Amazing Grace or Disgrace?
analytical Essay
1211 words
Imagine living in the 1700s when slavery was a normal part of people’s everyday lives. Would you be for slavery, or against it? People in today’s society would denounce slavery as cruel or inhumane. But in the eighteenth century, most of the western society accepted slavery and the slave trade. It took heroic efforts be brave, dedicated political leaders to eventually turn the tables. Amazing Grace is a historical film that depicts the life and work of British politician and abolitionist campaigner William Wilberforce. The film takes place in Britain between 1780 and the early 1800s, during which Wilberforce was working to write and pass a bill to abolish the slave trade. While watching this historical film, one might automatically assume that the events presented accurately illustrate Wilberforce and his work to abolish the trade of enslaved Africans. After much research and speculation, it can be determined that most of the scenes, people and history depicted in this film were for the most part accurately portrayed. However, filmmakers ignored small details, such as dates and important background information, and chose to make severe changes to the overall plot of the story that altered the historical accuracy of the film as a whole.
Beginning as a popular and determined Member of Parliament, or MP, William Wilberforce was eventually persuaded by his friends William Pitt, Thomas Clarkson, and Olaudah Equiano to fight the dangerous issue of the British slave trade. Taking on a sudden interest in the matter, Wilberforce became very disliked within the House of Commons amongst the other MPs in favor of the slave trade. Because of this unpopularity, as well as his stress and frustration with the British Parliament, Wilberforce be...
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...he National Centre for History. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. .
Amazing Grace Dir. Michael Apted. Perf. Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney. Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2006.
Laurier, Joanne. "Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Struggle to End the British Slave Trade." World Socialist Web Site. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. .
Rogers, Al. "Amazing Grace: The Story of John Newton." Anointed Christian Links - Each with a Jar of Anointing Oil. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. .
"The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The 18th Century: Topic 2: Texts and Contexts." Home | W. W. Norton & Company. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. .
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the film amazing grace depicts the life and work of british politician and abolitionist campaigner william wilberforce.
- Narrates how wilberforce was persuaded by his friends william pitt, thomas clarkson, and olaudah equiano to fight the dangerous issue of the british slave trade.
- Analyzes how wilberforce is projected as a flawless character with nothing but greatness thrust upon him. the film fails to fully recognize the other heroic political figures that assisted william with his bill.
- Analyzes how the hymn "amazing grace" was appropriately sung multiple times throughout the duration of the film. the tune was not put with the verses until about 1830, almost 20 years after wilberforce's bill was passed.
- Explains that when john newton and william wilberforce are reunited in 1790 for the second time, john has gone completely blind and is being assisted with writing his confession.
- Analyzes how the filmmakers struggled with accuracy and precision of specific dates and times of historical happenings, but also left out the significance of important characters throughout the film.
- Analyzes the inaccuracies of amazing grace, stating that the film relies on stereotypes and the audience's prior knowledge rather than the building of complex plots or characters.
- Analyzes how amazing grace fails to examine the complex set of global dynamics that created the sense that slavery was morally unsustainable.
- Cites a review of the movie 'amazing grace' by michael apted, perf. ioan gruffudd, romola garai, benedict cumberbatch, albert finney.
- Describes the norton anthology of english literature: the 18th century: topic 2: texts and contexts.
Related
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- Abolishment Of Slaveryexplanatory essayAs this essay has shown that although there were a number of different people involved in the struggle for abolition; William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp and British women had the biggest impact on achieving the goal of the abdication of the slave trade.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that wilberforce was one of the most influential individuals when it came to the emancipation of slaves in britain.
- Explains that the late 18th and early 19th centuries were important for the abolition of slavery in britain and the british colonies.
- Explains that wilberforce had to demonstrate that africans had the ability to sustain a well-ordered society and had human and economic abilities beyond the slave trade.
- Explains the irony with women's involvement in the abolition of slavery was that women in britain had limited rights themselves.
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- Explains walker, barrington, "slavery and anti-slavery in the age of the american revolution."
