Domesticity in Our Nig by Harriet Wilson

Even though this is the second time that I have read Our Nig, I was horrified anew at the inhumanity of the Bellmont family. Not only the physical beatings, but the silencing of Frado caused me to cringe again and again. As I was reading it and consequently talking with Amanda about it, I kept wondering, "Why are we reading this book?" (specially after reading The Lamplighter)."What meaning can I make of this supposed sentimental novel?" It wasn't until I read Lois Leveen's article (provided by Dr. Gaul) that I really began to see Wilson's novel as a response to and a commentary on white domesticity in nineteenth-century America. Leveen's spatial analysis of Frado's entrapment and "Mrs. Bellmont's sitting-room racism" (575)is fascinating.

Before reading the article, I clearly saw Mrs. B and Mary as evil, and Mr. B as complicit in their cruelty. However, I was inclined to see Aunt Abby, Jane, Jack, and James as Frado's "friends" who helped her make the best of a bad situation. But Leveen's article helped me to see that they really were not Frado's friends--they were just as guilty as Mrs. B, Mary, and Mr. B in imprisoning Frado in their house. Even though they didn't abuse her, they never helped her escape and even used her as a screen to deflect Mrs. B's abuse off of themselves. I don't need to reiterate all Leveen's points here, but I do want to say that she helped me to see a different face of domesticity than those I have been reading about, especially when looking at The Lamplighter. Gerty's life is similar to Frado's--both are orphaned/abandoned and both find new caretakers. But because Frado is a mulatta and Gerty is white, Frado's entry into domestic spaces is a descent into domestic hell and Gerty's is into a domestic heaven. Gerty finds friendship, love, and acceptance in domestic space. Frado finds none of these. She is entirely trapped and tortured in the spaces because of her skin color and status as indentured servant (not "help" as Gerty would be). Even when Frado finishes her indenture and can physically leave the Bellmont's house, she still does not have her own domestic space and must work for other people. When she is abandoned by her husband, this is further evidence that she cannot enter into the domestic space that white women can. She is forever shut out of domesticity because of her skin color. So, while this posting may not make much sense, and is in no way as thorough of an analysis as Leveen's, I hope this blog does evidence that my thoughts and perceptions about domesticity have been expanded by reading both the primary and secondary text.