19th Century Rural New England Family Essay

nineteenth Century rural New England family was a bulge of slave-master transactionhip that affected all facets of American socio-cultural life. The narrative of Frederick Douglass describe that racial relationships between a slave woman and male master were customary simply these relationships neer got any social or religious sanctity. Douglass personation of his m some other clearly indicates the relationship with her master provided no solace to him however rather aggravated her pathos and miseries.It further manifest that such relationships were non based on any mutual warmth only when were a manifestation of gratification of their (masters) wicked desires profitable as well as pleasurable. (p. 166) The slave child, production of this relationship, was non entitled to any privileges or rights, socially or legally. So it was quite likely that the children of slave women shall in all cases follow the conditions of their mothers (p. 167)These slave children were withal d eprived of maternal devotion as it was a common custom, in the divulge of Maryland, to part children from their mothers at a in truth early age. Frequently, before the child had reached its twelfth month, its mothers is taken from it, and hired out on some farm a considerable distance off (p. 165) The mother-children relations were cordial but they were not allowed to meet quite often as Douglass himself saw his mother 5 or six times during her lifetime.See moreThe 3 Types of banter EssayThe relationship never developed as there was very little communication between mothers and their children. These children were also kept ignorant of their birthdates and parentage. They were also shorn of basic necessities of life like clothing, lodging and nutrition. Furthermore, these slave-children were subjected to amplified hardship as compared with other slaves because they were a constant offence to their mistress. This also highlights that 19th century rural family of New England was n ot solely patriarchal but women had immense influence in the affair of household.For example, Douglass writes, The master is frequently compelled to dole out this class of his slaves, out of deference to the feeling of his white wife. (p. 166) Similarly, relationship with other member of his parental family were used to be bumpy and they were used to sustain harsh treatment and whipping by their white brothers quite frequently. in that respect was no intimacy between slave brothers and sisters and their mutual relationship never developed due the absence of a central tie i. e. parentage.On the other hand, it is illustrated that the role of slave woman in the community were throttle to heavy toil and labor at plantations, fulfillment of masters lusts and sexual desires whenever needed. Their emotional, psychological and mental health was never taken into consideration. The relations of these slave girls and slave children to the community were totally utilitarian and totalitarian as they were used as tool to increase the agricultural production and to occupy the savage desires and habitual formations of the masters respectively.These slaves were regarded as an entity that was included in their (masters) office rights and were sanctioned by socio-legal system. So in the wide social perspective, slaves acted as economic instruments and this subordination was characterized not only by commercial necessities but also by psychological phenomenon i. e. to satisfy the human propensities by subjecting them harsh punishments.