- Analyzes how images a and b represent two periods of slavery during the antebellum south carolina.
- Analyzes how the advertisement was posted in the south carolina gazette with the main goal of attracting owners of rice and cotton plantations.
- Analyzes how image a represents the manner of slavery before abolition had set in in south carolina.
- Explains that image b was drawn in 1863 when slavery was abolished by those in the north and eventually the south of america.
- Analyzes how the image shows two white children and one black child interacting on an equal level compared to how those older than them did.
- Analyzes how image a and image b show the two periods of antebellum south carolina. image a is an impersonal advertisement with no sentiments other than to make a profit off the sale of the slaves.
- Explains handler, jerome, and michael tuite's "advertisement for slave sale, charleston, south carolina, 1760."
- Analyzes handler, jerome, and michael tuite's the atlantic slave trade and slaves life in the americas: a visual record.
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In this essay, the author
- Opines that wilberforce's "the african slave trade" expresses his concern about slavery by taking it to the house of commons.
- Analyzes how wilberforce emphasizes on the abolition of slave trade to end this "evil"
- Analyzes wilberforce's view that the british are the evil because of the damage they have caused against the africans.
- Analyzes how wilberforce says britain is their own enemies, and that it is hypocritical that one calls africans brutes when it was the british that invoked them to behave a certain way.
- Analyzes wilberforce's view that money is part of evil because britain went to africa, finding africans, and then the british merchants would sell them.
- Concludes that wilberforce opened up his opinions about the abolition of slave trade to the house of commons and uses facts that he gathered to fight back.
530 wordsRead More - Slave Trade in 1807analytical essay... ideologies which resulted in the anti-slavery stance which was integral for political reform. The abolition of the slave trade did not result in the immediate emancipation of slavery, the role of individuals who worked tirelessly with the development of campaigning techniques such as, mass petitioning, door-to-door campaigning, public meetings and the gathering of evidence were extremely valuable to the anti-slavery movement. Even still this process was a long one, and one that involved ordinary people, resistance from slaves themselves and pressure groups. Beliefs and ideologies, were therefore, the most fundamental factor for the abolition of both the Atlantic slave trade (1807) and slave emancipation (1833). The position of parliament and the enactments which resulted were heavily influenced by the beliefs and ideas of people who collectively made a difference.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the influence of enlightenment, non-conformists, individuals, and resistance from slaves themselves, as well as attitudes concerning the atlantic slave trade and slavery from different perspectives.
- Explains that enlightenment thinkers were instrumental in debates in which reason and intellect were dominant. they believed that individuals had the capacity to improve both themselves, and their environment.
- Analyzes how anthology 4.4 (a) and (b) provides definitions of slavery and the slave trade. they argue that slavery is not necessary for the success of colonies and that abolition would not be detrimental to colonies.
- Explains that protestant evangelicalism was powered by enlightened thinking. missionaries like william knibb were influential in promoting christianity, while slavery obstructed this process.
- Explains that anti-slavery sentiment developed and sects emerged from evangelicalism, despite disagreements on certain doctrinal topics. a committee united individuals from different classes in society, such as tradesmen and upper-class evangelicals.
- Analyzes how edward long (1774) believed slaves in the caribbean were better off than the poor in england as well as the africans.
- Analyzes how elizabeth heyrick's pamphlet contributes to the debate of gradual emancipation.
- Analyzes how a committee to abolish the slave trade was established in 1787, where the debate regarding gradual or immediate emancipation continued.
- Explains that the committee funded the production of pamphlets compiled by clarkson and allowed him to gather evidence. public agitation was an expected outcome from members of the commission.
- Explains that the french revolution provided an ideal setting which stimulated those who wished to end slavery with ideas concerning liberty and equality.
- Analyzes how adam smith, scottish political economist, put free labour as the main focus of their argument. smith condemned slavery, believing it was not beneficial in the context of economy and furthermore was evil to force another to work.
- Explains that smith's assertions were utilised by those who wished the slave trade abolished. it gained support from economists, officials, and legislators.
