Furthermore, celia was unable to write, meaning that she couldnt narrate the details of her own life. Study celia, a slave discussion and chapter questions and find celia, a slave study guide questions and answers. Earlier in the book, mclaurin argues that virginia and mary remain silent about their fathers rape because, as white women, they themselves are virtually powerless. For the next five years, she was cruelly and repeatedly molested by her abusive masterand bore him two children in the process. Illuminating the moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of a slaveholding society, this book tells the story of a young slave who was. Celia a slave sparknotes comprehensive book analysis from the novelguide, including. When haitian slaves rebelled and killed their masters, then took over. Mclaurin, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Mclaurin, the accounts of one womans life are bound together in a vivid way to relay the circumstances surrounding a female slave s cruel life.
Celias case demonstrates how one masters abuse of power over a single slave forced whites to make moral decisions about the nature of slavery. He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided. Mclaurins book length analysis of the trial and execution of celia, a sl ave in callaway county, missouri who kills her master and burns his body in her fireplace. The book is about a slave mudered her master for sexual abuse over 5 years and was found guilty and sentences to death after her trail sources. Celia has a lonely life on the farm, and a miserable one. Mclaurin, the accounts of one womans life are bound together in a vivid way to relay the circumstances surrounding a female slaves cruel life. Five years after being purchased, she murdered her owner in selfdefense because he tried to. While celia awaited trial, there was a raging debate about slavery in kansas and elsewhere in the united states. Celiaaslavefreecliffnotes how to find free cliffs notes. Buy a cheap copy of celia, a slave book by melton a. This shocking event took place in calloway county, missouri during a tumultuous period in antebellum america in which the neighboring territory of kansas. Celia is, pretty clearly, the main character in this book.
Shortly afterwards, shes recaptured, and the state sets a new execution date. Nicholas mcgee w1073395 history 320 fall 2012 how history exposes the system a significant portion of africanamerican history in the western new age democracy of the americas over the past four hundred years is a reminiscence of stories from the. Mclaurin is a wonderful book about a single example of the sufferings slavery caused. No documentation of her birth date, birthplace, or parentage exists. Celia was only fourteen years old when she was acquired by john newsom, an aging widower and one of the most prosperous and respected citizens of callaway county, missouri.
Around this time, a vigorous debate raged across america, concerning the morality of slavery. Celia, a slave summary from the creators of sparknotes. Jan 18, 20 celia a slave sparknotes comprehensive book analysis from the novelguide, including. Volpone takes place in seventeenthcentury venice, over the course of one day. In the book celia a slave melton mclaurin describes in. Celia, a slave study guide contains a biography of melton a. Conduct an internet search for cliffs notes by entering the phrase cliffs notes and. Her recorded history begins in the summer of 1850 when she was purchased by robert newsom, of fulton township, calloway county, missouri. Volpone has amassed his fortune, we learn, through dishonest means. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including celia, a slave. Very little is known about celias life before she lived on newsoms property, but its known that when newsom bought her, she was fourteen years old. On the night of june 23, 1855, she would later tell a reporter, the devil got into me and celia fatally clubbed her master as he approached her in her cabin. Celia, a slave, a book by author melton mclaurin, shows the typical relationship between a slave woman and her master in america during the 1850s. For nineteenyearold celia, a slave on a missouri farm, five years of being repeatedly raped by her middleaged owner was enough.
In response to celia s upcoming execution, jameson and his two aides draft a remarkable letter to abiel leonard, a circuit court attorney, in which they express their personal. The missouri laws, in the 1850s, forbid rape and allow a woman to protect herself from rape even if it means committing murder. Robert newsom of missouri, who raped her before they even reached her new home, purchased celia in 1850 at the age of 14. Mclaurins booklength analysis of the trial and execution of celia, a slave in callaway county, missouri who kills her. The son of an emancipated slave, northup was born free. Celia, a slave summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
The murder trial of the slave celia, coming at a time. Chapter 1 quotes many journeyed by foot, plodding mile after mile along widened footpaths that hardly deserved to be called roads. Learn more about celia, a slave with a detailed plot summary and plot diagram. Celia, a slave was a factual interpretation of one isolated incident that depicted common slave fear during the antebellum period of the united. Celia, a slave is a book written by melton mclaurin in 1991.
Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. As he gives us celias story, mclaurin clearly explains the history of slavery in missouri and how it intertwined with the national politics of slavery. The previous year, senator stephen douglas of illinois lent his support to the kansasnebraska act, which would allow slavery to expand into new federal territories, provided that a majority of the residents vote for it. Learn more about celia, a sl ave with a detailed plot summary and plot diagram. This book was well written and well researched but was a very dry read. While defending herself, celia accidently kills her rapist and owner, robert newsom. Robert newsom of missouri, who raped her before they even reached her. Solomon northups 12 years a slave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the precivil war south. Mclaurin, the story of a young slave woman is narrated. Chapter 4, as the title suggests, provides a backdrop of the events occurring at or around the time celia killed robert newsom. Flores, kimberly history 1218 11292017 celia, a slave in the book titled celia, a slave, written by melton a. But in 1855, driven to the limits of her endurance, celia fought back.
