In the following paper, the topic of the discussion will be on the ways the sexual politics of slavery had affected the condition of the women within the society. The book Celia, A Slave has been used for reference in this paper and the condition of Celia has been used as an example to depict the poor tortures that the women slaves had to bear within the society (McLaurin: 24). This condition was applicable to both the white and black skinned women in the society. The central character of the book was Celia who has very young and she had been exploited sexually by her master. In the book it has been mentioned that Celia had been the victim of the sexual tortures and finally compelled to kill her owner as she was unable to bear the tortures. Ultimately, Celia had been executed as she was found guilty for the murder of his owner or master.
In the book it has also been explained that Celia was the victim of the slavery system in the Southern states of the United States of America (McLaurin: 36). This is why she felt helpless and she had to kill her master Mr. Newsome. There had been several complicated constitutional and political issues within the issues within the country especially in the states of the South. The rise of slavery in these states was merely an outcome of these things in particular. According to some of the historians the slavery in the society had produced a ‘fundamental moral anxiety’. There had been several moral dilemmas related to slavery. These issues had been brought out in the book by the author. People would not be able to escape these realities from their daily lives indeed. The master of Celia, Mr. Newsome, had been regarded as one of the most respected citizens of the country and Callaway County in Missouri (McLaurin: 248).
In the relationship between the slave and the master was mainly based upon the sexual abuse that took was marked by the incorrigible tortures on her. Mr. Newsome had purchased Celia from a neighboring county and he raped her while they were coming back to their farmhouse. These incidents marked the fact that the lives of the women within the South American society had been largely at stake for several reasons indeed. As the story progressed, Celia got involved with another slave named George and she thought that she would end the relationship with her master but Newsome had refused to do it. She killed him and put his body in the fireplace (McLaurin: 56). This incident took her to the trial before the court. However, Celia had gained support from the attorneys appointed by the court.
Finally, it can be said that the practice of slavery in the southern states of USA proved to be fatal for the poor women slaves. However, the defense from the attorneys could not save her from being hanged though they had questioned in favor of Celia stating that even the slave women had the rights to save their honor. This marks the patriarchal dominance in the society over the poor slaves in the American society.
Reference List
McLaurin, Melton Alonza. Celia, a slave. University of Georgia Press, 1991.