- Explains that the pro-slavery faction, which included planters, agents and merchants, struggled to keep the slave trade and slavery operational.
- Explains that many individuals supported slavery on religious and economic grounds. they believed that ending slavery would be detrimental in the context of economy and politics.
1701 wordsRead More - Policy, Popular And Media Response To The Abolition Of The Slave Trade By Emma Watertonopinion essaySlavery always has been, and always will be, a sensitive subject for all races. As our society evolves we try to become more in-tune with other people’s thoughts and emotions on any and all subject matters. The main issues for Americans – to this day – is still slavery. However, the United States is not the only country still struggling with the past captivity of other human beings. In her article, Talking the talk: policy, popular and media responses to the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade using the ‘Abolition Discourse’”, Emma Waterton focuses on the issues of race, guilt, and identity that is an ever-growing theme in today’s cultural politics. She puts emphasis on the bicentenary of Britain’s abolition of the transatlantic
In this essay, the author
- Opines that if the media treated their job as what it was designed to be, an unbiased educational system, focusing on current events, the world would be filled with people more accepting of other’s thoughts and feelings on different topics.
- Analyzes how '2007 wilberfest' became a slap in the face of the african, african british, and african-caribbean people in britain.
- Analyzes how the skepticism for the "white man" never truly dies. people, especially those with ancestors that were slaves, will always have a chip on their shoulder.
- Opines that the abolition act of 1807 was put on the backburner due to it being an issue of the past that had since been solved.
- Opines that the media controls our lives and helps shape our opinions about anything from slavery to heidi klum wore to the emmy's.
- Opines that if the media would just share the facts like they're supposed to, the world would be a much better place.
1389 wordsRead More - appleanalytical essayThe period of colonization has brought wealth to the Europeans country and to their colonies. Many new products are discovered during these years and new markets are created. However, behind the glorious image of that time period, many activities that are consider immoral today are taken for granted at that time, and one of them, is the trade of slaves. Today, many novels that denounce and critic slavery or even slavers often refer at that time period, and The Book of Negro by Lawrence Hill is one of them. This book tells the amazing story of an African woman who is abducted and enslaved. In this book, the author condemned white people of the period of colonization for being untrustworthy, selfish and unhuman. This is shown by the fact that the antagonists depicted in this book are mostly white people. The Whitherspoons couple, lieutenant Waters and Appleby are some of these examples.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lawrence hill's the book of negro condemns white people of the period of colonization for being untrustworthy, selfish and unhuman.
- Analyzes how the whitherspoons are a condemnation of the white people in that time period.
- Analyzes how lieutenant waters condemns the white people of the period of in general. he and colonel abandon aminata while she was working for the british.
- Analyzes how appleby, the owner of the indigo plantation, condemns the white people for treating other man unhumanly and being dishonest.
- Concludes that uses the upper social class to illustrate the evilness of the white people in the era of slavery. the journey of aminata can never be successful without the help of many other black characters.
666 wordsRead More - Writing Assignment 3analytical essayThis final writing assignment reflection is for the time period closest to our modern times. These stories, narratives, articles, and speeches give insight into the treatment of slaves, as in Benjamin Drew’s The Refugee: Narrative of Fugitive Slaves in Canada Related by Themselves, the Mississippi Black Code, and George Fitzhugh’s The Blessing’s of Slavery. Even Frederick Douglass’s Independence Day Speech uses July fourth as a foundation for his argument against slavery. Slavery was a prominent topic of the society during this time period and it caused much debate. Furthermore, the Union and Confederate armies were also a topic of much debate. They disagreed on many views and they were fighting for their beliefs on slavery.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how these stories, narratives, articles, and speeches give insight into the treatment of slaves. frederick douglass' independence day speech uses july fourth as a foundation for his argument against slavery.
- Analyzes how benjamin drew's the narrative of escaped slaves shows the treatment of slaves as two women surveyed and experienced it.
