John Brown’s Body · Chapter
Prelude explained
The Prelude depicts a conversation between a slave ship captain and his young mate as they manage the human cargo in the hold.
What happens
The Prelude depicts a conversation between a slave ship captain and his young mate as they manage the human cargo in the hold. The captain justifies the slave trade through religious texts, while the mate struggles with the stench and horror below deck. The chapter ends with the mate seeking relief on deck, haunted by the experience.
Themes in this chapter
Slavery and Racial Injustice
The chapter graphically portrays the dehumanization and suffering of enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage, highlighting the moral corruption of the trade.
Myth and Memory
The captain's self-justification and the mate's haunting memories illustrate how myth and selective memory shape the narrative of the slave trade.
Characters to notice
- Spade
The mate, referred to as 'Mr. Mate,' is the young officer who inspects the hold and is deeply affected by the conditions.
- Mr. Bristol
The captain, who reads the Bible and justifies the slave trade as the Lord's work.
Key passages
“The trade's no damn perfume-shop.”
The slave trade is a brutal business, not a pleasant one.
The captain acknowledges the harsh reality of the slave trade.
“I get my sailing-orders from the Lord.”
I believe God commands me to engage in this trade.
The captain uses religion to justify his actions.