The Longest Memory: Study Notes Synopsis ‘The Longest Memory’ chronicles the final years in the life of Whitechapel, Whitechapel, the oldest slave on the Whitechapel Plantation in Virginia in the late 1700s and early 100s! The novel incorporates the narrative perspectives of several different characters connected to the central event of Whitechapel’s son "hapel #eing $hipped and his s%#se&%ent death! The novel spans a long period of time and is told thro%gh m%ltiple modes, incl%ding incl%ding verse and diary entries! The novel #egins and ends $ith short, nostalgic sections from Whitechapel’s perspective! The opening section reflects on the death of his son and the final section is set '%st #efore the death of Whitechapel, so the novel is #oo(ended #y death! This emphasises the tone of sorro$ and misfort%ne that echoes thro%gh the $hole narrative! We are then given a fact%al acco%nt of the events leading to his son’s death) Whitechapel’s second $ife dies, held #y her h%s#and and son, after $hich the #oy r%ns a$ay from the plantation! *n order to teach his son a lesson of $hat happens to slaves $ho do not accept their sit%ation, Whitechapel tells their master, Mr Whitechapel, $here to find his son! The overseer +anders -%nior. carries o%t the p%nishment d%e to Mr Whitechapel’s a#sence, and it is disastro%s! /espite Mr Whitechapel’s #elief in treating his slaves $ell a #elief that earns him the harsh '%dgement and disrespect of other plantation o$ners "hapel is $hipped to death! *t is aro%nd this event that all s%#se&%ent chapters revolve, filling in #ac(gro%nd details of the lives of the characters, and grad%ally revealing revealing layers of compleity that deepen the impact of the event on all involved! 2irst, Mr Whitechapel reveals that "hapel’s father $as act%ally anders enior, $ho ‘violated’ Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s yo%ng fianc3e named "oo(! 2ar from holding a gr%dge, the deeply loyal Whitechapel raised and loved "hapel as his o$n! This history and story is epanded #y #oth anders enior’s and "oo(’s perspectives! perspectives! The net significant plot development +introd%ced in "hapel’s poem. is the love story of "hapel and Lydia, Mr Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s da%ghter! Lydia teaches "hapel to $rite and they fall in love #efore Mr Whitechapel discovers their %naccepta#le relationship! They are planning a secret move to the 4orth +$here race relations #et$een 5frican slaves and $hite 5mericans are m%ch more li#eral d%e to the progress of the a#olitionist movement., $hen "hapel is ca%ght and then $hipped to death! Woven thro%gh "hapel and Whitechapel’s story is the secondary plot of Mr Whitechapel, a man $ho has inherited his property and slaves from his father, #%t has mied feelings a#o%t his position as a slave o$ner! 6e tries to act on his o$n religio%s and ethical #eliefs a#o%t treating slaves $ith respect despite the diffic%lty this ca%ses him $ith other plantation o$ners!
Historical Context Slavery nderlying the plot and events of ‘The Longest Memory’ is the history of slavery in the nited tates, incl%ding the a#olitionist movement the fight to end slavery! *n the novel, Thomas Whitechapel +Lydia Whitechapel’s #rother. disc%sses the differing ideas a#o%t slaves,
5frican 5mericans and race relations held in the 4orthern states s%ch as Massach%setts! The capital of Massach%setts, 8oston, is one of the cities $here Lydia and "hapel dream of ma(ing a ne$ life for themselves! These vie$s contrast $ith those s%pported #y most of the plantation o$ners aro%nd them! Mr Whitechapel represents a man ca%ght #et$een t$o eras) he respects the fig%res in his recent past, s%ch as his father, $ho ran the plantation #efore him, and set %p the 9entleman’s "l%#, yet also sees clearly into the near f%t%re, $hen the relationships #et$een the $hite masters and 5frican:5merican $or(s $ill #e different! 6e even ac(no$ledges that a relationship li(e that #et$een Lydia and "hapel might #e a realistic possi#ility “in the future” Mr Whitechapel faces the resistance of his peers; many of them fear their o$n personal do$nfall if they are forced to pay their $or(ers rather than legally o$ning slaves! Many of these men also #elieve that their slaves are inherently inferior people! %ch #eliefs li(ely soothed the consciences of o%thern slave o$ners and allo$ed them to contin%e $ith the inh%mane treatment of their slaves! *t also helped them resist the increasing anti:slavery press%res from the 4orth!
