Celia: Examining How Female Slaves Suffered Differently in the Antebellum South - Essay Sample

Introduction

From the book entitled ''Celia'' by Melton McLaurin, there is the use of the story of Celia, a woman slave, to show the adversities as well as how female slaves, both blanks and Whites, were affected by slavery differently compared to male slaves. It can be established that the story was set in the Antebellum South, where the institution of slavery was highly upheld even by the existing laws and court systems (Melton, 12). Slaves, more especially women, had their rights as human beings suppressed for the institution of slavery to exist as required by the slave masters and the entire White Community. Therefore, female slaves were affected differently than men.

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First, female slaves were acquired mostly to satisfy the sexual pleasure of their male masters. Such can be observed in the case of Celia the slave woman owned by Robert Newsom. While he purchased George, the male slave to chiefly carry out farm working activities, however, he purchased Celia to act as his concubine(Melton,16). It can be noted that Robert Newson purchased Celia following his wife's death a region of a year ago. Having acquired Celia, who was fourteen years at the time of the acquisition, he raped and molested her continually for five years, up to the Saturday night of June 23, 1885, when she hit him to death after forcing her to have se with him (Melton, 38). Therefore, it is evident that their masters primarily considered female slaves as sex machines, unlike the male slaves, tasked with farming activities.

Besides, it can be observed that female slaves were considered more as properties of their masters compared to male slaves. Such can be observed in the case of a mother and daughter, two female slaves owned by a Southerner named senator James Henry Hammond who had sexual relations with both of them (Melton, 22). He could then proceed and give them to his son to have sex with the two of them, hence reducing the two female slaves from their roles as workers to properties being used by their masters in whichever way they wished.

Moreover, slavery affected women by the unfair legislation that did not protect them. In Antebellum South, any rapes and molestation that could be made by the slave masters their female slaves were treated as trespass and not a crime (Melton,16). Such can be observed in the case of Celia whom after killing her master, Robert Newson, for forcefully demanding for sex, could still be charged with the reasoning that he had not committed any crime (Melton, 24). It was argued that he was a slave owner who had trespassed over his property and thus had committed no crime. Therefore, Celia was convicted guilty of the crime. Therefore, it can be observed that slavery affected slave women, where the laws enacted did not protect their rights against sexual abuse.

Finally, female slaves were considered given kitchen activities unlike their male counteracts, alongside being considered by the White community as sensual and promiscuous who should be treated with contempt. Such can also be observed in the case of Celia. She could cook for Robert Newsom and his family, the activities not done by male slaves such as George (Melton, 34). Also, she could be treated with contempt by Virginia and Mary, Robert's daughters, when she asked for their help as she was pregnant of their father (Melton, 32). Such treatments were not meted on male slaves owned by Robert, an indication that female slaves were the only ones who suffered the fates. Therefore, female slaves were reduced to kitchen activities, considered sensual and promiscuous, and thus hated compared to male slaves.

Works Cited

Melton, A M. L. Celia, a Slave. , 2011. Internet resource.