41 pages • 1 hour read
Erica Armstrong DunbarA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Key Figures
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
Although she is the protagonist, little is presented about Ona’s inner life and character. This is due to her status as an enslaved person: As she is regarded as property and not permitted to read or write, these aspects of her person are not recorded. Only indirect characterization can be made based on conclusions drawn by what Martha Washington would have valued in a personal attendant. Thus, her intelligence and loyalty are among Ona’s key qualities. She understands that she is expected to obey authority quietly and without resistance. Her loyalty to the Washingtons is a key factor in their decision to bring her north when they relocate to New York. Likewise, because she is of mixed race, she has a very slight advantage over other enslaved people, as her lighter skin is regarded, the text states, as more desirable at the time. The authors note that Ona is discreet and obedient and performs her job effectively, proven by the fact that she returns north with the Washingtons once each summer ends. In a narrative sense, she is flat but dynamic, changing throughout the story.
The time spent in the north, particularly in Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
African American Literature
View Collection
American Revolution
View Collection
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Books on U.S. History
View Collection
Inspiring Biographies
View Collection
Juvenile Literature
View Collection
National Book Awards Winners & Finalists
View Collection
Nation & Nationalism
View Collection
The Best of "Best Book" Lists
View Collection