Slavery Escape: The Story Behind "The Underground Railroad"

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
How does the History of our Country affect the Underground Railroad? What liberties has Whitehead taken with history, and What Effect do they have on the Characters and the Story?
The underground railroad had several routes and hidden safe houses during the mid-nineteenth century. The history of the Underground Railroad is defined by the movement of African-Americans during their escape to other states. The term describes the connections and interactions between slaves and the sympathetic people who helped them escape. Slaves continually looked forward to the day when they finally get the freedom. This anticipation was geared by conspiracies such as the North star conspiracy, which they thought could lead them to the land of liberty. The Escape Plan was facilitated by the Society of Friends, primarily composed of abolitionists (GOODHEART). The movement of the slaves was traced to the Free States in the areas as far as Colombia. However, the target destination was Canada since its boundaries had several inlets. Moreover, Canada was safe from slave Hunters and laws against slaves. Regions such as Mexico were also considered safe from slave hunters since slavery has been abolished. The escape strategy was never a physical Railroad; instead, it was a network of the Society of Friends who helped the slaves escape.
Therefore, the idea of the railroad that existed in the underground was a metaphoric expression. The underground railroad is a name used to refer to the slaves who tried to escape and those who assisted them. However, the slaveholders learned about the escape at some point and tried to intercept. The Escape Plan wants ahead for a long while before it was officially known. The history of the Underground Railroad helps to understand the origin of current political issues. Moreover, the study of this history is essential in analyzing the history of social injustices, such as racism in the present. This essay is based on research on the history of the Underground Railroad compared to the novel by Colson Whitehead. The book tells a related story to the real story; however, the author’s perception of the Underground Railroad is based on an actual route. Colson Whitehead unveils the untold narrative on the plight of slaves in the plantation and during the escape.
“The Underground Railroad,” a fictional story by Colson Whitehead, tells the story of slavery escape (Whitehead). The story begins in a cotton plantation in Georgia belonging to Mr. Randall, where slaves are frequently searching for freedom. The story begins by describing the life of Cora as an orphan after her mother flees from the plantation. The author reflects themes from narratives written by federal Writers such as the courage portrayed by the slaves. Furthermore, the author narrates the story of the Underground Railroad to emphasize the plight of slavery. Randall is in search of the slaves, among them Cora, who is Mabel’s daughter. Randall is a slave catcher who tries to avenge the escape of Mabel, Cora’s mother. The story focuses on Cora, who represents the struggles of women in a society full of hostility. The author gives detailed descriptions to give life to the initially metaphoric Underground Railroad.
Furthermore, other characters, such as Ridgeway, are essential in building up the themes of slavery. What makes the novel an unrealistic the distinct nature of how the author applies the themes such as love in the sad story of slavery. It is challenging to determine whether the information is real or imagined. Cora is a character of crucial significance in the novel as she influences several themes during her escape. Cora is continuously in search of freedom but instead encounters several challenges during the journey. When she is convinced of finding deliverance, it occurs to her that she is still on the pursuit to hide from the slave catchers. Ridgeway is motivated by the futile efforts to find Mabel and is in a continuous quest to ruin the abolition network. Moreover, on Cora’s way to evade the wrath of Ridgeway, she faces the risk of being caught by informants, spies, and bounty hunters. The author builds a story creatively around a small family and their experience with the Underground Railroad.
Colson Whitehead uses the history of the Underground Railroad to establish themes that are not reflected by historical data. Narratives by Federal authors are focused on a general view of the incidence that transpired years before the historical civil war. These authors describe how slaves disappeared mysteriously from the plantation. Furthermore, the writers refer to the network that supported the escape as the Underground Railroad. Whitehead reflects several concepts presented by the federal writers in his novel. However, his story contains detailed descriptions that build on the imagery of what transpired. Whitehead achieves his motives by focusing on a small community to share the experiences of slaves in the plantations. The author’s perspective establishes that besides the suffering experienced by captives, the escape was equally strenuous and risky.
Moreover, Whitehead’s novel philosophically criticizes the narratives by the federal writers. The author’s intricacy suggests that more details on the plight of slaves are intentionally omitted. In the author’s descriptions, he describes how Cora was raped and assaulted (Whitehead). Moreover, Whitehead describes the degree of harassment imposed on slaves. The slaves experience routine whipping, assault, and humiliation in the plantation. Whitehead’s version of the Underground Railroad captures the emotions of the slaves on the farm. Furthermore, the novel describes the forces that led to their rebellion and the need to escape from the plantations. The narratives by federal authors appear to be biased based on their lack of sentimental touch, which Whitehead’s focus is built. Colson Whitehead demonstrates skillful use of characters and descriptive language to depict his t...