The Bondwoman's Narrative

The dominant theme of the book is clearly slavery and the effect which it has on the people and the society of the United States of America in the mid-1800s. However, there are several distinct ways in which this theme manifests, and Hannah Crafts’s social critique provides hope for a future where slavery is no longer an issue.

The primary way in which the theme of slavery appears in the text is the negative effect it has on African Americans. Hannah frequently reiterates the importance of freedom and the yearning to be free. Not only are slaves forced to work without recompense, they are often separated from their families when they are sold to another owner. Slaves are at risk of rape and assault from owners and other slaves can be beaten and even executed without repercussions, and they lack any means to challenge this system. Slavery is a damaging institution which oppresses and harms African Americans to an extreme extent.

The novel offers a unique perspective on slavery in the mid-1800s, as it is the only known novel written by a female African American former slave. The manner in which it depicts the social status standings between slaves is not evident in many other works.