He also says that he had a natural talent for planning and leadership, so that, even when he was a child, the other black children expected him to plan their roguery because of his superior judgment (Gray, 5). 2023 Smithsonian Magazine While he claims that these confessions were recorded with little or no variation, Grays verbose introduction addressed to the public was intended to frame Turner and as a psychotic villain that was rightfully punished for his unlawful acts against society. How does Gordon Wood describe the Amercan colonists? Then in 1828 he became a Justice of the Peace and served as a magistrate for the first time. Why did people like Booker T. Washington? without attempting to make this slightest resistance" (p. 3). Though he was not the attorney who represented Nat Turner, instead he interviewed him and wrote The Confessions of Nat Turner. When he was 21 his father gave him 400 acres at Round Hill where there was a structure worth about $50. How were Harriet Tubman and Elizabeth Blackwell alike? Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, How Nat Turner Explained the Slave Rebellion He Led. Gray attached a sworn statement signed by six members of the county court, certifying that the confessions were read to Turner in their presence and that Turner acknowledged the same to be full, free, and voluntary. Gray verified that he recorded the confessions of Turner with little or no variation, from his own words. As for the sincerity and truthfulness of the prisoner, Gray said he cross-examined Turner and found his statement corroborated by the confessions of other prisoners and other circumstances. How are Thomas Jefferson and George Washington different? Without the literary-historical controversy surrounding Styrons novel, however, the 1831 Confessions of Nat Turner most likely would not be enjoying this scholarly renaissance. Gray served as Turner's amanuensis, interviewing him over the course of three days, writing down what he said, cross-examining him, and then structuring the narrative as he saw fit. Nat Turner hid in several different places near the Travis farm, but on October 30 was discovered and captured. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/rhetorical-analysis-of-the-confessions-of-nat-turner-essay. This interview was published as, "The Confessions of. The most consequential signs appeared in the months prior to the revolt. Turners views were clearly unacceptable to the whites who controlled Southamptons interracial churches. Why is Frederick Jackson Turner important? [3], In 1829 he bought his brother Roberts property - who had recently died - (giving him 800 acres of real property), he also bought a lot - a piece of land - in town with a house and got of another one. During a span of approximately thirty-six hours, on August 21-22, a band of enslaved people murdered over fifty unsuspecting white people around Southampton, Virginia. Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com. Before his family settled in Southampton County, Virginia they lived in Nottoway Parish, Virginia. Why did Frederick Douglass admire John Brown? Turner had many reasons for revolting, but his most important motive was his hatred of slavery and the suffering his people had to endure. Turner eluded his pursuers for six weeks but was finally captured, tried, and hanged. So the first question is, who was Gray and why was he doing this? Perhaps for similar reasons, when blacks referred Turner at the trials, they called him Captain Nat or General Nat, instead of alluding to his religious position as a preacher or a prophet. Though their families worked the same Southampton County soil, their birthrights could not have been more different. Though he may not have been as vicious as Gray portrayed him to be, the description was meant to to bring its object into a field of vision, to make that object speak for itself convincingly and to give it form, character, and tone (Browne, 319). Thomas Ruffin Gray (1800 - unknown) was an American attorney who represented several enslaved people during the trials in the wake of Nat Turner's slave rebellion. Gray, Thomas R. Title. [8] Gray then worked with Theodore Trezevant at compiling lists of the killed and the defendants. The author describes Nat as intelligent because of his thinking and highly dangerous because of his actions and how Nat doesn't feel any sorrow for his actions. It gave enslavers and their sympathizers a plausible explanation for the uprising, one that placed the blame on a single charismatic leader acting under extraordinary conditions. Updates? Gray attributed the insurrection to religious enthusiasm and fanaticism of a mind warped and perverted by the influence of early impressions. That Turner was every bit the madman he appeared to be, Gray had little doubt. In November of 1831, shortly before to his execution, Turner gave a jailhouse confession, to attorney Thomas Gray, to answer the question. ". How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions? A planned slave revolt led by a blacksmith named Gabriel (owned by Thomas Prosser, of Henrico County) is thwarted when a huge storm delays the meeting of the conspirators and a few nervous slaves reveal the plot to their masters. What was the purpose of Nat Turner rebellion? But the slave rebel turned Gray's purpose to his own advantage. copyright 2003-2023 Homework.Study.com. Gray seems to want to emphasize the power of whites following the insurrection, making a point of including the fact that "Nat's only weapon was a small light sword which he immediately surrendered, and begged that his life might be spared" (p. 3). Armed resistance from the local whites and the arrival of the state militiaa total force of 3,000 menprovided the final crushing blow. The calm way he spoke of his late actions, the expression of his fiend-like face when excited by enthusiasm, still bearing the stains of the blood of helpless innocence about him. First, God communicated directly to him: at one point, "the Lord had shewn me things that had happened before my birth.". All rights reserved. 