# Death of the Parson explained — Clotel

> Chapter companion for Clotel by William Wells Brown.

## What happens

Mr. Peck dies suddenly of cholera, leaving Georgiana an orphan. Carlton remains to comfort her, and they overhear the enslaved people singing a jubilant song about the parson's death, revealing their hidden feelings. Georgiana defends their expressions as a lesson in the injustice of slavery.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy of American Democracy

Carlton and Georgiana discuss how even 'kind' slavery is unjust, highlighting the gap between American ideals and the reality of bondage.

### Dehumanization and Commodification

Georgiana describes how slavery crushes the slave as a rational being, yet the innate desire for freedom persists.

### Heroism and Resistance

The enslaved people's song openly celebrates the death of their oppressor, a form of covert resistance and expression of defiance.

## Character check-ins

### Georgiana Carlton

Grieves her father's death but recognizes the enslaved people's lack of grief as a sign of slavery's wrongs; defends their impromptu song as a lesson.

### Mr. Carlton

Remains with Georgiana after Peck's death; initially shocked by Sam's deceptive behavior but comes to understand the systemic deception of slavery.

### Sam

Leads the enslaved people in a celebratory song about Peck's death, then resumes a solemn demeanor when serving in the house.

### Mr. Peck

Dies of cholera; his death prompts the enslaved people's hidden joy and Georgiana's reflections on slavery.

## Key lines

> Old master has died, and lying in his grave, And our blood will awhile cease to flow; He will no more trample on the neck of the slave; For he's gone where the slaveholders go.

The enslaved people sing that their master's death means an end to his brutal oppression, and they believe he has gone to a place reserved for slaveholders.

_This song reveals the deep resentment and relief felt by the enslaved upon the death of a harsh master._

> You may put him under any process which, without destroying his value as a slave, will debase and crush him as a rational being; you may do this, and the idea that he was born to be free will survive it all.

No matter how much you try to degrade a slave, the innate belief in freedom cannot be destroyed.

_Georgiana articulates the unquenchable human spirit for liberty despite systemic dehumanization._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clotel_se/chapters/xvi-death-of-the-parson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clotel_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clotel_se/chapters