Slavery in the Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

John Absolon, View in the East Nave; The Greek Slave, by Power [sic], from "Recollections of the Great Exhibition, 1851"

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

This version of the Greek Slave differs from previous versions in one crucial way: the alteration of the woman's constraints. Though some scholars argue for ideological or historical motivations behind "swapping out the link chain associated with American slavery for more historically accurate rectangular manacles" (Miller 646), Powers explained the reason as a matter of… more

On June 7, 1851, Punch, a satirical London-based magazine, published a series of critiques of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Though these various cartoons and written criticisms ranged from class disparities to the exportation of cultural and economic production, this image by John Tenniel,… more

Based on the original 1841-1843 model, this particular iteration of the statue was carved by Powers in 1846. Though the woman's figure and form would remain essentially the same in each successive version, this statue includes the smaller chain connecting the shackles around her wrists that would later be replaced by longer, thicker links that, in Powers's view, took less time and effort to… more

Page 4 of Richard Barrett's manuscript.
Accession #: n.d./137

Transcription: nose in all the African deformity of breadth gave him a fierce & forbid-
ding countenance: otherwise he was of stout make, & full four inches taller
than Austin. Copperbottom was [illegible] forty… more

Page 3 of Richard Barrett's manuscript.
Accession #: n.d./137

Transcription: fight. Davy was old, infirm, & by nature a coward. But Austin knew that
a witness would be useful should Copperbottom fall in the conflict. They
had not… more

Page 2 of Richard Barrett's manuscript.
Accession #: n.d./137

Transcription: and plantain walks, till at length, as of by universal consent, he was per-
mitted to take without question whatever he had a fancy to. One day he
made his appearance in the plantain walk of the estate to which Austin
was attached, & told the watchman Davy,… more

Page 1 of Richard Barrett's manuscript.
Accession #: n.d./137

Transcript: Austin was a creole negro slave, & lived on his master's property in the
Island of Jamaica. His good conduct had secured him the confidence
of several successive overseers, & he became the head-driver or black
overseer of the estate. His authority over… more

Page 26 of EBB's manuscript of "The African."
Accession #: EBB MSS, D0015.1

Transcription:
No more – they could not feel such misery. . . . . . . .
And she is here – and that cold thing is he – !
And fast, and faster from her throat,
The sob convulsive heaves –
And loud, and louder it… more

Page 25 of EBB's manuscript of "The African."
Accession #: EBB MSS, D0015.1

Transcription:
But oh! what quick, light timid step
O’er the green sod is heard,
And rushing thro the plantains deep
A female form appeared:
And as in haste she passes by
Phrenzy glares wildly from her eye –
Oh Affa, Affa! it is thou
Sweet child of… more