Slave System Labels Roxy example essay topic

People are Shaped by Their Environment For a long time, people have argued over whether an individuals behavior is controlled solely by their environment. Their experiences, and the people they grow up with shape the way they behave as people. People teach others ways of acting and thinking that are kept for the rest of their lives. In Mark Twain's, Pudd'n head Wilson, the characters live in a society that criticizes the way they live their daily lives. The town's expectations, opinions and values affect their personalities.

For these reasons, environment is the driving force shaping the way individuals live. Chambers, who grows up in an environment of discrimination and abuse, becomes ashamed and insecure about himself. For example, because Roxy swapped Chambers and Tom, therefore switching their environments: Tom got all the petting, Chambers got none. Tom got all the delicacies, Chambers got mush and milk, and clabber without sugar. In consequence Tom was a sickly child and Chambers wasn't. Tom was 'fractious,' as Roxy called it, and overbearing; Chambers was meek and docile (41).

The slave system insists that because Chambers is 'black' he must be treated differently from those who are not. The punishment Chambers receives emotionally scar his thoughts and causes him to act inferior. In addition, when Chambers finally finds out his true identity, 'The real heir suddenly found himself rich and free, but in a most embarrassing situation. He could neither read nor write, and his speech was the basest dialect of the Negro quarter' (166).

The effects of his damaging childhood have now affected his capability to become the successful man he could have been. Although Chambers is now free from slavery, with an abundance of money in his pocket, he will not be able to attain his intelligence. Furthermore, Chambers is uncomfortable with accepting the white man's lifestyle because, 'he could not endure the terrors of the white man's parlor, and felt at home and at peace nowhere but in the kitchen' (166). Ashamed to be in the same room with the people that treated him unfairly when he was considered 'black' Chambers refuses to come into acquaintance with the whites. Chambers has become so insecure about his lifestyle as a slave, he prefers to be alone rather than be exposed to further discrimination.

Chambers's environment causes him to lack confidence and security of himself. Roxy, although only one sixteenth black, is shaped by the slave system, which defines her as a black, slave woman. For example, although the slave system labels Roxy as black, 'To all intents and purposes Roxy was as white as anybody, but the one sixteenth of her which was black outvoted the other fifteen parts and made her a Negro. She was a slave, and salable as such. ' (29) The Dawson's Landing community base their treatment toward Roxy on the fact that she has a little portion of black ancestry in her, without recognizing her as a 'whole. ' By taking away her freedoms as an individual, Roxy becomes less in control of her life.

In addition, not only does the slave system label Roxy, but also change her ways of acting because, 'She has an easy, independent carriage-when she was among her own caste-and a high and 'sassy' way, withal; but of course she was meek and humble enough where white people were. ' (29) Roxy degrades herself in the presence of whites, showing how much disrespect she has lost through the slave system. Although Roxy demeans herself, she shows true pride of who she is when she is around her fellow blacks because she is not scared of them. Furthermore, Tom's treatment towards her is brutal when he, 'had long ago taught Roxy her place. It had been many a day now since she had ventured a caress or a fondling epithet in his quarter... and she had been warned to keep her distance and remember who she was. ' (44).

Roxy's attitude changes, through the beatings she receives, from someone who she brought into the world. Roxy has sunk from the magnificent height of motherhood to the grave depths of slavery. Roxy's life is based solely upon the methods of the slave system. Tom who is brought up as a spoiled, wealthy, white master, is physically and mentally abusive towards those around him. For example, because Roxy angered him in a previous encounter: Tom had long ago taught Roxy her place. It had been many a day now since she had ventured a caress or a fondling epithet in his quarter.

Such things, from a 'n were repulsive to him, and she had been warned to keep her distance and remember who she was (44). Tom's overpowering lifestyle causes him to believe he has the right to beat on Roxy. Tom was taught to believe that he has the authority over 'n which has an affect on the way he treats his slaves. In addition, Tom intends to humiliate Pudd'n head Wilson by bringing up his unusual hobby in front of the Capella twins asking: How's the Awful Mystery flourishing these days? Wilson's got a scheme for driving plain window glass out of the market by decorating it with.