!"olitionism The a#olitionism movement in the nited tates #egan in the early eighteenth cent%ry as people #egan to &%estion the ethics of slave o$nership! Vermont $as the first 5merican state to #an slavery +altho%gh it $as not a complete #an., $ith a la$ passed in 1777! Many 4orthern states follo$ed s%it! 6o$ever, there $as fierce resistance from the o%thern states, and it $asn’t %ntil the end of the 5merican "ivil War in 1<= that slavery $as a#olished federally!
The !merican Civil #ar The 5merican "ivil War +1<1:1<=. $as in part ca%sed #y the $ithdra$al of o%th "arolina and then other o%thern states from the federal %nion formally %niting all the states of 5merica! This $ithdra$al $as largely triggered #y federal s%pport for co%ntry$ide a#olition of slaves, #ro%ght a#o%t #y the election of 5#raham Lincoln as president in 1<0! 8y this time, slavery had #een a#olished #y the 4orthern states! 6o$ever, many o%thern states’ economies depended %pon the slave la#o%r %sed in plantation ind%stries s%ch as cotton, coffee and s%gar! Therefore, the o%thern states ref%sed to accept this loss of control over $hat they perceived as their o$n constit%tional rights! This #egan the civil $ar #et$een the 4orth and the o%th!
Chapters $emem"ering This #rief prolog%e esta#lishes the style and tone of the novel! *t is descriptive and lyrical, #%t also tro%#led and f%ll of painf%l grief! 4arrated #y Whitechapel, he appears to #e a #ro(en man, lost and forlorn over the events s%rro%nding his son’s death! 6e laments that “the future is %ust more of the past &aiting to happen” This highlights the idea that the past is al$ays going to repeat itself and that nothing ever really changes! Whitechapel feels isolated and alone, in that he “had no name” and “&as %ust a "oy' mule' nigger' slave or
&hatever else anyone chose to call me” Whitechapel ac(no$ledges that “the last time ( cried &as over the pointless death of a "oy ( loved as my o&n” and that “it hurt more than any pain ()d felt "efore or since” 6e also states that “( never *ne& crying could ta*e over a "ody so' roc* it' sha*e it' rattle it' thump it so that the "ody feels &rec*ed and cries &ithout tears or movement of any *ind' out of sheer exhaustion' except for that moan' groan' hoarse' "ass &ail” The prolog%e ends $ith Whitechapel’s reflection on ho$ he $ants to “forget as hard as +he, can” #eca%se “memory hurts Li*e crying -ut still and deep”
Chapter .: #hitechapel *n this chapter, it contin%es Whitechapel’s grief that $as esta#lished in >emem#ering, and f%rther highlights his ongoing sorro$! Whitechapel is ha%nted #y the decisions he made that lead to his son’s $hipping and conse&%ential death! The “"ags under +his, eyes are sac*s of &orries' &itnesses of dreams' nightmares and sleep from &hich a man should not "e allo&ed to &a*e” When his son "hapel is $hipped #y anders -%nior and his dep%ty for r%nning a$ay, Whitechapel loo(ed on “&ithout seeing' &itness &ithout registering a memory or sensation” Whitechapel recalls that “The first lash ripped a hole in my head and ( screamed for my son' &ho fell silent as the grass and trees” "hapel received t$o h%ndred lashes, “"ut he &as gone half&ay into it all” Whitechapel desolately remem#ers that “/( *no& he &as half&ay into that t hat "eating &hen he stopped screaming 0father) "ecause he could see ( &as "eing held do&n and &as no good to him” Whitechapel $as crying “uncontrolla"ly during the &hipping”' and the slaves “"egged &ith greater intensity and ris* to ourselves for him to "e spared/) and Whitechapel and as(ed to “ta*e his place” 6o$ever, leniency $as not granted, and "hapel later died from his in'%ries! Whitechapel’s g%ilt over his son’s death is #eca%se he $as the one $ho t%rned "hapel in to the plantation’s o$ner Mr Whitechapel $hen he ran a$ay! 6e is g%ilt ridden over the sense of responsi#ility he has over the events that occ%rred, #%t he honestly #elieved that “a simple lesson in o"edience &as all that my "oy re1uired He needed to *no& his station sooner rather than too late ( "elieved some punishment &ould do him good "ecause