Annotate

Reflecting on the Escape

  • The narrator expresses difficulty in recollecting thoughts from a particular day that brought emotional turmoil.

  • Two great difficulties impede his escape:

    • Family Ties:

    • He loves his father, mother, six sisters, and four brothers on the plantation.

    • Concerns about their safety and potential consequences of his flight.

      • Questions if they will be suspected after his escape.

      • Worries they may be sold as punishment for his actions.

    • Knowledge Gap:

    • Acknowledges ignorance about distance and direction.

    • Knows Pennsylvania is a free state but lacks clarity on the geographical boundaries between Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Biography of James W. C. Pennington

  • Lifespan: 1809-1870

  • Origins: Born into slavery in Maryland.

  • Trade: Trained as a blacksmith and pursued this trade until the age of 21.

  • Escape: Fled to Pennsylvania, receiving refuge from a Quaker family.

    • Spent six months there, obtaining his first education.

  • Subsequent Life: Moved to Long Island, found work, pursued education, became a teacher and a minister, and engaged actively in the antislavery movement.

  • Later Years: After the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, he fled abroad to avoid recapture, later secured his freedom through friends negotiating with his former master.

  • Published Work: His account, "The Fugitive Blacksmith," was published in 1850 and is included in "Great Slave Narratives," edited by Arna Bontemps.

The Escape Narrative

Initial Preparations for Escape

  • Setting the Scene:

    • November, bright day with tranquility; many slaves resting or visiting friends on nearby plantations.

  • Preparations Made:

    • The narrator arranged a bundle of clothing the evening before and hid it away from the house.

    • Resolved to keep his escape a secret from others.

  • Doubts:

    • Considers previous cases of failed escapees who faced severe punishment.

    • Confronts the overwhelming possibility of cruelty that might follow a failed escape.

The Emotional Turmoil

  • Mental State:

    • Mixed emotions of hope, fear, dread, love, and melancholy.

    • Deeply distracted by thoughts of family and the true nature of slavery.

  • Reflection on Slavery:

    • Recognizes slavery's pervasive threat, including the possibility of being sold into harsher conditions.

    • Ultimately resolves that nothing could deter him from attempting to flee.

The First Steps Into Freedom

  • Setting Out:

    • At two o'clock, the narrator begins his journey.

    • Travels through a small cave to retrieve his hidden bundle.

  • Night Journey:

    • Relying on the North Star as a guide, he navigates in darkness towards an uncertain future.

    • Encounters challenges of hiding during the day, feeling vulnerable and lost.

Interaction with Others

  • Meeting a Young Boy:

    • Encounters a boy who informs him of the road to Baltimore and learns he is 62 miles from home.

  • Advice from a Traveler:

    • A kind young man advises him to steer clear of a perilous road and suggests safe routes.

  • Dangers Faced:

    • Faces threats of capture due to the absence of free papers and learned from locals how to avoid detection.

Captured, But Not Defeated

  • Confrontation:

    • Narrator is pursued by men who demand to know his origin without evidence of freedom.

    • Reflects on untruth and the moral implications of protecting his freedom.

Reluctant Cooperation

  • Under Duress:

    • Captors attempt to extract information, which the narrator sees as his private property.

    • Analyzes the morality of his choices under threat and the limitations imposed by the laws surrounding slavery.

Navigating the Situation

  • Tavern Encounter:

    • At a tavern, he strategically avoids giving true information, improvises a story of being a runaway from a smallpox gang to avoid suspicion.

    • The narrative highlights how deception becomes a necessary means of survival during his escape.

Formulating a Plan of Escape

  • The Decision:

    • Creates an escape plan but is beset by age-old fears of being captured again.

  • The Constancy of Fear:

    • Each day brings new challenges and fears, with the narrator constantly managing risk and anxiety about being caught.

Physical Limitations and Struggles

  • State of Exhaustion:

    • Describes the exhaustion endured from lack of sustenance and shelter as he struggles to continue his journey.

    • The toll of cold, hunger, and physical strain are integral elements of the narrative.

Encounters with Unfriendly and Friendly Figures

  • Risky Directions:

    • Continuing his flight, the narrator wrestles with conflicting advice given by strangers, weighing safety against the need to find food and shelter.

  • Meeting a Widow:

    • A pivotal meeting with a widow who assists him, reflecting the themes of humanity and kindness amid the harsh realities of his escape.

Achieving Freedom

  • Endurance:

    • Reveals his vulnerabilities and persistence necessary for overcoming the odds stacked against him during his flight.

    • His encounter with W. W., a Quaker, sets the tone for the kindness he experiences upon reaching free soil.

  • Conclusion of the Escape:

    • Ends with an invitation to share meals, signifying a turning point in his life from threat and fear to hope and potential.