Full Answer
What is the plot of the longest memory?
The Longest Memory Summary. Set in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Virginia, where slavery is an ordinary aspect of life, Fred D’Aguiar’s 1994 novel, The Longest Memory, revolves around one tragic event: the death of the slave Whitechapel ’s son Chapel, who is whipped to death for running away. As various characters reflect on their life on Mr.
What is the best study guide for the longest memory?
Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Fred D’Aguiar's The Longest Memory. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. A concise biography of Fred D’Aguiar plus historical and literary context for The Longest Memory. A quick-reference summary: The Longest Memory on a single page.
When was the longest memory by Fred D'Aguiar published?
The Longest Memory is a short novel (138 pages long) by British writer Fred D'Aguiar that was published in 1994. It was the Guyana-born poet's first novel, The story takes place on a Virginian plantation, in the period before the American Civil War, between 1790 and 1810.
What is a most powerful multi-perspective story?
A most powerful multi-perspective story set in the early 19th century slavery era of southern states America. The oldest slave on Mr Whitechapel’s plantation - Whitechapel - despite his long memory, wants to forget. The loss of his only son, and his unwitting role in it, haunts him.
How long does it take to read the longest memory?
The average reader will spend 2 hours and 17 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).
What are the themes in the longest memory?
The Longest Memory ThemesFreedom vs. Obedience. ... Racism and Inequality. ... Punishment and Cruelty. ... Love, Sex, and Family.
Is the longest memory a true story?
The Longest Memory - powerful, beautifully crafted, internationally acclaimed fictional debut of prizewinning Guyanese poet Fred D'Aguiar, tells the story of a rebellious, fiercely intelligent young slave, who in 1810 attempts to flee a Virginia plantation - and of his father who inadvertently betrays him.
Why is it called the longest memory?
The 'Longest Memory' referred to in the title is the memory of slavery that has been passed down from generation to generation and has had a lasting negative impact, especially on the black descendants of the original victims.
What does The Longest Memory say about slavery?
In 'The Longest Memory' it is a matter of racism, power and economics to punish a slave who sought freedom in a very public way deliberately teaching others of the consequences of challenging the authority of the plantation owner and Southern society at large.
What is the plot of The Longest Memory?
Written in taut, poetic language, THE LONGEST MEMORY is set on a Virginian plantation in the 19th century, and tells the tragic story of a rebellious, fiercely intelligent young slave who breaks all the rules: in learning to read and write, in falling in love with a white girl, the daughter of his owner, and, finally, ...
Who is the protagonist of the longest memory?
The Longest Memory CharactersWhitechapel. Whitechapel, the protagonist of the novel, is the oldest and most trusted slave on Mr. ... Chapel. ... Mr. ... Lydia. ... Cook. ... Editor of The Virginian. ... Sanders Junior. ... Sanders Senior.More items...•
Why did Whitechapel betray his son?
He attempts to run away and join his lover in the north. However his father, Whitechapel, betrays his whereabouts, fearing that his son will die if he is not captured and returned home to the plantation.
Why does chapel run away in the longest memory?
Chapel, though, considers his father a kind of “jailer” himself. Therefore, after Cook falls sick and dies, Chapel trusts that he no longer has a reason to stay on the plantation. He decides to run away, suddenly feeling free and happy instead of fearful.
Who has the longest memory?
Marine mammals can remember their friends after 20 years apart, study says. Sorry, elephants: Dolphins have taken the top spot for best memory, at least for now. New experiments show that bottlenose dolphins can remember whistles of other dolphins they'd lived with after 20 years of separation.
Who dies in the longest memory?
The Longest Memory Summary. Set in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Virginia, where slavery is an ordinary aspect of life, Fred D'Aguiar's 1994 novel, The Longest Memory, revolves around one tragic event: the death of the slave Whitechapel's son Chapel, who is whipped to death for running away.
When did slavery end in the US?
1865Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or ...
How is oppression shown in the longest memory?
Oppression is similarly maintained in The Longest Memory, where physical violence, and even just the threat of possible physical violence, is used to enslave African Americans. Plus, all of this racial violence was justified by the socio-economic interests of enslavers.
Why did Whitechapel betray his son?
He attempts to run away and join his lover in the north. However his father, Whitechapel, betrays his whereabouts, fearing that his son will die if he is not captured and returned home to the plantation.
What is the meaning of chattel slavery?
Chattel slavery means that one person has total ownership of another. There are two basic forms of chattel, domestic chattel, with menial household duties and productive chattel, working in the fields or mines.
Why does chapel run away in the longest memory?
Chapel, though, considers his father a kind of “jailer” himself. Therefore, after Cook falls sick and dies, Chapel trusts that he no longer has a reason to stay on the plantation. He decides to run away, suddenly feeling free and happy instead of fearful.
Plot
A young slave, Chapel, falls in love with the daughter of the plantation owner. He attempts to run away and join his lover in the north. However his father, Whitechapel, betrays his whereabouts, fearing that his son will die if he is not captured and returned home to the plantation.
Reception
Praising the novel in her review in The Independent, Ruth Padel wrote: "Lyric optimism from rottenness and violence: a brilliant - and beautiful - achievement." The review in Kirkus Reviews concluded: "A small book with the emotional impact of a wide-screen blockbuster, the reasoned progress of a play, and the painful beauty of poetry."
Awards
The Longest Memory was the winner of the 1994 Whitbread First Novel Award and the David Higham Prize for Fiction .
Setting and Context
The novel is set on a Virginia slave plantation in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Narrator and Point of View
The novel is narrated through the voices of several characters; the point of view shifts every chapter to a different character's perspective.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Whitechapel; his antagonists include his son, Sanders Junior and Senior, and his grandchildren.
Major Conflict
The novel's major conflict is that Whitechapel betrays his son Chapel by telling the slave master which escape route Chapel has taken; upon Chapel's capture Sanders Junior lashes Chapel to death and Whitechapel blames himself.
Climax
The novel reaches its climax when Sanders Junior finds Whitechapel curled up and lying dead on the ground.
Allusions
D'Aguiar writes that Chapel and Lydia read about star-crossed lovers, an allusion to Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.