it &ould *eep him alive "y driving any notion of freedom from responsi"ility” Whitechapel $as nervo%s that his son $as sho$ing signs of desiring freedom a dangero%s tho%ght for a slave! Whitechapel #elieved #elieved he had to save s ave his son “from himself &ith a lesson” and not “a"andon him to the horri"le fate he might "ring upon himself” Whitechapel is concerned that if he lets "hapel contin%e to thin( too li#erally and progressively, "hapel “&ould "e in paradise &ith his mother and his "ro*en "ody left in a gully some&here to rot” Whitechapel holds the #elief that “a slave could live a good' long life if he &or*ed hard' and presented to his master the most dignified aspect of himself' in order to reciprocate the same manner from that master' the same civility' fairness and even *indness once the relationship gre& &arm and cordial” 6e #elieves that he has a #ond $ith Mr Whitechapel that $ill res%lt in leniency for his son, $hich is sho$n $hen Mr Whitechapel orders that "hapel #e capt%red and held instead of $hipped for r%nning a$ay! 6o$ever, Mr Whitechapel is a$ay from the plantation $hen "hapel is capt%red, and his overseer, anders -%nior, in'%red and in a rage from the ho%rs spent searching for him, decides that “my only reason for "ringing "ac* that young nigger is "ecause the "oss said he &ould "e made an example of to t o discourage further runa&ays” and “there is no &ay this nigger is not going to face the usual punishment for his crime” When Whitechapel tries to intervene to tell anders -%nior a#o%t Mr Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s orders, anders -%nior
states, “(n the a"sence of the master ( do &hat is "est for the plantation ( do not ta*e orders from a nigger/2ou are a slave” The o%tcome of the death of "hapel lo$ers Whitechapel’s position $ithin his family and amongst the other slaves on the plantation! 6e no longer carries any of the respect he previo%sly had, as “everyone' &ithout exception' "lames me for the death of +Chapel,” When he informed Mr Whitechapel of his son’s $herea#o%ts, “/the house slaves cast +him, such disdainful loo*s you &ould "elieve +he)d, thro&n +his, o&n son to the lions” 6is family resent him, and (eep their distance from him, no$ seen as a “*iller of children” and a “master of his o&n slavery” Whitechapel $as the “most senior slave on the plantation” and is no$ %tterly #ro(en over the fact that he $as a man $ho had “&or*ed +his, life for one estate under one family +and, &as sho&n no respect +He, &as granted none” 2%ll of remorse and regret, Whitechapel “can)t die”, #eca%se he cannot face his deceased second $ife "oo(, for “"laming me for sending +Chapel, ahead of me' or in my place' or at all” Whitechapel is defeated, stating that he ans$ers to “dog”, and “has a "ody "ereft of laughter' sleep' love' purpose”
Chapter 3: Mr #hitechapel *n Mr Whitechapel’s section, he is address Whitechapel Whitechapel and anders -%nior directly after his ret%rn $hen he discovers $hat has occ%rred $ith Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s son, "hapel! Mr Whitechapel is the c%rrent o$ner of the plantation, having ta(en over $hen his father died! 6is father originally p%rchased Whitechapel, Whitechapel, and his overseer $as anders enior, $ith his son, anders -%nior, no$ overseer for Mr Whitechapel! Mr Whitechapel is f%rio%s that he leaves the plantation “for one night and a day” and ret%rns to “virtual chaos” $ith the events that have %nfolded s%rro%nding "hapel’s death! 6e confronts his t$o employees, his dep%ty $ho has a “ha"it of disappearing from the plantation/regularly” and his overseer, anders -%nior, “his right hand man” $ho he &%estions over the “manner of management” delivered! 