From Page 23
"But what is wanted is strong black youths," the Captain excitedly, slapping Spark on his shoulder. "I won't have Ibos. They're soft as melons and kill themselves if they're not watched twenty-four hours a day. I will not put up with such creatures!"
This piece of dialogue is said by Captain Cawthorne when he is talking to the first mate Nicholas Spark when Jessie is meeting him for the first time right after being kidnapped. The dialogue is very powerful because it shows the Captain seeing the slaves as animals and "creatures" when he exclaims his last sentence. A reader can sense his ruthlessness and merciless character because he knows exactly what we wants when it comes to this trade and will do anything to get what he wants.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Symbolism
Passage from page 8
"...There was one pretty object in the room, a basket of colored spools of thread which sat on the sill of the window facing Pirate's Alley. By candlelight, the warmth of the colors made me think the thread would throw off a perfume like a garden of flowers.
But these spools were not used for our clothes. They were for the silks and muslins and laces which my mother made into gowns for the rich ladies of New Orleans to wear to their balls and receptions, their weddings and the baptism of their infants, and sometimes to their funerals..."
An important example of symbolism in The Slave Dancer would be the basket of colorful thread that is the symbolic thread of his family's life that binds them together and provides for the family. Because Jessie's mother is a dressmaker who sews clothing and dresses for the wealthy women of New Orleans, she relies on this thread to live and support her family, so they are fully dependent on the thread she uses to make a living. Also, according to the book, the colorfulness of the thread in the basket remind Jessie of the life he would like to have (the rich, the opulent, and colorful lifestyle), which is a sharp contrast to the dull, dreary walls that surround Jessie's home.
"...There was one pretty object in the room, a basket of colored spools of thread which sat on the sill of the window facing Pirate's Alley. By candlelight, the warmth of the colors made me think the thread would throw off a perfume like a garden of flowers.
But these spools were not used for our clothes. They were for the silks and muslins and laces which my mother made into gowns for the rich ladies of New Orleans to wear to their balls and receptions, their weddings and the baptism of their infants, and sometimes to their funerals..."
An important example of symbolism in The Slave Dancer would be the basket of colorful thread that is the symbolic thread of his family's life that binds them together and provides for the family. Because Jessie's mother is a dressmaker who sews clothing and dresses for the wealthy women of New Orleans, she relies on this thread to live and support her family, so they are fully dependent on the thread she uses to make a living. Also, according to the book, the colorfulness of the thread in the basket remind Jessie of the life he would like to have (the rich, the opulent, and colorful lifestyle), which is a sharp contrast to the dull, dreary walls that surround Jessie's home.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Irony
An important example of irony that author Paula Fox uses is to have the character act out or say something that is out of character when in reality the character is actually for the complete opposite of what he is claiming. For example, when Jessie first comes aboard The Moonlight, Benjamin Stout is the only crew member who shows kindness towards and "looks out" for Jessie. Yet, Jessie did not like Benjamin Stout and always felt an uneasy presence whenever he was around even though he acted kind on the surface. Instead, Jessie finds trust in Clay Purvis who is a rowdy, coarse, and rough man, but he feels a sort of kinship and safety when Purvis is around. The passage below illustrates the ironic twist of the role of trust in the setting and also Jessie's uncertainty. This passage is on pg 37.
"...That thought led me to wonder why I didn't like Benjamin Stout. I suprised myself...And Stout treated me kindly, showing me things the rest of the crew wouldn't have troubled themselves with, getting me extra helpings of rice and beef while Curry had his back turned, steaming away his brains over his cook stove.
But it was Purvis whom I was eager to see when I awoke in the morning, Purvis, with his horrible coarse jokes, his bawling and cursing, Purvis, whom I trusted."
Another important example of irony would be in this passage on page 82.
"Take you," he said. "How are your spirits?"
"...I feel this way and that way,'"I said, "but never the way I once did when I lived at home in New Orleans."
"I want a plain answer."
"I hate this ship!"I said with all the force I could, with what little courage I had in the face of Stout's menace.
...A second later, I saw his teeth gleam. "That must mean you hate me too."
"I didn't say so,"I said.
"Hatred poisons the soul,"he observed. "It is an incurable ailment."
This passage is highly ironic because it shows Jessie and Stout squaring off against each other, and then Stout stating that "Hatred poisons the soul. It is an incurable ailment." This is a very ironic statement because the whole ship reeks of hatred and prejudice towards the slaves, and Stout is one of the main epitomes of hatred and cruelty.
