Our Nig · Chapter
X: Perplexities.—Another Death explained
After James's death, the family returns to their routines.
What happens
After James's death, the family returns to their routines. Mr. Bellmont, grieving and seeking righteousness, allows Frado to attend meeting again, but Mrs. Bellmont forbids further religious activity and threatens Frado. Frado resists a beating by asserting herself, leading to fewer whippings. Mary dies, and Frado reacts with irreverent relief. Mrs. Bellmont's grief is temporary, and her tyranny resumes. Frado considers running away or poisoning her mistress but decides to stay until she turns eighteen. Jane returns home but soon leaves with her family, abandoning Frado to her fate.
Themes in this chapter
Racial Oppression and Prejudice
Mrs. Bellmont's threat to whip Frado to death for seeking religion and Frado's internalized belief that no one would love her because she is black highlight the racial oppression she endures.
Hypocrisy of Christianity
Mrs. Bellmont, a professed Christian, forbids Frado from attending meeting and threatens her for religious devotion, while Mr. Bellmont acknowledges his complicity in depriving Frado of religious privileges.
Resilience and Survival
Frado asserts herself at the woodpile, gains a small victory, and decides to endure her servitude until she is eighteen, demonstrating her resilience.
Characters to notice
- Frado
Frado experiences a spiritual crisis after James's death, attends meeting, and is threatened by Mrs. Bellmont. She asserts herself at the woodpile, feels relief at Mary's death, and resolves to stay until she is eighteen.
- Mrs. Bellmont
Mrs. Bellmont forbids Frado from attending religious meetings, threatens to whip her to death, and is shocked when Frado resists. She grieves Mary's death but soon returns to her tyrannical behavior.
- Mr. Bellmont
Mr. Bellmont grieves James's death, resolves to seek righteousness, and advises Frado to avoid undeserved punishment. He is unable to protect her fully.
- Mary
Mary is absent for over a year, falls ill, and dies. Her death brings temporary grief to Mrs. Bellmont and relief to Frado.
- Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby sympathizes with Frado and Mr. Bellmont after Mary's death, but is disturbed by Frado's irreverent questions about Mary's fate.
- Jane
Jane returns home with her family but soon leaves for the West with Jack, unable to endure her mother's oppression, abandoning Frado.
Key passages
“Stop! strike me, and I'll never work a mite more for you;”
Frado warns Mrs. Bellmont that if she hits her, she will refuse to work any longer.
Frado's first major act of defiance against her mistress.
“She's dead, Aunt Abby!”
Frado announces Mary's death to Aunt Abby without any preamble.
Frado's blunt and relieved reaction to Mary's death.
“S'posen she goes to hell, she'll be as black as I am. Wouldn't mistress be mad to see her a nigger!”
Frado speculates that if Mary goes to hell, she will become black like Frado, and imagines Mrs. Bellmont's anger at seeing her daughter as a Black person.
Frado's irreverent and bitter commentary on race and damnation.