Reflection South Carolina and Stevens

Reflection Chapters on The Underground Railroad

Chapter 4 begins with background information on the Anderson family. Mrs. Anderson, works in a hospital looking to raise money. A girl by the name of Bessie is also introduced early on. She is 18 and cannot read, but has the freedom to roam around the town. This is strange for a slave because usually they are not allowed to leave the household or plantation. Bessie is a nanny and cares for the Anderson’s children. In the early chapter, we get a sense of South Carolina as Bessie roams the streets freely. Another important character is Sam, who tries to persuade or let Cora and Caesar consider staying in South Carolina. This state is portrayed as a good slave state that treats these people well. Sam feeds the two and also allows them to bathe, leaving us with a good impression. Cora and Caesar will have to wait, since they are unsure how long it’ll take for the train to return. This emphasizes the lack of communication and Sam states that the railroad works under God. Cora will have to change her identity and is found learning how to write. After some confusion, I found out that Bessie was Cora, and the background on Cora’s life in South Carolina came before Cora getting off the train with Caesar, which was odd and confusing at first.

Later in the chapter South Carolina, Cora looks for the files on her mother, Mabel. However, nothing is found and she begins to think. She felt that Mabel hated her because why would a mother just leave a daughter? Mabel was living out everyday on that plantation, planning an escape. When we think of a mother, we think of a significant woman who will do absolutely anything to have their child live a better life than themselves. However, Mabel leaving her daughter without a goodbye is an act of selfishness. Cora admits that she would knock Mabel flat if she ever encountered her. The train would arrive in a few days, and Cora and Caesar would decide on waiting for the next one. Then, it led to three trains going through South Carolina. This shows that Caesar and Cora are open to a life in South Carolina, and it could be that the South isn’t as bad as one would expect. However, I believe this will change. Trains go by and Caesar and Cora decide on staying. Later that evening, Cora encounters two white men brutally harassing a colored woman. South Carolina is the best slave state when it comes to how they are treated, but it is nothing close to safe.

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Cora gets a job at a local Museum, which doesn't sound bad for a slave in that time period. This means she will be leaving the Anderson’s home. Cora was thinking about the lady that was harassed yelling “their taking my babies!” Miss Lucy said she was a resident from 40, which was a different version of the Hob. A great detail we found out about Lucy’s power is that she has the will to turn in any runaway slaves. This means that Cora can be in danger. She looks for Caesar, but only finds Sam, who reveals that she is being searched for. This shows that maybe it is time to keep moving up north. Sam opens a door in the floor that leads to the Underground Railroad, where Cora stays, and even contemplates on praying despite never doing it before. We are left with a very dramatic ending. The house above Cora is being raided as all the furniture is being knocked over. Then, there is crackling wood, the house is on fire.

Stevens is a chapter that focuses less on Cora and more on a minor character, Dr. Stevens. He checked out Cora back in South Carolina.We find out that Stevens is Irish, and has a reason to hate racism, because Irish were getting hate as well. Another character in this chapter is Carpenter, who sells dead bodies to Dr. Stevens, in order to advance. Carpenter sold the bodies of his children, which is bizarre. Dr. Stevens is receiving a lot of bodies from colored people, which can lead to the 19th century perception of African-Americans. Sure, Dr. Stevens is not racist, but he is using them for technological advancement. Americans in general, manipulated and used slaves as an amenity. Colored people were going to be viewed this way throughout the story, even in a more lenient states like South Carolina or Massachusetts.

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