The Count's inebriated state creates a role reversal. The slaves have an opportunity to have fun at the Count's expense, an opportunity they realize they will probably never have again. By attempting to end the dinner before the Count embarrasses himself further, Emundo places himself firmly on the side of the Count, and, just as firmly, positions himself against the field slaves. Instead of performing the role of attending to the master, Emundo defends the master against the slaves, something he need not necessarily do.
Are you forgetting the role you have to play? Your master! Clear off" The Count's outburst is a doctrine practiced largely on the field slaves, the ideology that the black has been given a subservient role in his life and he must never attempt to transcend it. The insult sparks laughter among field slaves, and this humiliation may be worse for Emundo than the tongue-lashing from the Count. The Count's participation in the field slaves' mockery of Emundo positions the field hands in a role of intimacy with the Count, a role exclusively for Emundo until he tries to defend the Count from making a mockery of himself.
Emundo's position is the result of the Count's generosity, a position Emundo knows relies on the premise that he remains loyal to the Count in all circumstances. Up until this point Emundo's loyalty merits rewards, among them the assurance that he is a friend of the Count and deserves his position above the field hands.
Now Emundo is commanded to believe the exact opposite, that he is the outsider and the field slaves at the table have usurped his position. Emundo's power and status are taken away in an instant, creating a much worse state of mind than the field slaves except Antonio who have never experienced Emundo's position of privilege. Antonio and Ambrosio, both field slaves who internalized feelings of worthlessness forced on them by the institution the Count defends, side with Emundo by interrupting the field slaves' fun.
The Count is unconscious, something Antonio and Ambrosio are clearly aware of when they defend the Count as a good master. This awareness of the Count's unconsciousness puts the two slaves in the most difficult position of all, a house slave working in the field, defending a master when doing so will not result in any reward from the Count. This dialogue recognizes the difficult role of the field hands who have maintained or wish to maintain the house slave position. As the current household slave, Emundo's position is the most difficult of all, a position the film makes sympathetic.
He can never be accepted or respected by the field slaves around him, a fact that becomes obvious when Antonio is ignored throughout the dinner after siding with the count at the beginning of the supper.
Though such relationships did not always impact the slave's relationship with other slaves in any significant way, they could lead the slave to act as an informant reporting on the activities of her fellow enslaved. On the other hand, girls who waited upon tables could serve the slave community as rich sources of information, gossip, and warnings.
Joyner Rare E What could I do without boss? Where would I live? How would I dress? Who would look out for me? But if you went to the field Negro and said, "Let's go, let's separate," he wouldn't even ask you where or how. He'd say, "Yes, let's go. So now you have a twentieth-century-type of house Negro. A twentieth-century Uncle Tom. He's just as much an Uncle Tom today as Uncle Tom was and years ago.
Only he's a modern Uncle Tom. That Uncle Tom wore a handkerchief around his head. Proximity to the family could also be a drawback. Slaves often developed bonds with the owners and knew the family tensions. Also, they were encouraged to report on field slaves who stole and otherwise disobeyed. This gave house slaves the reputation of being snitches, and many of them were.
Owners rewarded informants with special gifts. Whether you were a field slave or a house slave, you still lived in bondage. Leave this field empty. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published.
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