Question

The amount of the money which I had paid my master towards redeeming my time, was seventy-one pounds two shillings. The reason of my master for asking such an unreasonable price, was, he said, to secure himself in case I should ever come to want. Being thirty-six years old, I left Colonel Smith once more for all. I had already been sold three different times, made considerable money with seemingly nothing to derive it from, had been cheated out of a large sum of money, lost much by misfortunes, and paid an enormous sum for my freedom.

Answer 1

This passage captures the profound struggles and experiences of a person seeking freedom from servitude. It highlights the financial burdens placed upon them, including the exorbitant cost of purchasing their freedom, which amounted to seventy-one pounds and two shillings. The rationale provided by the master—using the price as a safeguard against the possibility of the individual falling into poverty—illustrates the exploitative dynamics inherent in such a relationship, where the master maintains power and control.

The narrator's age, thirty-six, suggests a life already filled with challenges and transactions that have eroded their autonomy. The mention of being sold three times points to a lack of stability and the harsh realities of a system that commodifies human beings. The frustration of having made money yet seeing no return on that investment further underscores the injustices faced, along with the losses incurred through deception and misfortune.

Overall, this excerpt reflects the complexities of striving for personal freedom against a backdrop of systemic oppression and the high personal cost of striving for autonomy and dignity.