The Escape or A Leap for Freedom - William Wells Brown
[alert-success] The Escape
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[alert-primary] Short Summary [/alert-primary]
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Introduction
"The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom" is a play written by William Wells Brown, an African American abolitionist and writer. Published in 1858, it is considered one of the earliest novels written by an African American and one of the first to portray the escape of a slave to freedom. The play is called as "A Drama in Five Acts".
William Wells Brown drew upon his own experiences as a former slave and his knowledge of the abolitionist movement to craft a gripping narrative that sheds light on the harsh realities of slavery in America.
"The Escape" serves as both a compelling work of fiction and a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of those who fought for freedom during one of the darkest periods in American history.
Plot Summary
The plot of the play, "The Escape or A Leap for Freedom" revolves around two slaves
who marry each other without their master's knowledge. A slave named
Melinda is held by Dr. Gaines who is secretly married to Glen,
who is owned by Mr. Hamilton.
Melinda is a slave and a woman of mixed race. Dr. Gaines grows more and more desperate for Melinda to sexually submit to him. Mrs. Gaines finds that her husband, Dr. Gaines, has feelings for Melinda, and so she started to treat her harshly. Mrs. Gaines becomes frightened and as a result she instructs Dr. Gaines to sell her. Dr. Gaines did not want to sell her, and so he conceals her in a cottage that is located on the land
of Poplar Farm, which is ten miles away from his house.
Dr. Gaines tries to seduce Melinda in the cottage and offer her freedom, property and clothes, if she submit to his desires. Melinda refuses his offer and reveals the fact that she is secretly married to the slave of the other farm, Glen. On hearing this, Dr. Gaines becomes
extremely enraged, he informs Melinda that he is going to burn her husband Glen at the stake. As soon as
Melinda hears this, she explodes with anger, faints, and suffers deep depression.
Meanwhile Dr. Gaines tells his wife a story of deception that Melinda is placed in a sale and he sells her in an auction. However, Mrs. Gaines does not believe him,
and as a result, she decides to follow him to the cottage.
Mrs. Gaines breaks
into the house when Dr. Gaines is out and makes an attempt to kill Melinda by
forcing her to drink the poison. Melinda manages to escape and
makes her way into the forest.
On the other hand, Glen is also being tormented by Jacob Scragg, who is
located on the opposite side of the Gaines Estate. Sampey, who is also of mixed
race and works as a slave for his father, is the one provides information about Melinda to Glen.
Melinda and Glen resist their attempts to murder and tortures. They both planned to run away. Glen escapes from the prison and finds Melinda outside of Muddy Creek, who was waiting for him. They decided to escape to Canada by following the North Star. On seeing Melinda, Glen shouts:
Melinda! Melinda! it is, it is. Oh God! I thank
Thee for this manifestation of Thy kindness. Come, come,
Melinda, we must go at once to Canada. I escaped from
the overseer, whom Dr. Gaines sent to flog me. Yes, I struck him over the head with his own club, and I made
the wine flow freely; yes, I pounded his old skillet well
for him, and then jumped out of the window. It was a
leap for freedom. Yes, Melinda, it was a leap for freedom.
I’ve said “master” for the last time. I am free;
I’m bound for Canada. Come, let’s be off, at once, for
the negro dogs will be put upon our track. Let us once
get beyond the Ohio river, and all will be right.
Meanwhile, Dr.
Gaines assembles a gang of men in order to search for the slaves who have
escaped from their masters. The final fight takes place at the
docks of a ship that is heading to Canada. During the time when the boat is
leaving, a gentleman from the north named Mr. White comes to the rescue by stopping the slave hunters. With the help of Mr. White, Glen and Melinda escape in a boat by shouting loudly over their escape from slavery and their leap for freedom.
Conclusion:
"The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom" is a narrative of liberation and a profound critique of the institution of slavery and its dehumanizing effects on individuals and society as a whole. Through vivid storytelling and rich character development, William Wells Brown exposes the brutality and injustice of slavery while celebrating the strength and resilience of those who dared to defy it.
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