15, Thomas R. Gray Yet, when Turner fell ill, the date passed without action. Thomas R. Gray, The Confessions of Nat Turner, 1831 [ p. 3] TO THE PUBLIC. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. When Turner tried to join one of these churches, the church refused to baptize the religious slave who saw himself as a prophet. How did Thomas R. Gray describe Nat Turner? Turner describes two other ways that God communicated with him. Grays pamphlet, he wrote, would only serve to rouse up other black leaders and cause other insurrections, by creating among blacks admiration for the character Nat, and a deep undying sympathy for his cause.. question, I suggest you search "The Confessions Of Nat Turner by Abraham may have been his father. 12. Why did Nat Turner believe slavery should be abolished? By clicking Check Writers Offers, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. - Definition & Abolition. Will responded his life was worth no more than others, and his liberty as dear to him. Will professed no loyalty to Turner and gave no hint that he believed in Turners religion. Indeed, Sundquist wrote, given its formative role in the course of African American cultural history and both anti- and proslavery argument, it is hard to imagine why Turners Confessions should not be accorded the same attention granted, say, Emersons Self-Reliance or Thoreaus Civil Disobedience.'. Kenneth S. Greenberg, professor, and Chair of the History Department at Suffolk University explains why Gray's book is not reliable as one may think. It should be noted, however, that Gray maintained all control over the text. Type your requirements and Ill connect you to NARRATOR (VO) It was there in a jail cell that Nat Turner first encountered a local lawyer, Thomas R. Gray. The Spirit that spoke to the prophets in former daysand I was greatly astonished, and for two years prayed continually, whenever my duty would permitand then again I had the same revelation, which fully confirmed me in the impression that I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty. Meanwhile, the book arguably is one of two American literary classics to come from the revolt, the other being The Confessions of Nat Turner, the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel by Virginia-native William Styron, published at the height of the Black Power movement in September 1967. Why was Thomas Johnson famous for Maryland? I was determined to end public curiosity and write down Nat Turner's statements, and publish . How were Booker T. Washington and Ben Franklin similar? Learn the history of the U.S. slavery system, including the definition of an abolitionist and their work versus the pro-slavery movement. The obvious inconsistency between the voice supposedly speaking and the actual language used in this document lessens its authenticity. Turner reportedly answered, "Was not Christ crucified? Nearly two centuries later, the legacy of that question is still evolving. The Confessions of Nat Turner, the Leader of the Late Insurrection in Southampton, Va. Destructive 'Super Pigs' From Canada Threaten the Northern U.S. Did an Ancient Magnetic Field Reversal Cause Chaos for Life on Earth 42,000 Years Ago? What kinds of things convinced Nat Turner that he was destined for some-thing special? A thirty-year old attorney, THOMAS R. GRAY, his clothes clean but frayed, speaks to the JAILER. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. As July 4th approached, he worried himself sick and postponed the revolt. The text was taken from a jailhouse account given by Turner in 1831, shortly before his death. As a lawyer working on Turners case and a supporter of slavery, Gray probably did not feel compelled to present Turners motives and description of the insurrection. Gray said there was 55 white people killed in each of his 4 revisions (remaining consistent) and he also gave the names of 18 of them. Through the open cell door, we see the barely visible features of NAT TURNER covered in chains in the small jail cell. While Turner valued the Bible, he rejected the corollary that scripture alone was the only reliable source of guidance on matters religious and moral. He was born sometime in the early 1800s, the exact date is unknown. Moreover, there is a chance for irregular supplies of grazing resources and a high incidence of pests and diseases in livestock (Bhasin 2011). Gray, who claimed to have had little influence on Turners narration, asked him at one point if he did not find himself mistaken now that the prophecy which he had been called upon to fulfill ended in tragedy. Nat became a preacher who said that he had been chosen by God to lead the slaves away from Bondage. Advertising Notice What is the significance of the Turner Thesis? But he himself only ever lived in Southampton. The late insurrection in Southampton has