"...That thought led me to wonder why I didn't like Benjamin Stout. I suprised myself...And Stout treated me kindly, showing me things the rest of the crew wouldn't have troubled themselves with, getting me extra helpings of rice and beef while Curry had his back turned, steaming away his brains over his cook stove.
But it was Purvis whom I was eager to see when I awoke in the morning, Purvis, with his horrible coarse jokes, his bawling and cursing, Purvis, whom I trusted."
Another important example of irony would be in this passage on page 82.
"Take you," he said. "How are your spirits?"
"...I feel this way and that way,'"I said, "but never the way I once did when I lived at home in New Orleans."
"I want a plain answer."
"I hate this ship!"I said with all the force I could, with what little courage I had in the face of Stout's menace.
...A second later, I saw his teeth gleam. "That must mean you hate me too."
"I didn't say so,"I said.
"Hatred poisons the soul,"he observed. "It is an incurable ailment."
This passage is highly ironic because it shows Jessie and Stout squaring off against each other, and then Stout stating that "Hatred poisons the soul. It is an incurable ailment." This is a very ironic statement because the whole ship reeks of hatred and prejudice towards the slaves, and Stout is one of the main epitomes of hatred and cruelty.
Poem Relating to an Important Theme
"Confused Feelings"
by Alondra Gonzalez
Feeling of dread
Lost in a world of confusion and pain
Not knowing what to do anymore
Hurt from the unknown
Yearning for the impossible
Wanting to be with them
When nothing else matters
Other than to be within hearing distance of them
Lost from the world of joy
That was once a upon a time
Now it’s come to an ending
With nothing but complete disaster
There’s a times when you can only take so much
And now it’s the time
This heart has gone through too much
And has finally given up on this world
Its sorrow has confused it
And now it wants to give up
But can it…
Wouldn’t that be failure?
There are many important themes pertaining to The Slave Dancer such as survival, trust, imprisonment, and prejudice, but I think the most powerful theme would be the theme of guilt and confusion. Guilt is very much present throughout the novel, as all the characters in one way or another come to experience guilt for what they've done, what they've been doing, and what they could've done. Confusion is equally present throughout the novel because Jessie is at many times unable to decide who to trust, what to do, and which voice in his mind to follow.
This poem by Alondra Gonzalez communicates the message of the burdens of confusion, hopelessness, and loss. This poem relates to the theme of guilt and confusion in The Slave Dancer because Jessie's confusion becomes an obstacle and prevents him from seeing the truth and coming to terms with and acceptin himself and the actions he has to take to survive, even if they are morally contradicting to himself.
by Alondra Gonzalez
Feeling of dread
Lost in a world of confusion and pain
Not knowing what to do anymore
Hurt from the unknown
Yearning for the impossible
Wanting to be with them
When nothing else matters
Other than to be within hearing distance of them
Lost from the world of joy
That was once a upon a time
Now it’s come to an ending
With nothing but complete disaster
There’s a times when you can only take so much
And now it’s the time
This heart has gone through too much
And has finally given up on this world
Its sorrow has confused it
And now it wants to give up
But can it…
Wouldn’t that be failure?
There are many important themes pertaining to The Slave Dancer such as survival, trust, imprisonment, and prejudice, but I think the most powerful theme would be the theme of guilt and confusion. Guilt is very much present throughout the novel, as all the characters in one way or another come to experience guilt for what they've done, what they've been doing, and what they could've done. Confusion is equally present throughout the novel because Jessie is at many times unable to decide who to trust, what to do, and which voice in his mind to follow.
This poem by Alondra Gonzalez communicates the message of the burdens of confusion, hopelessness, and loss. This poem relates to the theme of guilt and confusion in The Slave Dancer because Jessie's confusion becomes an obstacle and prevents him from seeing the truth and coming to terms with and acceptin himself and the actions he has to take to survive, even if they are morally contradicting to himself.
A Character's Quotes: Insight on Clay Purvis
These quotes are actually from the character of Clay Purvis who becomes acquaintances with Jessie and is the main person Jessie is able to trust on the ship. Purvis is an irishman and is depicted as an ignorant, rough, and abrasive pirate, but he has lived a hard life, so he often unconciously gives Jessie advice on many life matters. Purvis' sometimes indifference to certain events and experiences that others find revolting and shocking, are prime examples of his character and personality which are apparent in these quotes.
