In this story by Charles W. Chesnutt, a highly respected sheriff with a strong sense of duty protects an alleged murderer from a vigilante mob. He later learns that the prisoner, a mixed race former slave, is his son by a slave woman he had once owned. Believing his son to be innocent, the sheriff faces a dilemma. Should he do his duty (keep him safe until his trial and almost certain hanging) or take responsibility for his welfare (let him ‘escape’)? Themes: race and racism, frontier justice, slavery, identity, regret, duty vs. responsibility. More…
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The Goophered Grapevine
Set shortly after the American Civil War, this story from Charles W. Chesnutt is about a “Northerner” with an interest in grape cultivation who moves to the South for his wife’s health. While inspecting a derelict vineyard, they meet a “colored man” who tells how the previous owner had a sorceress put a spell (goopher) on the grapes to stop them being stolen. He then describes the sad fate of a newly acquired slave who, unaware of the spell, “sampled” the grapes. Themes: racism and slavery, the supernatural, greed, exploitation, dishonesty, trickery, karma. More…