6e is f%rio%s that his orders $ere flo%ted and seen as “meaningless”, &%estioning' “4id you thin* you &ere "etter schooled in the management of a slaveholding than (5 #as your intention to diso"ey my orders and come up &ith a "etter result5” 6e refers to the $hipping of "hapel as a “"rutal form of management” Mr Whitechapel represents the progressive elements involved in the iss%e of the a#olishment of slaves! ?ther plantation o$ners tell him “he is too lenient” #eca%se he “fatten+s, up slaves too much &ith large' regular meals and decent 1uarters” 8%t Mr Whitechapel #elieves that “a satisfied slave is a happy slave and a more productive &or*er Treat them li*e e1uals and they &ill respond &ith no"ility” This is in contrast other $ith plantation o$ners $ho #elieve “that slaves should al&ays "e sho&n a stern' distant hand” 6o$ever, Mr Whitechapel #elieves that “such rough handling provides rougher responses” and that slaves are #est managed #y treating “them first and foremost as su"%ects of 6od' though "lessed &ith lesser faculties” This ideology of Mr Whitechapel highlights highlights the respectf%l #ond that Whitechapel feels to$ards him! *t $as #eca%se of this #ond that Whitechapel originally felt comforta#le in telling Mr Whitechapel the $herea#o%ts of his son $hen he ran a$ay! 6o$ever, $hile Mr Whitechapel ac(no$ledges Whitechapel as “the most senior man on this plantation” and that "hapel’s death “is a matter of deepest regret to us all”, Whitechapel “overstepped the mar* in +his, recent antics” and that "hapel “is dead through his o&n
design” Mr Whitechapel places the #lame of "hapel’s death %pon Whitechapel, stating that “you should have saved him from himself/you &ere his guardian” “! slave &ho has tasted li"erty can never "e a proper slave again” ltimately, Mr Whitechapel is “disappointed” that Whitechapel did not do as they agreed to “protect” "hapel “from himself "y driving from his mind the foolish notions of freedom”
Mr Whitechapel also reveals that "hapel is not Whitechapel’s #iological son! Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s second $ife, "oo(, $as raped #y anders enior, res%lting in the #irth of "hapel! Mr Whitechapel ac(no$ledges ac(no$ledges that Whitechapel Whitechapel has never sho$n “a shred of malice for that act” and “raised the "oy as his o&n” We also learn from this revelation that anders -%nior $asn’t “fully informed” of the this act, $ho then learns that "hapel $as his step:#rother, $ho he has no$ '%st $hipped to death! Mr Whitechapel reveals that this is the reason $hy he left orders to have "hapel held! 6e ac(no$ledges that he $o%ld have let anders -%nior “run the plantation and hold dominion over the fate of a runa&ay” had it not #een that "hapel “&as no ordinary runa&ay” Mr Whitechapel’s chapter ends $ith him calling on anders -%nior to say a prayer #eca%se “&e must not allo& this trade to turn us into savages” and that “6od should guide us in our dealings &ith slaves as he counsels us in everything else”
Chapter 7: Sanders Senior This chapter is $ritten as diary entries from the perspective of anders enior! 2rom the onset, $e learn that he is de'ected and heart#ro(en over the death of his $ife "aroline, $ho $e later learn has died d%ring the #irth of his son anders -%nior! ?ver the co%rse of the diary entries, $e learn of anders enior’s “loneliness” and that he is “"ored &ithout +his, &ife”! 2ive years after the death of "aroline, he &%estions if he is “&rong to loo* at a slave girl and feel li*e a man5” 5t this point, he is “desperate” and needs “a &oman” anders enior’s coo( #ecomes ill, and a slave girl $ho had recently #een #o%ght “made a "etter meal” anders enior’s attit%de to$ards slaves is highlighted $hen he $rites that he $ants to “try to trade my model for this ne& one” The diary entries capt%re anders desire and t$o rapes of "oo(, once #efore and again after the marriage of "oo( to Whitechapel! *nitially, "oo( said to anders enior that she had not told even her h%s#and of anders the first rape, #%t after the second rape, even tho%gh anders enior said “it &ould not happen again”' Whitechapel and Mr Whitechapel are informed! anders enior considered denying the acc%sations, #eca%se “the &ord of a &hite man is &orth that of ho& many slaves5” 6o$ever, Mr Whitechapel is resolved to #elieve the slaves #ased %pon the loo( on anders eniors face! 6e fines anders enior and forces him to apologise to #oth "oo( and Whitechapel, something