"You'll see some bad things, but if you didn't see them, they'd still be happening..."
Purvis says this as Jessie is being taken to the slave ship. Jessie is only thirteen, but as Purvis observes, he is not too young to see the harsh truths of life; his not knowing about them will not make them any less real.
"...they wouldn't have passed laws against slaving if they hadn't found something else as profitable...that's the way of things"
Purvis's observation expresses the sad truth behind the motives of the slave trade. He knows many things that Jessie eventually comes to know.
"You'll see some bad things, but if you didn't see them, they'd still be happening..."
Purvis says this as Jessie is being taken to the slave ship. Jessie is only thirteen, but as Purvis observes, he is not too young to see the harsh truths of life; his not knowing about them will not make them any less real.
"...they wouldn't have passed laws against slaving if they hadn't found something else as profitable...that's the way of things"
Purvis's observation expresses the sad truth behind the motives of the slave trade. He knows many things that Jessie eventually comes to know.
Conflicts
One of the most important conflicts in the novel is Jessie's internal struggles with the treatment of the slaves which impact his morals because he is unable to do anything about it vs his will for survival and his obedience of the crew and captain which enables him to remain alive, but he is still aprehended by the guitl of helping to handle the slaves. Here is a passage from pg 69 that illustrates the mixed feelings Jessie feels about the slaves and the burdens of moral ineptitude he faces.
"The slaves were all looking at the place where the woman had been thrown overboard. Sick and stooped, half-starved by now, and soiled from the rarely cleaned holds, they stared hopelessly at the empty horizon...I found a dreadful thing in my mind...I hated the slaves! I hated their shuffling, their howling, their very suffering! I hated the way they spat out their food upon the deck, the overflowing buckets, the emptying of which tried all my strength. I hated the foul stench that came from the holds no matter which way the wind blew, as though the ship itself were soaked with human excretment. I would have snatched the rope from Spark's hand and beaten them myself! Oh, God! I wished them all dead! Not to hear them! Not to smell them! Not to know of their existence!..."
This passage is important in illustrating the conflict because this is the perfect example of how Jessie feels empathy for the slaves from the way he notices their half-starved bodies, poor condition and hopelessness, but this passage also hints at the disdain Jessie feels toward the slaves for putting him in a position he does not want to be in, and the fact that he thinks the slaves are the cause of Jessie's own hopelessness. This passage depicts Jessie's misplacement of anger and fear and also illustrates his own bewildered and lost soul.
"The slaves were all looking at the place where the woman had been thrown overboard. Sick and stooped, half-starved by now, and soiled from the rarely cleaned holds, they stared hopelessly at the empty horizon...I found a dreadful thing in my mind...I hated the slaves! I hated their shuffling, their howling, their very suffering! I hated the way they spat out their food upon the deck, the overflowing buckets, the emptying of which tried all my strength. I hated the foul stench that came from the holds no matter which way the wind blew, as though the ship itself were soaked with human excretment. I would have snatched the rope from Spark's hand and beaten them myself! Oh, God! I wished them all dead! Not to hear them! Not to smell them! Not to know of their existence!..."
This passage is important in illustrating the conflict because this is the perfect example of how Jessie feels empathy for the slaves from the way he notices their half-starved bodies, poor condition and hopelessness, but this passage also hints at the disdain Jessie feels toward the slaves for putting him in a position he does not want to be in, and the fact that he thinks the slaves are the cause of Jessie's own hopelessness. This passage depicts Jessie's misplacement of anger and fear and also illustrates his own bewildered and lost soul.
Film Star and Persona relating to the Character
In the movie The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence's character of Katniss Everdee relates to the character of Jessie. For one, they are both young people who have lived very sheltered and narrow lives without experiences from outside their confines. Also, they are both caught in two very different horrible situations that leaves both of them scarred and forces them both to seek a higher value in themselves and test both their mental and physical limits. Also, they both are caught in a battle to survive, but are both also tested by their moral strength as their morals decrease their possibilities of survival. For example, Katniss has a strong desire to survive and win the game for her little sister, but at the same time she battles with herself over the killing of people and also the killing of Peeta, who is from her district and whom she knows personally. For Jessie, he is caught in a battle between his survival and his empathy for the slaves, which he knows will get him into danger because of the mutinous crew and cruel captain. Both Jessie and Katniss both emerge out of their respective situations as different people and have grown and matured more than their age.
