"The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion," by Stephen B. Oates

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the book "The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion," by Stephen B. Oates, a tale of what it was to be a slave in the South in the 1800s, and how it drove some blacks to violence and hatred. It analyzes the historical value of the book which is part novel and part biography and looks at the qualities of the main character Nat which make him a leader.

From the Paper:

"From the opening paragraph, historian and biographer Stephen B. Oates sets the stage for the slave rebellion that would shake Southampton County in Virginia on August 22, 1831. The author shows in graphic detail the abject poverty of the slaves, the cruelty of their owners, and the utter hopelessness of the slaves' situation, from the "pungent" outhouses, to the ramshackle houses of the poor. He is carefully setting the stage to introduce the main character of the book, Nat Turner, famous for fathering a slave rebellion, and for the "justice" meted out after he was caught. The early portion of the book lays the foundation for the rebellion, by explaining how oppressed the blacks were, and how they felt they had no other option than to take the law into their own hands, and revolt. Oates succeeds in laying this foundation well, making us understand the desperation and disgust that led to these rash measures."

More papers on "The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion," by Stephen B. Oates:

• Analytical Essay # 4239 : "Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion"
• Analytical Essay # 16878 : "Nat Turner's Rebellion"
• Book Review # 98238 : "Fires of Jubilee"

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