he #egr%dgingly does! "oo( #ecomes pregnant and it is most li(ely that the #a#y $ill #e anders eniors, ho$ever, Whitechapel ac(no$ledges that “Coo* is his &ife' &hatever the outcome' he loves her” The #a#y is #orn and anders enior ac(no$ledges that the child “resem"les my son in all "ut colour” Mr Whitechapel forcef%lly enco%rages anders enior into another marriage that appears cold and loveless to &%ell “rumours from a num"er of the slaves a"out the "a"y” Mr Whitechapel states that a marriage $o%ld #e #etter and if anders enior left the plantation “it &ould "e read as certain guilt” and “he &ould see to it that +he, never &or*ed in this line of "usiness again if +he, a"andoned a"andoned him” 5lso $ithin the diary entries, $e learn of the conflicting ideologies #et$een anders anders enior and Mr Whitechapel $hen it comes to t o slaves! anders enior #elieves that the slaves are “full
of tric*s to evade their duties” and that he is '%stified in s$inging his “stic* on the "ac* of their legs &ith force” This is in direct contrast $ith Mr Whitechapel’s opinion that ander’s enior is “too severe &ith them” anders enior #elieves against the idea of increasing rations and allo$ing them “one extra "rea* in the afternoon”, stating that Mr Whitechapel’s orders are “&rong” #eca%se “&hat good is a fat slave to anyone "ut himself/Cattle need fattening' not slaves”
Mr Whitechapel and anders enior again clash over the treatment of the slaves $hen anders enior “had occasion to "eat a slave for indolence” Mr Whitechapel sa$ and “ordered +him, to exercise restraint”
Chapter 8: Coo* This short chapter can #e seen as an ode to Whitechapel from his second $ife "oo(! he also tal(s #riefly a#o%t her eperience of #eing raped #y anders enior, stating that “after he laid his hands on me ( &anted to die” he ac(no$ledges that “#hitechapel saved +her, life” after he still stays $ith “a pure &ife no longer pure” and “a child not his” "oo( initially re'ected Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s advances, thin(ing him too old, #%t event%ally realised that “he can love” and “is t&ice the gentleman” "oo( is optimistic that she “&ill "ear him many sons” and that “he &ill die contented” 6eart#rea(ingly, the chapter ends $ith "oo( stating that she “&ill gro& old &ith +her, sons' alone' and happy to have met my #hitechapel” The readers are a$are that this is not the case, as she #ares no more children, and painf%lly dies, leading %p to the event of "hapel r%nning a$ay!
Chapter 9: Chapel The change in $riting form for this chapter +rhyming co%plets, lyrical prose, non:rhythmical stan@as. emphasises "hapel’s different vie$ of the $orld compared to those aro%nd him! nli(e his father and the other slaves, "hapel has learnt to read, $hich in t%rn has #roadened his perspective #eyond the constraints of the plantation #o%ndaries and enco%raged him to n%rt%re hopes for a more meaningf%l and dignified life! This chapter reveals the #eginnings of "hapel and Lydia’s relationship that it started at a yo%ng age $ith Lydia teaching "hapel to read and $rite, #efore her father Mr Whitechapel catches them and "hapel is $hipped $ith his #elt! 6o$ever, the t$o contin%e to “meet at night” We again also see the rising conflict #et$een the vie$points of "hapel and his father! Whitechapel informs his son that “there are t&o types of slaves/the first learns from mista*es &hich earn him &hip and fist' the second listens and &hat does not' then acts” Whitechapel is fearf%l that his son is the second type of slave, at $hich "hapel “&al*s off sha*ing his head” This division %ltimately leads to Whitechapel’s decision to teach his son a lesson $hen he r%ns a$ay! We learn in this chapter that "hapel had a very close relationship $ith his mother "oo(, $ho he sees as “an angel &ithout &ings” and “a pure light” The chapter heart#rea(ingly ends $ith the death of "oo(, revealing that "hapel “held her head” and he and Whitechapel “&ere "oth &ith her &hen she died” With this event, "hapel ac(no$ledges “&ith her gone nothing could *eep me there”, at $hich point he r%ns a$ay!
