What is the theme of Clotel?
What is the theme of Clotel?
In Clotel, the author focuses on the experiences of a slave woman: Brown treats the themes of gender, race, and slavery in distinctive ways, highlighting the mutability of identity as well as the absurdities and cruelties of slavery.
Why was Clotel written?
First published in December 1853, Clotel was written amid then unconfirmed rumors that Thomas Jefferson had fathered children with one of his slaves. The Virginian who buys Clotel falls in love with her, gets her pregnant, seems to promise marriage—then sells her.
How many pages is Clotel?
527 pages
Product information
| Publisher | Bedford/St. Martin’s; 1st edition (February 7, 2000) |
|---|---|
| Paperback | 527 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0312152655 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0312152659 |
| Item Weight | 1.2 pounds |
When was Clotel written?
1853
Clotel, in full Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in the United States, novel by William Wells Brown, first published in England in 1853.
What happens to Clotel?
Sadly, she is caught and thrown into prison. Clotel manages to escape the prison but cannot face life as a slave. She decides to commit suicide and drowns herself in the Potomac River. She dies only a mile away from the White House where, by right, she should have lived as the president’s daughter.
Who wrote Clotel?
William Wells Brown
Clotel Or The President’s Daughter/Authors
Clotel; or the President’s Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in the United States by William Wells Brown was published in 1853 in London. It is considered the first African American novel.
How long does it take to read Clotel?
5 hours and 3 minutes
The average reader will spend 5 hours and 3 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute). First published in December 1853, Clotel was written amid then unconfirmed rumors that Thomas Jefferson had fathered children with one of his slaves.
Where does Clotel take place?
Brown’s text includes a number of tragic mulatta (or mixed-race female) figures, although Currer, Althesa, and Clotel are the most prominent. The novel follows their three intersecting plot lines, which transpire in Natchez, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Richmond, Virginia.
Is Clotel a true story?
Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in the United States is an 1853 novel by United States author and playwright William Wells Brown about Clotel and her sister, fictional slave daughters of Thomas Jefferson.
Which is the best study guide for Clotel?
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “Clotel” by William Wells Brown. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
Who is the author of the book Clotel?
Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter, published in 1853 by former slave William Wells Brown, is considered the first African-American novel. Drawing on what were, in the 19th century, rumors that Thomas Jefferson had children with his slave Sally Hemings, the novel follows the slave Clotel and her family as they are sold to different masters.
How is slavery portrayed in the book Clotel?
Though Brown does not explicitly foreground the violation implied in such a relationship, he does reveal both slave owner’s indifference and the slaves’ humiliations. What Brown does portray, then, throughout Clotel is the pervasive, recurring victimization of black women under slavery.
Why is Clotel considered a novel of passing?
Drawing heavily upon the conventions of sentimental fiction, Clotel also is considered one of the earliest novels of passing—that is, a novel in which a character with African American heritage passes as white in order to escape slavery and/or enjoy greater opportunities.