This paper deals with the status of contrabands in American society and the racial prejudice, they must cope with. In a second step, the Freudian concept of 'displacement' will be discussed and connected to Freud’s findings about the super-ego. Finally, the findings of the previous chapters will be used to look at the primary text "My Contraband" by Louisa May Alcott in more detail. The choice of words, especially the choice of colours, is worth taking a closer look at. Further textual evidence will also be discussed in order to look at what image of her contraband the nurse is producing and why she does so.
"My Contraband" is certainly a story about race. However, it is not a story about racial prejudice and stereotypes. Quite on the contrary, it is a story about interracial sexuality. Although this interpretation might go a little too far, it certainly offers a quite uncommon view on the African American. Baym et al. admits that "My Contraband"only offers suggestions about such a possibility, for example a relationship between the two races.
As we see the story world through the first-person narrator’s eyes, we get access to Miss Dane’s perceptions and thoughts. Miss Dane is a nurse and in the short story has the task to look after a wounded captain. When she enters the captain’s sickroom for the first time she gets to see not only her patient but also the contraband who has been housed in the adjoining room. The first description of her impressions of him is very straightforward. She tells the reader that she feels decidedly more interested in the black man than in the white.
Being attracted to a 'black' person and admitting this as clearly as in this passage is most likely to meet strong opposition in the society Miss Dane lives in. Although the reader can clearly see that Miss Dane does not show signs of racial prejudice, she still accepts the distribution of roles that the American society dictates. When she asks a favour of him she wants to offer comfort as a friend but instead merely gives an order as a mistress,
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Contraband: Social Status and Racial Prejudice
- Miss Dane: Reality and (Day)dreams
- White Blacks and Black Whites – Identifying 'Displacement'
- Concluding Discussion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Louisa May Alcott's My Contraband, focusing on the complex portrayal of race and the unconventional depiction of interracial attraction. It examines the protagonist's feelings and how she rationalizes them within the context of prevailing social norms and racial prejudice.
- The social status and racial prejudice faced by contrabands during the American Civil War.
- The psychological mechanisms, specifically "displacement," employed by the protagonist to reconcile her attraction to a Black man.
- The role of racial stereotypes and representations in shaping societal attitudes.
- Analysis of Alcott's word choice, particularly the use of color imagery, in constructing the narrative.
- The exploration of interracial relationships and the challenges faced in a racially charged society.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central focus of the paper: an analysis of Louisa May Alcott's My Contraband, challenging the typical interpretation of the story solely as a narrative of racial prejudice. Instead, it highlights the unconventional portrayal of interracial attraction and suggests a psychoanalytic approach to understanding the protagonist's feelings and actions. The chapter introduces Miss Dane, the nurse who becomes attracted to a Black contraband, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of her internal conflict and the societal context that shapes her perceptions and behaviors. The chapter foreshadows the use of Freud's concept of displacement to interpret the protagonist's psychological processes.
The Contraband: Social Status and Racial Prejudice: This chapter delves into the historical context of contrabands during the American Civil War, exploring their legal and social status. It examines how the term "contraband" itself, initially referring to smuggled goods, reflects the dehumanizing perception of enslaved people as property. The chapter traces the evolution of the term's usage, from its initial application by General Benjamin F. Butler to the legal recognition of freedom for contrabands within Union lines. It further analyzes the lingering racial prejudice and distrust that persisted even after the Civil War, despite the abolition of slavery, highlighting how economic and political factors contributed to the perpetuation of racist ideologies. The chapter also discusses the influence of Darwin's theory of evolution on scientific justifications for racial inequality and the pervasive use of degrading images of Black people in white culture. The prevalent stereotypes presented in minstrel shows and the concept of "white supremacy" are discussed as key elements of the prevailing social context.
Keywords
My Contraband, Louisa May Alcott, interracial relationships, racial prejudice, displacement (psychoanalytic), contrabands, Civil War, racial stereotypes, white supremacy, minstrel shows, social status, psychological analysis, color imagery.
Frequently Asked Questions: Louisa May Alcott's *My Contraband*
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes Louisa May Alcott's My Contraband, going beyond a simple interpretation of racial prejudice. It examines the unconventional portrayal of interracial attraction and uses a psychoanalytic approach to understand the protagonist's feelings and actions.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the social status and racial prejudice faced by contrabands during the American Civil War; the psychological mechanisms, specifically "displacement," used by the protagonist to reconcile her attraction to a Black man; the role of racial stereotypes; Alcott's use of language; and the exploration of interracial relationships in a racially charged society.
What is the role of the historical context in the analysis?
The paper deeply explores the historical context of contrabands during the Civil War, including their legal and social status, the dehumanizing perception of enslaved people, and the lingering racial prejudice after the war. It examines how economic and political factors, Darwin's theory of evolution, minstrel shows, and the concept of "white supremacy" contributed to racist ideologies and stereotypes.
How does the paper analyze the protagonist's feelings?
The paper analyzes the protagonist's feelings and actions through a psychoanalytic lens, focusing on the concept of "displacement" to understand how she reconciles her attraction to a Black man within the context of prevailing social norms and racial prejudice.
What literary techniques are analyzed in the paper?
The paper analyzes Alcott's word choice, particularly the use of color imagery, and how it contributes to the narrative's construction and the portrayal of racial dynamics.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview offers summaries for the Introduction, which sets the stage and introduces the protagonist's internal conflict; and "The Contraband: Social Status and Racial Prejudice," which delves into the historical context of contrabands and the pervasive racial prejudice of the era.
What are the keywords associated with this academic paper?
Keywords include My Contraband, Louisa May Alcott, interracial relationships, racial prejudice, displacement (psychoanalytic), contrabands, Civil War, racial stereotypes, white supremacy, minstrel shows, social status, psychological analysis, and color imagery.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Louisa May Alcott's My Contraband, focusing on the complex portrayal of race, interracial attraction, and the psychological impact of societal prejudice on individuals.
- Citar trabajo
- Sven Klees (Autor), 2017, 'Displacement' in Louisa May Alcott's "My Contraband", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/950025
