Clotel · Question
How does Clotel develop the theme of Corruption of Christianity?
Answer
Clotel by William Wells Brown develops Corruption of Christianity across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The book criticizes professed Christians and religious institutions for supporting and legitimizing slavery, using religion to justify oppression rather than promote justice and mercy.
Brown argues that professed Christians and clergy who own slaves give the system legitimacy, and that true abolition requires exposing their hypocrisy.
A clergyman purchases Currer for house service, highlighting the hypocrisy of religious figures participating in the slave trade.
Ministers and magistrates use the public execution to preach obedience to slaves, twisting religious authority to uphold slavery.
Evidence in the book
- Preface to the 1853 Edition
Brown argues that professed Christians and clergy who own slaves give the system legitimacy, and that true abolition requires exposing their hypocrisy.
- Going to the South
A clergyman purchases Currer for house service, highlighting the hypocrisy of religious figures participating in the slave trade.
- III: The Negro Chase
Ministers and magistrates use the public execution to preach obedience to slaves, twisting religious authority to uphold slavery.
- The Religious Teacher
Snyder's sermon and the catechism distort Christian teachings to enforce slave obedience, while Georgiana presents a genuine Christian abolitionist perspective.
- X: The Young Christian
Georgiana argues that Southern Christians and ministers distort the Bible to justify slavery, making Christianity complicit in oppression.
- XI: The Parson Poet
Mr. Peck, a Christian parson, writes a racist poem dehumanizing a slave child and defends the use of enslaved people for medical dissection, revealing the moral hypocrisy of slaveholding Christianity.
- A Slave Hunting Parson
Mr. Peck and Jones use religion to justify slavery and maintain control, while participating in brutal violence like hunting slaves with dogs.
- XVIII: The Liberator
The Carltons reject Snyder's sermons as tools to keep slaves docile, instead teaching the gospel in its pure form, which the slaves appreciate.
