Analysis Of Harriet Wilson's Our Nig

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Harriet Wilson’s Our Nig illustrates the events of a young mulatto girl named Frado growing up as a servant in the North with Bellmont family during the time of slavery. Frado is abandoned by her mother, Mag Smith, at the estimated age of five. Immediately entering the house Frado is put to work. Despite being a simple and compliant servant, Frado is abused daily by Mrs. Bellmont. Prior to being abandoned, Frado’s mother, Mag, described Mrs. Bellmont as a “she-devil,” and commented that she could not keep servants due to her pretentious and difficult nature. Nonetheless, some of the other members of the Bellmont family become fond of Frado but can do little to help her escape Mrs. Bellmont’s fury. Not only that, Mrs. Bellmont must uphold the …show more content…

Her domineering nature is what is needed to assert not only herself as a lead woman of the house, but also in view of the community. Allowing a black child like Frado into her home and giving her housing in turn for work can be considered a “fair trade.” Frado is awarded a dog as a companion and an education, something most blacks during the time only dreamed of receiving. The beatings Mrs. Bellmont gives out, are simple disciplinary measures used to correct Frado’s inability to follow her direction. A woman as elite as Mrs. Bellmont must uphold the standard of having a perfect family that follows societal norms. This means keeping Frado in check in conjunction with her family. It does nothing to help the standard of eliteness if it is tainted by association with people of a lower class. This is seen with Mrs. Bellmont and her “invalid” daughter Jane and son Jack, who wish to marry for love and not money. To keep this standard of living, Mrs. Bellmonts’ action are justified. Her interference with her children’s lives and the treatment of Frado are all enforced to keep the facade of normalcy to the outside

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