"hapter <) Plantation ?$ners
This chapter centres aro%nd Mr Whitechapel’s attendance at the 9entlemen’s "l%#, a cl%# set %p #y his father and senior plantation o$ners! 6e is rel%ctant to head there, as he $ill face the “ridicule of +his, peers” over the hypocrisy of his progressive ideas a#o%t slaves and $hat has '%st occ%rred $ith "hapel! This chapter again highlights the conflict #et$een Mr Whitechapel’s moral and ethical #eliefs and his loyalty to his peers and societal epectations! Mr #hitechapel
lantation ;&ners
AMoc( me all yo% $ant! *t $as a lesson that $ent $rong!B
A* have not Whitechapel, ta(en food $ith me slave one day and #eaten him the net, or fattened him, only to have him thro$ it #ac( in my face #y r%nning off no less!B A9ive them yo%r cr%elty, and perhaps they’ll s%rvive yo%r $hip!B A5dmit yo% felt alive for the first time in yo%r life Whitechapel! *f not for %s, then to yo%rself, or else yo% are lost!B
AThe death of one slave does not ma(e me yo%!B C%oted #y the Plantation o$ners) AThe slaves have rights as h%mans; they are not '%st tools!B Aho$ them respect and they’ll $or( hard!B AThey may #e inferior #%t they’re people li(e %s!B A* treat my slaves $ith h%manity!B
A* promote the teachings of "hrist and practise slavery! * do not practice slavery and hide my #eliefs!B AThe corr%ption of the $hip, gentlemen, does not save plantations; it res%lts in #rother (illing #rother!B AWhat a#o%t good$ill to all menF 5nd o%r childrenFB AThere has to #e another $ay to organise the economyD*f slaves $ere free and paid they’d #e o%r friends, not o%r enemies!B A6e +the slave Whitechapel. is living proof that slaves are o%r e&%al in every $ay!B
AWe are all of %s "hristians of one sort or other! 8%t yo%, Whitechapel, yo% promote the 5frican at the epense of yo%r o$n $hite "hristian #rother!B AWhat yo% are doing $ill lead to o%r pen%ryDor a massive slave revolt, #ring %s all grief!B AEo%r slaves eat $ell, sleep $ell, do $rong and get off lightly!B AThey’ll start to thin( they’re o%r e&%als and sho%ld #e free!B AWe tho%ght, at last, Whitechapel Whitechapel $ho $as #lind co%ld see! 8%t no! Eo% persevere in yo%r erroneo%s $ays!B A?%r line of $or( is slaves, $e can’t change the fact! We do it the $ay thin( #est serves o%t investment!B AWe treat o%r slaves $ith a firm hand, $e’re severe in the hope that other slaves $ill #ehave $ell o%t of fear!B AEo% can’t mi 9od $ith the slave #%siness! 9od is for %s, not them!B AWhy %pset everything $hen it $or(sFB
Chapter <: Lydia This chapter tells the #eginnings of Lydia’s and "hapel’s relationship, #%t this time from the perspective of Lydia Whitechapel! Thro%gh this ne$ point of vie$, the narrative differs, $ritten in elegant prose! The gentle, $arm, yet ca%tio%s friendship that develops #et$een Lydia and "hapel provides a contrast to the violence of the other chapters in the tet! 5ltho%gh their #%dding relationship m%st #e (ept secret, this is #ased %pon the epectations imposed #y others! To
them, their relationship is a simple meeting of in&%isitive minds, $hich Lydia teaching "hapel to read and $rite!
Chapter =: Coo* *n this chapter, "oo( discovers that "hapel has #een ta%ght to read #y Lydia, having overheard her son reading alo%d to Lydia, his “voice spea*ing as +she had, never heard it "efore” "oo( is %na#le to reprimand her son, as she can’t #ring herself “to tell him not to open a "oo*” 5ll she feels “inside is pride' not fear' not yet> %ust pride' s&elling in my chest and filling my heart” "oo( decides not to tell her h%s#and a#o%t "hapel reading, #eca%se she (no$s he $o%ld say that “"oo*s and slaves to do not agree”, #%t "oo( does not $ant $hat she '%st overheard from her son to “"e ta*en from him” 8y not intervening, "oo( has enco%raged the yo%ng "hapel’s ed%cation, res%lting in his progressive and li#eral vie$s developing in the f%t%re!