- Explains that the mississippi black code discusses the civil rights of freedmen in mississippi and how the new laws extended some of the racist terms of pre-civil war slavery.
- Analyzes how fitzhugh's speech, the blessings of slavery, explores his own arguments in favor of slavery that support his claim that the negro slaves are happier than freed men because they do not have to worry about balancing their time.
- Analyzes how frederick douglass used the fourth of july as a basis for his argument against slavery in his independence day speech.
- Analyzes how the declaration of sentiments and resolutions, women’s rights convention, addresses the problems with the woman's position in marriage.
- Analyzes how the northern states used extreme tactics to destroy the southern states. they imposed taxes and costs for shipping and protection against their goods.
- Analyzes how johnson contributes to the confederate success in the battle and the disabilities of the union army. the articles show the hardships and struggles of men during this time period in history.
1405 wordsRead More - The Idea Of Equality In Thomas Jefferson's Freedom And Slaveryanalytical essayThis article discusses on how abolishing slavery and freeing all slaves was unjust and cruel to the slaves. The article goes on about a former slave from Boston who could not find work and has been cheated by many so called Abolitionists. The slave supposedly says that he would like to be a slave again if it meant having work and food again. This article tries to show the positives of slavery and why it is a good thing. Many people of today would dismiss this article but it is very important for it lets current readers and historians get a glimpse into the minds of slave owners and pro-slavery
In this essay, the author
- Explains that africans were not seen as people, but as property. they were a means to an end, such as crop workers, or easy labor towards fine cloth goods.
- Analyzes how harriet jacobs was made a slave by her owners when she was born. when equality is brought up in discussions, people must remember that all men are created equal.
- Explains that slaves are made by people declaring to own others. how can one truly own another’s life?
- Analyzes how the article titled "freedom and slavery" shows the positives of slavery and why it is a good thing.
1377 wordsRead More - In Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative And Other Writings?analytical essayOften in history classes, the discussion of the transatlantic slave trade and the lives of African slave conjures an image of someone working in a plantation to eventually die of mistreatment and hard labor. On the other hand, Olaudah Equiano’s “Interesting Narrative and Other Writings” depicts an autobiographical story that ends in an unexpected way from how history often depicted it. Throughout the autobiography, Equiano praises and celebrates certain parts of British culture that he idealized to the point of obsessed with it, but there are certain cultural practices and attitudes, particularly those from the Caribbean and Georgia in regards to slavery, that he detests and speaks out against.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how olaudah equiano's "interesting narrative and other writings" depicts an autobiographical story that ends in an unexpected way from how history often depicted it.
- Narrates how equiano lived in england during his service to captain pascal, where he developed his own ideal view of british culture and the people who lived there.
- Explains that they relished in their society and manners. they no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us, and had the stronger desire to resemble them.
- Analyzes how equiano created an image of english people based on the good treatment and sophistication of his encounters, which he compared to his ignorance of their culture. he lived in england and emulated its people throughout his transatlantic journey.
- Analyzes how equiano's narrative takes place either on board a ship or in the region of the caribbean (also known as the west indies).
- Analyzes how he was an ordained preacher, educated, and could afford to supplement the lack of supplies that the government had neglected. he promoted british economic interests and assumed that africans would adopt the better culture
- Analyzes how equiano celebrates an idealistic image of british culture, but detests the methods and attitudes in regards to the treatment of african slaves.
985 wordsRead More - Rumrich, John. P. (2006) Seventeenth-Century British Poetry. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that they will discuss john milton's ideas on sexuality and gender to deduct whether his representation of women in early modern literature can be seen as misogynistic.
- Opines that john milton was a highly educated man, political campaigner, and deeply revered thinker. his poetry and prose have been critiqued and studied by most, if not all those who show interest in the canon of literature.
- Explains that milton had a prolific influence on writers and critics in early modern literature. his religious and political ideas helped shape one of the most densely saturated eras of literary history.
- Analyzes the meaning of the word misogynist, which denotes fear of women, their sexuality and their power over men. in the 17th century, women were stigmatised as untrustworthy.
