Newspaper in Contrast to Wench

Research Newspaper

I chose to write about five Negro slaves that murdered their slave owner. This story took place on January 5, 1861 by Weldon, North Carolina. (Weldon) "On the first Monday of the month five slaves went into their masters' room, snatched him from his bed, and brutally murdered him; then deposited the body in the woods by W.T Stephenson estate". It is not known why the slaves murdered their master nor is the motive known. What is known however is that these slaves - likely driven by desperation - felt that the only pathway to their liberty was murder. In parallel to Dolen Perkins- Valdez's Wrench, the humanity of desperation lies at the central theme.

Humans are very fragile mentally and physically, when backed into a corner; humans go into a state of desperation. Lizzie in her sense of desperation to free her kids, because at the time of drayle's death, she fears that the kids will be sold to a harsh slave owner. Drayle's wife is already assigning chores around the house for the kids and Lizzie thinks that mrs. Fran on and off favor mood is dangerous for the kids. Mawu's desperation came when her kids were in the process of being sold, but she didn't have the power to stop it. That's why her carefree mind set has come about.

The slaves that murdered Mr. Lucious woodruff knew about the consequences of their actions, taking the life of another; more so taking the life of your slave master back in the 1800s was a serious crime. One can try to imagine the desperation that went through their mind, the fear that passes them. Just like Lizzie, Mawu, Reenie, and Sweets' fear of running away, because "running away means that they would have to leave everything behind. The emotional and psychological bonds some of them had with their masters", others the kids and family members they had back at the plantation.

Desperation will push you to the point of performing inhumane things. The strings of running away was triggered from the desperation fear; whereas, the guys killed mr. Lucious from fear of desperation. "The guys marched deliberately with the officers to show them where they had disposed of the body". (Weldon) The slaves were treated in a way by Mr. Lucious that they lost all value towards the consequences of such behavior, that they became fearless to the action that took place.