Chapter ?: Lydia This chapter is set t$o years after Lydia #egan teaching "hapel to read, and at this point, she has realised that she is “in love &ith a slave” Mr Whitechapel, Lydia’s father, catches catches the t$o of them, t hem, and tells them they “must never see the light of day together' must never read together' nor &rite' not sit together' nor exchange &ritten communication' nor spea* of these &ic*ed secret meetings to anyone” Mr Whitechapel again sho$s his progressive desires that are hindered #y the society he resides in #y ac(no$ledging to Lydia that a relationship “might "e possi"le in the future”, #%t “in the next century' perhaps”' leaving Lydia in “total despair” "oo( ta(es a personal ris( in helping to orchestrate the contin%ed meetings #et$een Lydia and "hapel late at night! The line “&e *no& it cannot go on” highlights that altho%gh their meetings a f%ll of 'oy and love, there $ill #e a different o%tcome that the readers are a$are of!
Chapter .@: Lydia This chapter, again from the perspective of Lydia, sho$s Lydia’s ‘t$o lives’ the one she has $ith her family and their epectations of her, and the one she dreams of having $ith "hapel, that is secret and hidden! The reality of her life, $hich Lydia ref%ses to accept d%e to her secret love of "hapel, is that she has no$ “gro&n into a &oman” and $ith that has come the epectations of acting li(e a lady and meeting potential s%itors to marry! Lydia is given deportment lessons #y her mother, and is constantly meeting ne$ men, $ho she holds %p against "hapel to “see ho& they compare”, #%t none have “his &it' intelligence' charm and sensitive nature” Lydia desires to #e $ith "hapel, $ishing that she “&ere "lac*” or that "hapel “&ere &hite” The chapter also foc%ses on Lydia’s attempts to orchestrate a plan to allo$ her and "hapel to #e together #y #oth of them fleeing to the 4orth, $here slavery is a#olished! Their yo%ng love, $ritten thro%gh poetic phrasing and emotional intensity, depicts their “childish” naivety over their sit%ation and their plans for their f%t%re that incl%de children! Their
optimism, commitment and plans for their f%t%re are made more poignant #y the reader’s (no$ledge that they $ill not have a happy ending!
Chapter ..: The Airginian This chapter is a series of editorials from the fictional local ne$spaper ‘The Virginian’ over a period of aro%nd si months! They disc%ss slavery from a position of perceived a%thority, as the plantation comm%nity relies on this p%#lication for ne$s and opinions! Written #y a single person, most entries employ the first:person voice to indicate s%#'ectivity, and they appear to enco%rage disc%ssion #y raising &%estions a#o%t ethical decisions! They even invite reader feed#ac( and enter some echanges $ith readers, as $ith AMiss LB! The editorials also present themselves as so%rces of epert (no$ledge and as a reference for all things to do $ith slavery and r%nning a plantation! This chapter contet%alises many of the novel’s central events and ideas) &%estions of e&%ality and h%man rights, the possi#ility of interracial relationships and even the ed%cation of slaves; the role of a senior slave on a plantation; the conse&%ences of $hite s%periors ta(ing advantage of slave $omen! The passionate and active reader AMiss LB $ho engages in disc%ssion a#o%t slavery $ith the editorial $riter is clearly Lydia, altho%gh she as(s “that her identity "e *ept a secret” 5t first the ne$spaper considers her to #e “intelligent”' of a “delicate mind” and capa#le of “reason” 6o$ever, once she ma(es her #eliefs on the rights of slaves clear, the ne$spaper loses all respect for her, and the chapter concl%des $ith an editorial that shames and sh%ns her! ;pinions from the editorials in 0The Airginian)