Conversation between a Character and a Reporter
Reporter: Hello, Mr. Bollier. I would like to ask you some questions pertaining to your experience on The Moonlight. I know this incident happened more than twenty years ago, but I want you to answer my questions as accurately as you can. Ready?
JB: Yes, I would be glad to.
Reporter: From right now looking back, what can you tell me impacted you the most on that ship?
JB: The slaves and the dehumanization of the captives really impacted me and it caused me to even rethink my own morals and the innocent view I had on slavery before any of it happened. I was just another thirteen year old boy who lived within the confines of my mother's boundaries and nothing hit me as shocking or as dehabilitating as the treatment of the slaves and the fact that I indirectly took a part in the happenings.
Reporter: And how exactly did you take part in the handling of slaves on the ship?
JB: Well, as you know I was kidnapped and taken onboard The Moonlight to play for the slaves and for the entertainment of the crew. The crew needed someone who could play music, so the slaves could get their daily exercise and dance to the tunes I would play on my fife.
Reporter: Do you still have that fife?
JB: No, it perished along with everything else when the big storm came.
Reporter: Is there anything else you want to add?
JB: Well, actually, there is one thing that still haunts me to this day.
Reporter: And what is that?
JB: Music. I honestly can't stand listening to any music at all. The fife still haunts me as well as any musical note or tune.
JB: Yes, I would be glad to.
Reporter: From right now looking back, what can you tell me impacted you the most on that ship?
JB: The slaves and the dehumanization of the captives really impacted me and it caused me to even rethink my own morals and the innocent view I had on slavery before any of it happened. I was just another thirteen year old boy who lived within the confines of my mother's boundaries and nothing hit me as shocking or as dehabilitating as the treatment of the slaves and the fact that I indirectly took a part in the happenings.
Reporter: And how exactly did you take part in the handling of slaves on the ship?
JB: Well, as you know I was kidnapped and taken onboard The Moonlight to play for the slaves and for the entertainment of the crew. The crew needed someone who could play music, so the slaves could get their daily exercise and dance to the tunes I would play on my fife.
Reporter: Do you still have that fife?
JB: No, it perished along with everything else when the big storm came.
Reporter: Is there anything else you want to add?
JB: Well, actually, there is one thing that still haunts me to this day.
Reporter: And what is that?
JB: Music. I honestly can't stand listening to any music at all. The fife still haunts me as well as any musical note or tune.
Two Colors that Relate to the Character
Two colors that relate to Jessie Bollier are gray and yellow. Gray represents the fact that all the characters in the novel are neither completely good or bad, and that they all have different characteristics about them that adhere to both. Jessie can be considered the epitome of the mix between black(bad) and white(good) because he constantly stuggles throughout the novel to follow through with his morals, but he knows that it isn't entirely possible if he wants to survive and not fall victim to the situation. Gray also represents Jessie's middle groundedness because he doesn't want to treat the slaves harshly, but at the same time he wants to remain on the safe side with the rough crew in order to be protected and safe, so Jessie is generally not biased or sided when it comes to taking stances in certain situations.
The color yellow also relates to Jessie because he is trying to find a guiding light that will help him to discover himself, so in my opinion the color yellow repsents a savior and a bright entity that shines through even during the darkest of times. Also, yellow is the color of the sun and the sun never fails to rise every morning and is a meaningful example of consistency, as well as a symbol loyalty and continuety.
Famous Artwork that Relates to the Character
"The Slave Ship"
J. M. W. Turner
This famous piece by British painter J. M. W. Turner was first exhibitted in 1840 and is a classic example of a romantic landscape painting. Turner's painting depicts a slave ship sailing in the background against a tumultous sea of waves that sweep and scatter human forms into the water. The painting is supposed to depict an oncoming typhoon consuming the slaves and the crew against a deep-red sunset. This painting emits an intensity of blending colors.
This art relates to Jesse Bollier because it shows an illustration of what he has to go through toward the end of the book, when he finally escapes to freedom during a violent storm which destroys the ship and moons the crew and slaves. The storm or typhoon can also represent Jesse's storm of internal conflicts that he has to battle through and his constant struggle to find himself amidst the different obstacles. This can be represented by the painting through the intense explosion of colors. Also, the body forms in the water represent all the death and cruelty Jesse witnesses and experiences aboard The Moonlight, and the fact that he is one of only two survivors of the violent storm that sunk the ship.