- Explains that there are numerous theories on the origin of misogyny. sigmund freud believed women were lesser of men and could not be understood, thus deviating from sexual ‘normality’.
- Explains that freudian theory isn't neutral about sexual differences but imposes meanings. it takes masculinity and male anatomy as the human standard; female anatomy are deviations from that standard.
- Analyzes how oedipus relates the idea that all male children harbour sexual desire for their mother, and as a result will strive to come back to the womb, killing the father
- Analyzes how psychoanalytically it can be seen as oedipal, with the unattainable mother as origin of a series of unsatisfactory surrogates.
- Analyzes how jaques lacan's "lack" of the phallus summed up womankind as wanting and without. psychodynamic theories overlook similarities between males and females, and instead emphasize differences.
- Analyzes how milton describes the entrance of paradise and the phallic symbols of the trees in the first view of eden.
- Analyzes how milton's language, describing what could be in reference to the female sexual organs, is thoroughly negative, "grotesque and wild" and in contrast to "stateliest view".
- Analyzes how eve tells adam of her making and how she first came into the world to meet him. this echoes ovid's narcissus, who stared into his watery reflection and fell in love with his own image.
- Narrates how an invisible voice leads her towards adam, “where i had fixed mine eyes till now and pined with vain desire had not a voice thus warned me: what thou seest, fair creature, is thyself.”
- Analyzes how milton's portrayal of eve as vain and self-interested shows a misogynistic view of her and of womankind.
- Analyzes how milton's contradictory account of eve is shown in its resplendent complexity throughout paradise lost.
- Explains that the idea that women were put on earth solely for the enjoyment and pleasure of men is not unique to paradise lost. the passive role of women was to please and to do it quietly.
- Analyzes how milton suggests the male "drone" giving positive connotation to "the female bee."
- Analyzes how milton's description of the role of a woman differs from other blatant instances.
- Analyzes how paradise lost exposes a misogynistic approach to women's roles in marriage.
- Argues that milton's ideas on a women' role in the marriage are seemingly conforming to religious patriarchy’s misogynist attitudes.
- Analyzes how diane k. mccolley argues that milton portrays in adam and eve’s marriage a “mutual respect” despite evidence to the contrary.
- Explains that ideas and reading change over time, thus creating more relevant readings. wittreich relates that eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century women applauded paradise lost as conducive to their honour and dignity.
- Analyzes the irony and contradiction in milton's portrayal of adam as protector and god on earth and ruler of mankind.
- Analyzes how milton establishes eve as the first human poet and challenges the objectivity of women in typical male love poetry by using pastoral imagery without hidden sexual agenda.
- Analyzes how aphra behn's poem 'on her loving two equally' creates irony in the power of the women by using typical submissive language.
- Analyzes how lady mary wroth wrote poetry to achieve a voice and an original image of love different from the quintessential male genderised views.
- Compares how rochester used female sexuality in his explicit poetry in a definitively misogynistic style. milton's deeply personal sonnet 23, evokes sadness mixed with delight.
- Opines that adams' role in the fall is not widely acknowledged as significant. if adam had insisted against eve's suggestion to part, he surely could have stopped the falling of mankind.
- Analyzes aemilia lanyer's poem salve deus rex judaeorum, which argues that knowledge was eve’s true downfall.
- Concludes that milton succeeded in releasing the chains of misogynistic temperament by radically changing the representation of eve from deceitful and sexualised to one of mutual sexuality.
- Opines that milton created his idealised view of marriage in paradise lost. he could have been more radical, but edmund spenser's the faerie queen shows women as virtuous and emphatic of their magnificence.
- Cites etymonline.com/index.php?search=misogyny&searchmode=none and poetry archive.org/b/on_her_loving_two_equal.html
- Cites hamilton, k.g., hare-mustin, rachel, t. maecek, jeanne, and christopher hill.
- Cites patrides, c. a., rumrich, john. p. and teskey, gordon.
2597 wordsRead More