Shepherd, go off a little volpone study guide plot overview, over the course of one day. Melton alonza mclaurin discusses the trial in 1855 of eighteenyearold slave celia for the murder of her sexually abusive master robert newsom in missouri. In 1850, fourteenyearold celia became the property of robert newsom, a prosperous and respected missouri farmer. Based on court records, correspondences and newspaper accounts past and present, celia, a slave is a powerful masterwork of passion and scholarshipa stunning literary achievement that brilliantly illuminates one of the most extraordinary events in the long, dark history of slavery in america. During the summer of 1850, newsom purchased from a slave owner in neighboring audrain county a sixth slave, a fourteenyearold girl named celia. Missouri, and to several of the key figures in the book.
Celia was an ordinary slaveuntil she struck back at her abusive master and became the defendant in a landmark trial that threatened to undermine the very. At the time, thorough records of slaves lives were very rare, because they served little practical purpose for the slaves owners. She is absolutely committed to her husband, even though he treats her horribly, and has a faith in god and sense of honor, traits which seem to be lacking in both corvino and volpone. Mclaurin details the events of a 19 year old slave girl who killed her master while defending herself against his sexual advances. Both newsom and jameson from virginia with his living as a minister. Celias case demonstrates how one masters abuse of power over a single slave forced whites. In the book celia a slave melton mclaurin describes in great detail the true story of a female slave who murdered her master and then disposed of him by burning his body on june 23, 1855. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Mclaurin uses celias story to reveal the tensions that strained the fabric of antebellum southern society. Celia, a slavecelia, a slave, was probably born in missouri in 1836. He and his parasite moscapart slave, part servant, part lackeyenter the shrine where volpone keeps his gold. Celia, a slave summary and study guide supersummary. Celia, a slave quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes.
In the year 1850, a prosperous missouri farmer named robert newsom buys a teenaged slave named celia. The story is the perfect example of how relationships between slave and their masters and other nonblacks within the community. Celia, a slave ayjhoffman177 celia, a slave in the summer of 1855, a slave named celia committed a crime that would test the laws and precedents placed on slaves in missouri during this time period celia was only fourteen when purchased by a slave owner, robert newsom in 1850. Robert newsom is in many ways typical of his missouri community. For this reason, people in callaway county, missouriincluding those who would eventually become celias jurorswere themselves caught up in. Celias recorded history ends five and a half years. For female slaves, rape was an ever present threat and, far too often, a reality. Based on court records, correspondences and newspaper accounts past and present, celia, a slave is a powerful masterwork of passion and scholarship a stunning literary achievement that brilliantly illuminates one of the most extraordinary events in the long, dark history of slavery in america. Both a welltold historical narrative about a slave girl sexually exploited by her master, whom she later kills, and a thoughtful examination of the moral tensions that strained the fabric of the antebellum south. Celia, a slave summary from litcharts the creators of. Mclaurins celia offers readers a detailed study of the trial of a slave who was convicted and executed by the state of missouri in 1855 for murdering her master. The play opens at the house of volpone, a venetian nobleman. Mclaurin includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 8 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Celia, a slave characters from litcharts the creators of.
She killed the white master raping her, then claimed selfdefense celia was facing the gallows when she went on trial in 1855 for the murder of the white slave owner who had been. Celia, a slave study guide from litcharts the creators. Celia, a slave quotes showing 16 of 6 the sixman inquest jury assembled was composed of local residents, men whose lives strikingly resembled that of the murdered robert newsom. Very little is known about celia s life before she lived on newsoms property, but its known that when newsom bought her, she was fourteen years old. Celia s case demonstrates how one masters abuse of power over a single slave forced whites to make moral decisions about the nature of slavery. She killed the white master raping her, then claimed selfdefense celia was facing the gallows when she went on trial in 1855 for the murder of. Though initially and for most of the play he behaves in a servile manner towards volpone, mosca conceals a growing independence he gains as a result of the incredible resourcefulness he shows in aiding and abetting volpones confidence game. She is considered a sexual predator by roberts daughters, who believe that she has seduced their father.
Celia the voice of goodness and religiosity in the play, celia is the wife of corvino, who is extremely beautiful, enough to drive both volpone and corvino to distraction. Pdf downloads of all 1291 litcharts literature guides. On the night of november 11, celia and a fellow slave escape from jail. Nov 01, 1991 celia, a slave, a true story by melton a. Celia, a slave quotes from litcharts the creators of. Mclaurin uses celia s story to reveal the tensions that strained the fabric of antebellum southern society. Celia had been bought at the age of fourteen by a male slaveholder named robert newsom. Nicholas mcgee w1073395 history 320 fall 2012 how history exposes the system a significant portion of africanamerican history in the western new age democracy of the americas over the past four hundred years is a reminiscence of stories from the years when africanamericans were used as slaves on the plantations or farms of affluent, white. At the age of 14, celia was purchased by aging and prosperous widower john newsom. Find a summary of this and each chapter of celia, a slave. Illuminating the moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of a slaveholding society, this book tells the story of a young slave who was sexually exploited by her master and ultimately executed for his murder. Make and share flashcards and class lecture notes for free. And at the tender age of eighteen, the desperate and frightened young black.
This ruling is issued less than two years after celia, a slave, is hanged for murder. While there are too many historical events in the book to name, mclaurin notes the missouri compromise of 1820 and the bleeding kansas riots of the 1850s as being particularly important. It is based on the true story of celia, a slave who was bought and sexually molested by robert newsom, a resident of fulton township in calloway county, missouri. Get all the key plot points of melton mclaurins celia, a slave on one page.