, another way to ask ‘how much more damage will I do to myself?’ (Trethewey 22). They seemed to be the “outline of suffering” in the world because they had no control over their lives, as everything they did was dictated by their owners (Trethewey 22). The slaves had no freedom at all as their masters were in charge. After slavery was ruled illegal, the slaves began to find their freedom. The left the plantations and began recovering from the injuries they received, both physically and mentally, from their work. Today, the horrors that the slaves went through have become accepted as part of history. African Americans can compare their current level of freedom with their …show more content…
Both of the disparities in freedom throughout the literature were caused by the fact that the groups presented were unequal. There is always one group more powerful than another, therefore there will always be a discrepancy in the amount of freedom each group has. In order to truly be free, everyone must be equal, which is impossible. Conversely, measures can be taken to lessen the gaps between groups caused by their differences and help to give every group a bit of
Conrad uses ivory in Heart of Darkness in order to convey the vast economic freedom of the Europeans as compared to the lack of economic freedom …show more content…
In the times before the Civil War in the southern part of the United States, African Americans were forced to work on plantations and harvest the goods being grown on them. The work was laborious and time-consuming and caused widespread suffering among this group of people. If the work was not completed on time or if it was completed in a manner that was not approved by the plantation owner, the slaves would be beaten or even killed as punishment. For small breaks to relieve themselves from the horrors of work on the plantations, the slaves would lean against “sacks” filled with cotton (Trethewey 22). Their mutilated and relaxed bodies seemed to ask “how much cotton?”, another way to ask ‘how much more damage will I do to myself?’ (Trethewey 22). They seemed to be the “outline of suffering” in the world because they had no control over their lives, as everything they did was dictated by their owners (Trethewey 22). The slaves had no freedom at all as their masters were in charge. After slavery was ruled illegal, the slaves began to find their freedom. The left the plantations and began recovering from the injuries they received, both physically and mentally, from their work. Today, the horrors that the slaves went through have become accepted as part of history. African Americans can compare their current level of freedom with their …show more content…
Both of the disparities in freedom throughout the literature were caused by the fact that the groups presented were unequal. There is always one group more powerful than another, therefore there will always be a discrepancy in the amount of freedom each group has. In order to truly be free, everyone must be equal, which is impossible. Conversely, measures can be taken to lessen the gaps between groups caused by their differences and help to give every group a bit of