Important Passage that Relates to the Character
Excerpts from pgs. 125-126
"There were signs brooding looks from my mother, Betty's way of speaking softly to me as though I was an invalid, and most startling, the change in Aunt Agatha who treated me now with affection and never called me a bayou lout..."
"I was back in my life, but I was not the same. When I passed a black man, I often turned to look at him, trying to see in his walk the man he had once been before he'd been driven through the dangerous heaving surf to a long boat, toppled into it, chained, brought to a waiting ship all narrowed and stripped for speed, carried, through storms, and the bitter brightness of sun-filled days to a place, where if he had survived, he would be sold like cloth..."
"At first, I made a promise to myself: I would do nothing that was connected ever so faintly with the importing and sale and use of slaves. But I soon discovered that everything I considered bore, somewhere along the way, the imprint of black hands..."
These passages from pages 125 and 126 of The Slave Dancer are important to consider because they illustrate the profound impacts the slave ship experiences have had on Jesse and also the effects of how his changes and growth affect everybody else. In many ways, the maturation and realizations that he has achieved cause him to think at a higher degree compared to when he was still a young and innocent boy before The Moonlight. These passages give examples on how Jesse's course of thought changes from sheltered to mature and the fact that he is still haunted by the memories of the slaves, the profound effects the experiences has had on his morals, the way he thinks about things in a way he has never considered before, and finally being the new person he is.
"There were signs brooding looks from my mother, Betty's way of speaking softly to me as though I was an invalid, and most startling, the change in Aunt Agatha who treated me now with affection and never called me a bayou lout..."
"I was back in my life, but I was not the same. When I passed a black man, I often turned to look at him, trying to see in his walk the man he had once been before he'd been driven through the dangerous heaving surf to a long boat, toppled into it, chained, brought to a waiting ship all narrowed and stripped for speed, carried, through storms, and the bitter brightness of sun-filled days to a place, where if he had survived, he would be sold like cloth..."
"At first, I made a promise to myself: I would do nothing that was connected ever so faintly with the importing and sale and use of slaves. But I soon discovered that everything I considered bore, somewhere along the way, the imprint of black hands..."
These passages from pages 125 and 126 of The Slave Dancer are important to consider because they illustrate the profound impacts the slave ship experiences have had on Jesse and also the effects of how his changes and growth affect everybody else. In many ways, the maturation and realizations that he has achieved cause him to think at a higher degree compared to when he was still a young and innocent boy before The Moonlight. These passages give examples on how Jesse's course of thought changes from sheltered to mature and the fact that he is still haunted by the memories of the slaves, the profound effects the experiences has had on his morals, the way he thinks about things in a way he has never considered before, and finally being the new person he is.
Famous Poem that Relates to the Character
"Self-Knowledge XVII"
by Khalil Gibran
And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge."
And he answered, saying:
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.
The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.
Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth."
Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.
And he answered, saying:
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.
The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.
Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth."
Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.
This moving poem written by Khalil Gibran represents the discovery of oneself and the realization of one's self-value. Because the main character Jesse Bollier is only a boy of thirteen when the novel takes place, he is still a bit naive and unable to grasp the fullness of life until the burdens are thrust upon him when he is thrown aboard the Moonlight. At first, Jesse is bewildered by this unexpectant twist and mishap and becomes defiant, helpless, and distrusful, but when Jesse is forced to play his fife for the slaves on the ship and is made to experience the cruel plight of the slaves, he is heavily burdened by his morals, his instinct for survival, and his desire to return home. Subsequently, he realizes that in order to survive and return home, he must seek to discover his life and fate. Along the way, he ends up developing a complicated friendship with another crewmate, Purvis, who is the last person in the world Jesse thought he would ever be associating with. However, these experiences altogether along with the connection of the music he makes for the slaves, his moral compass, and his new sense of self, help him to grow into a man and shape and change his perception forever. In the end, Jesse Bollier recognizes the importance of self-value, comes to value trust and the desire for survival, and then he discovers his true self.
All the highlighted parts of this poem relate to all of Jesse's internal struggles and his desire to triumph morally and also to survive. These parts refer to his inability to realize what he wants and what he needs and the fact that the answers to his internal troubles are not coming to him in a more clear way, which is obviously frustrating for him. Also, the last three highlighted lines refer to Jesse unconciously limiting himself to perceptions that he grew up with, and one major milestone he has to overcome is his inability to see things in a different light and to not limit himself only to what his mother decided not to shield him from as a child.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Song Lyrics Relating to The Slave Dancer
"Discovering the Truth"
by Averi
I try not to let these realizations by.