A5re $e to attri#%te to slaves all the &%alities $e credit to o%rselves as h%man #eingsF * thin( not!B AEo%ng, n%#ile female slaves are a temptation to %s all, #%t one t hat sho%ld #e religio%sly avoided! They are #lessed $ith yo%th and inspire feelings of l%st in overseers and masters ali(e, that are h%man to eperience $hen they occ%r #%t $rong to act %pon!B Alavery is a #%siness! "hristianity is a faith! lavery ans$ers to o%r physical and material $ell:#eing; "hristianity loo(s after the h%nger of the so%l! The t$o (inds are different types of s%stenance for t$o different (inds of need! ?ne is eterior, the other, interior! ?ne is tangi#le, the other intangi#le!B A?nce $e etend "hristian val%es to incl%de slaves $e then thro$ into &%estion the very #asis of o%r forced enslavement of them! The conf%sion is this) the etension of "hristian principles to a slave is seen as the incl%sion of that slave in all aspects of o%r "hristian life! This vie$ is $rong! *t sho%ld #e possi#le to treat a slave $ith "hristian fairness and instr%ct him in the "hristian faithD$itho%t n%llifying n%llifying the relationship of master and slave!B A5 dep%ty to an overseer has $ritten to me saying too m%ch attention is paid to the plantation o$ners and to the slaves at the epense of that level of poor $hites $ho have to $or( for the former in close proimity to the t he latter! 6e arg%es that the lives of some of these $hites are #arely one r%ng a#ove that of sharing the condition of a slave!B AThere is no sight more perfidio%s than that of a $hite $oman $ith a #lac( man!B
Chapter .3: 6reat 6randmother This chapter is narrated #y the great grandda%ghter of Whitechapel! he #rings to the novel a perspective not addressed else$here) else$here) that of the slaves’ 5frican history! 5ltho%gh her dream of 5frica can only #e #ased on the memories of others, it is as meaningf%l to her as if it $ere her o$n history, and she is h%rt #y Whitechapel’s Whitechapel’s dismissal of her desire to ret%rn to a past she never eperienced! 2or him, as al$ays, the goal is to ma(e a life o%t of the sit%ation
aro%nd him) he says that she is “dream+ing, a"out something +she, doesn)t *no&” and that she sho%ld “ma*e her dreams here” The chapter is called 9reat 9randmother, 9randmother, possi#ly s%ggesting a sense of etension from her ancestors’ past in 5frica thro%gh to her f%t%re $hen she has great grandchildren of her o$n! This lin(s #ac( to the title of the novel) perhaps the ‘longest memory’ is not '%st that of old Whitechapel, #%t a less literal memory that carries thro%gh many generations!
Chapter .7: Sanders Bunior This final chapter is the reflections of anders -%nior %pon discovering the #ody of Whitechapel! 6e ac(no$ledges that Whitechapel $as “a "etter overseer than +him,”' “an example to +his, race” and that it $as him $ho sho$ed anders -%niors “ho& to run things” anders -%nior sho$s little emotion a#o%t "hapel, $ho he sees as “not my "rother” #%t only “the son of a slave” $ho $as “headstrong” and “trou"le” 6e &%estions ho$ Whitechapel co%ld “raise a son &hose nature &as so contrary to +his, o&n” When comparing #oth "hapel and Whitechapel, anders -%nior says that "hapel “did not demonstrate an ounce of your common sense His spirit &as &ild' yours tame His manners uncouth' yours impecca"le” anders -%nior even offers a sym#olic 'ac(et and an apology for t he death of "hapel, #%t maintains that he himself is not responsi#le and had no choice #%t to act as he did! anders -%nior also #elieves that slavery is “a "usiness' not a charity” laves “don)t &or* for +their, o&n living +They, &or* to ma*e Mr #hitechapel richer +Their, lives aren)t +theirs,' "ut his”
orgetting Gchoing the prolog%e >emem#ering, the final $ords in the novel are Whitechapel’s as d%ring his last moments he reflects on his life! 6e almost $elcomes death as a relief from the lifetime of painf%l memories he has carried $ith him, and em#races the end of his life as a $ay to finally “forget” 6e admits he “&as &rong in many things” and that “too much has happened to put right” *t $o%ld ta(e “several lives” or “another hundred years” “to unravel this *notted mess” This s%ggests that, as his great:grandda%ghter’s chapter also indicates, the story offered in this novel is not '%st his o$n #%t that of many more #efore and after him!
