Short Fiction · Chapter
The Song of the Slaves explained
Gender, a Charleston planter in 1853, leads a slave raid in Africa, capturing forty-nine men.
What happens
Gender, a Charleston planter in 1853, leads a slave raid in Africa, capturing forty-nine men. The slaves sing a threatening song about bewitching and killing him, which he tries to suppress through brutal whipping. The song persists, and Gender's fear grows. After boarding his ship, a British warship pursues them for slave trading, and Gender plans to escape under cover of darkness. Later, the undead slaves return to Gender's plantation, their song and presence driving him to a terrified flight toward the sea.
Themes in this chapter
Evil and Moral Corruption
Gender's greed and cruelty in hunting men for profit, his brutal whipping of slaves, and his moral blindness to the evil of slavery are central to the chapter.
The Power of Belief and Ritual
The slaves' song is a ritual of collective hate and belief, which Gender fears and which ultimately manifests as a supernatural force that returns to haunt him.
Supernatural Evil and Occultism
The undead slaves, with their wet, fish-gray skin and chains, return as supernatural beings to terrorize Gender, embodying the occult power of their curse.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Gender
The cruel Charleston planter who leads a slave raid in Africa, whips his captives for singing a threatening song, and later flees in terror from the undead slaves.
- Captain Dunlapp
The old slaver-captain commanding Gender's ship; he warns Gender about the dangers of keeping slaves in chains and the pursuit by a British warship.
- Silva
The lanky Portuguese assistant who translates the slaves' song for Gender and helps whip the captives.
Key passages
“Though you carry me away in chains, I am free when I die. Back will I come to bewitch and kill you.”
The slaves sing that even if they are taken in chains, death will free them and they will return to haunt and murder Gender.
This is the translation of the slave song that Gender finds threatening.
“They say that if they sing together, think together of one hate, all their thoughts and hates will become a solid strength—will strike and punish for them.”
Silva explains that the natives believe collective singing and focused hatred can create a tangible force that will attack their enemies.
This belief foreshadows the supernatural return of the slaves.
“I couldn't help but think that their prayer had force.”
Captain Dunlapp reflects on the power of collective worship, comparing it to the slaves' song.
Dunlapp suggests that group belief can have real, physical effects.