Because with time they wipe the innocence from my eyes.
Now the days are so much longer and the nights they seem so restless.
Feelings come with clutter to weigh heavy on my chest.
I feel I might have almost slipped this skin.
I fear that it's easier now for you to get in.
The innocence was swept out from under us.
Perceptions change when they turn the lights on.
The years bring out the things I try to hide.
It gets harder to ignore the once invisible,
When truth comes, beside age and destroys what I thought was invincible.
I could never go back and start it all again.
There's too much clutter here without the ignorance.
I feel I might have almost slipped this skin.
I fear that it's easier now for you to get in.
The innocence was swept out from under us.
Perceptions change when they turn the lights on.
The years bring out the things I try to hide.
I just wish it wasn't such a slap in the face.
In The Slave Dancer, Jesse Bollier is kidnapped and stuck in a situation that leaves him unable to see the world in the same light again. He is constantly on the verge of life and death and is caught between his morals and his natural instincts in order to return home safetly. Throughout the whole ordeal, Jesse matures and realizes the savage horrors of a very real world his mother tried to shield from him. Jesse rediscovers the truth behind the cruel rawness of the slave trade without overlooking anything, something he was never able to do before, and in doing so he returns home a changed man. The four highlighted lines of lyrics represent and relate to Jesse's struggles with himself, his loyalty to the crew, and his ravaged innocence.
While kidnapped and brought to The Moonlight, a slave ship, Jesse is unable to escape the horrible experiences with the slaves being brought aboard and this is what the first highlighted line indicates when it mentions the innocence being wiped away. The second highlighted line of lyrics refer to Jesse's conflict of loyalty between two emerging sides on board the slave ship, and the burdens he has to carry when he is unable to decide between certain decisions he has to make, both internal and external. The third highlighted line represents Jesse finally discovering the reality and truth of slavery by experiencing the calamity firsthand. With a different role and point of view while on the ship, Jesse's perception changes and he is no longer narrow-minded and naive when it comes to slavery. The last highlighted line refers to when after Jesse's perception changes, he goes home but never sees the world in the same light again. It is implied at the end of the book that Jesse lives his life as a changed person and is haunted by his memories of the ship.
by Averi
I try not to let these realizations by.
Because with time they wipe the innocence from my eyes.
Now the days are so much longer and the nights they seem so restless.
Feelings come with clutter to weigh heavy on my chest.
I feel I might have almost slipped this skin.
I fear that it's easier now for you to get in.
The innocence was swept out from under us.
Perceptions change when they turn the lights on.
The years bring out the things I try to hide.
It gets harder to ignore the once invisible,
When truth comes, beside age and destroys what I thought was invincible.
I could never go back and start it all again.
There's too much clutter here without the ignorance.
I feel I might have almost slipped this skin.
I fear that it's easier now for you to get in.
The innocence was swept out from under us.
Perceptions change when they turn the lights on.
The years bring out the things I try to hide.
I just wish it wasn't such a slap in the face.
In The Slave Dancer, Jesse Bollier is kidnapped and stuck in a situation that leaves him unable to see the world in the same light again. He is constantly on the verge of life and death and is caught between his morals and his natural instincts in order to return home safetly. Throughout the whole ordeal, Jesse matures and realizes the savage horrors of a very real world his mother tried to shield from him. Jesse rediscovers the truth behind the cruel rawness of the slave trade without overlooking anything, something he was never able to do before, and in doing so he returns home a changed man. The four highlighted lines of lyrics represent and relate to Jesse's struggles with himself, his loyalty to the crew, and his ravaged innocence.
While kidnapped and brought to The Moonlight, a slave ship, Jesse is unable to escape the horrible experiences with the slaves being brought aboard and this is what the first highlighted line indicates when it mentions the innocence being wiped away. The second highlighted line of lyrics refer to Jesse's conflict of loyalty between two emerging sides on board the slave ship, and the burdens he has to carry when he is unable to decide between certain decisions he has to make, both internal and external. The third highlighted line represents Jesse finally discovering the reality and truth of slavery by experiencing the calamity firsthand. With a different role and point of view while on the ship, Jesse's perception changes and he is no longer narrow-minded and naive when it comes to slavery. The last highlighted line refers to when after Jesse's perception changes, he goes home but never sees the world in the same light again. It is implied at the end of the book that Jesse lives his life as a changed person and is haunted by his memories of the ship.
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