Class minutes 2-10

We began by discussing the question I (Amanda) posed in regard to Fern Elston and her disapproval in regard to her family moving north and passing as white people. We examined the complexity of her character by discussing contradictions in her personality—how she seemed offended that her family would abandon their black identities/heritage in exchange for (possibly) a better life, while she herself was a slave owner and preferred to teach lighter skinned black children. Eventually, it was brought up that Fern may have resented her families being able to pass because she would never be able to because of the man she loved—a man whose skin was too dark to pass.

This consideration of being limited by love, or not being able to fully express love for those we care for was reflected again in Robbins’ relationship with Philomena, and Winnifred and the Sheriff’s relationship with Minerva. Both these instances depict a white person (or white people) who are restricted by overarching social structures from truly loving/embracing those who mean the most to them. Robbins ultimately treats Philomena as a slave and exercises his dominance over her by physically abusing her. Winnifred and the Sheriff claim Minerva is not their slave, but still delegate chores and “servant” work to her. Ultimately when Minerva runs away, they go about finding her in such a way that a master would go about seeking a runaway slave.

Austyn brought up the idea of social structure vs. human nature. In so many instances throughout the novel, we see a variety of people acting in a variety of manners, so we are left to ponder what is fueling these actions. Obviously these people are a product of their era and environments, but through Archie’s and Kurt’s explanations, it seems these attitudes and behaviors were (and to some degree are still) present throughout the country. At some point, this condition that limits our ability to sympathize with certain characters was described as a psychological malady where people can only achieve what they are taught (and ultimately forced) to be. This functions as an explanation of “The Known World.” This world of hypocrisy and fear is the only thing many of the characters no. Symbolically, this hypocrisy—being torn between a white father and a black father—is one reason Henry does not quite make it to manhood. He dies before he is able to become a complete human because he is torn between two known worlds, that of master and that of slave, and he may only be able to occupy one.

Archie brought up an interesting discussion of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, in which he told us the story of how Benjamin Franklin—whether in France, where Jefferson and Hemmings behaved more comfortably as husband and wife, or in the United States—always treated Sally Hemmings the same, as if she were a woman deserving of equal treatment and consideration, no matter her skin color. Jefferson, on the other hand, talked to Hemmings and treated her as a slave when in the United States in spite of any difference in their relationship while in France. It would seem that Franklin’s attitude, and what may be called compassion given the period of time, was uncommon. It is not something we see in The Known World.