Washington Black

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Edugyan’s portrayal of slavery and escape offers a unique perspective compared to other books like Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass or Toni Morrison’s Beloved. What distinguishes Washington Black’s approach to these themes from other narratives of enslavement? How does the global adventure element change your understanding of enslavement?

2. What surprised you most about Wash’s journey from Faith Plantation to Morocco?

3. Titch’s relationship with Wash evolves from master-servant to something more complex throughout their time together. How would you characterize their bond, and what did you make of its ultimate resolution?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Wash’s education under Titch opens up new worlds of science and art for him. Have you experienced a mentor or teacher who fundamentally changed how you see yourself and your capabilities?

2. Throughout the novel, Wash struggles with questions of belonging and identity in different locations and social contexts. He never quite feels at home anywhere, from Faith Plantation to Nova Scotia to England to Morocco. When in your life have you felt most like an outsider, and how did you navigate that experience?

3. Which type of freedom do you think matters most to Wash—legal, intellectual, artistic, or emotional freedom?

4. Wash discovers his artistic talent almost by accident and pursues it despite having no formal training. Do you think natural talent should be balanced with formal education in developing one’s abilities?

5. The revelation that Big Kit is Wash’s biological mother completely reframes their relationship for him. How do you think learning family secrets or hidden truths about loved ones changes the way people understand the past? 

6. Even after achieving independence and success, Wash feels compelled to seek out Titch for closure. Do you think pursuing resolution with people from your past is worthwhile, or are some relationships better left behind?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Several white characters, including Titch and Mr. Goff, consider themselves progressive yet maintain racial prejudices. What does this contradiction reveal about persistent issues in our contemporary society?

2. What does Wash’s experience of facing discrimination and violence even in the “free” territories of Canada and England reveal about the difference between legal freedom and social acceptance?

3. Characters like Titch and Mr. Wilde pursue scientific advancement while remaining complicit in enslavement, viewing their research as more important than human rights. They represent how intellectual progress can coexist with moral blindness when it serves existing power structures. How do you reconcile the pursuit of knowledge and progress with systems of oppression and exploitation?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Ocean voyages punctuate every major transition in Wash’s life, from his escape from Barbados to his journey to Morocco. What significance does the ocean hold throughout his story? How does it transform from a boundary to a pathway as his journey unfolds?

2. The flying machine appears in different iterations at both the beginning and conclusion of Wash’s story. Why do you think Edugyan chose to bring back the Cloud-cutter at the novel’s end? 

3. Edugyan structures the novel as a series of journeys across increasingly distant locations. How does this geographic progression mirror Wash’s emotional and intellectual development?

4. Wash’s artistic abilities emerge early and remain central to his identity throughout the novel. In what ways does his evolution as an artist parallel his growth as a person?

5. The nail that Big Kit gives Wash for protection represents resistance and vulnerability in the face of overwhelming power. It reappears symbolically when he defends himself against Willard years later, showing his transformation from helpless child to capable adult. What other recurring motifs or symbols did you notice, and how do they evolve in meaning throughout the story?

6. Titch begins as Wash’s “savior” but becomes increasingly problematic as the story progresses. How did your perception of him change, and what does his character arc suggest about the nature of well-intentioned but flawed allyship?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Wash designs Ocean House as an innovative way to display marine life without killing the specimens, revolutionizing how people can observe and study nature. His vision emerges from his unique perspective as someone who understands what it means to be captured and confined. If you were to design a similar exhibition space for something you’re passionate about, what would it showcase and how would it work?

2. The novel ends with Wash finally confronting Titch but without a completely satisfying resolution. What alternative ending would you write for their relationship—reconciliation, permanent separation, or something else entirely?

3. Choose a scene from the novel and rewrite it from Big Kit’s perspective. How might her experience and understanding of events differ from Wash’s narration?