greatly excited the public mind, and led to a thousand idle, exaggerated and mischievous reports. Local lawyer Thomas R. Gray approached Turner with a plan to take down his confessions. Turner is tormented by his inability to pray or read the Bible, two matters that Thomas Gray, an atheist lawyer and magistrate, uses to coax Turner into making his "confessions." A series of divine occurrences in Turners childhood confirmed his belief that he was intended for some great purpose and that he would surely be a prophet (Gray, 5). There, from November 1 through November 3, he was interviewed by Thomas Ruffin Gray, a 31-year-old lawyer who had previously represented several other defendants charged in the uprising. What makes the Turner Thesis so provocative? Perhaps Turners religious separation from the black community can help make sense of perhaps the most surprising thing about Turners religion: the only disciple that Turner named in his Confessions was Etheldred T. Brantley, a white man. At some point it's believed that Thomas Gray sold these slaves which were called "legacy slaves" and took the money for himself. In the early 1820s he was sold to a neighbouring farmer of small means. His plan was to capture the armoury at the county seat, Jerusalem, and, having gathered many recruits, to press on to the Dismal Swamp, 30 miles (48 km) to the east, where capture would be difficult. 2014). How did he conclude that that something had to do with slavery and rebellion? Nat Turner on His Battle against Slavery. Both Gabriel and Nat Turner were expected to confess their guilt, provide information on means and motive, and, if necessary, help put idle rumors to rest. Thomas R. Gray, a lawyer and plantation owner assigned as Turner's defense counsel, interviewed Turner during his trial and later published The Confessions of Nat Turner, a pamphlet containing the story of Turner's rebellion from his own point of view. Another interesting thing about the confessions is the speaking style Gray claims Turners confessed the events of the insurgence in. Virginia Humanities acknowledges the Monacan Nation, the original people of the land and waters of our home in Charlottesville, Virginia. The leader of the deadly slave revolt had a deep Christian faith that propelled his rebellious actions. He was influenced by those closest to him, including his father and mother strengthened him in the belief of his divine gift, along with his grandmother, who was very religious (Gray, 5). All Rights Reserved. Turner was born the property of a prosperous small-plantation owner in a remote area of Virginia. The Church in the Southern Black Community. Nat Turner (18001831) was known to his local fellow servants in Southampton County as The Prophet. On the evening of Sunday, August 21, 1831, he met six associates in the woods at Cabin Pond, and about 2:00 a.m. they began to enter local houses and kill the white inhabitants. This was not the only time that the religious Turner found himself at odds with the men who would join his revolt. 2020 Virginia Humanities, All Rights Reserved . Following his discovery, capture, and arrest over two months after the revolt, Turner was interviewed in his jail cell by Thomas Ruffin Gray, a wealthy Southampton lawyer and slave owner. Gabriel used the promise of a confession to secure his safe transportation from Norfolk, where he was discovered hiding aboard a ship, to the state capital in Richmond, where he was to stand trial on charges of conspiracy and insurrection. In the Confessions, Nat Turner appears more a fanatic than a practical liberator. As a result, the document has become a springboard for artists who want to imagine the life of the most famous American to rebel against slavery. This, along with his keen intelligence, and other signs marked him in the eyes of his people as a prophet "intended for some great purpose." Gray vividly describes Turners unrelenting nature as, The calm, deliberate composure with which he spoke of his late deeds and intentions, the expression of his fiend-like face when excited by enthusiasm, still bearing the stains of the blood of helpless innocence about him; clothed with rags and covered with chains; yet daring to raise his manacled hands to heaven, with a spirit soaring above the attributes of man; I looked on him and my blood curdled in my veins (Gray, 11). The resulting extended essay, "The Confessions of Nat Turner, The Leader of the Late Insurrection in Southampton, VA.," was used against Turner during his trial. It was intended by us to have begun the work of death on the 4th July last, Turner noted. Ironically, The Confessions of Nat Turner also sparked renewed interest in the original Confessions of Nat Turner. With Turner firmly established as author of the Confessionsof Nat Turner and his radical commentary on race and American democracy fully explicated, the text could assume its rightful place in the literary canon of the American Renaissance. These confessions were intended to create a powerful, yet vicious, image of Turner and his reasons for initiating such a devastating. Styron fictionalized a historic character, Nat Turner, but nevertheless remained faithful to the known facts, most of which came from the 1831 Confessions of Nat Turner. To do so, he had to establish that the confession was voluntary, that the transcript was accurate, and that Turner was telling the truth. Thomas Gray's book Confessions of Nat Turner (1831) was the first document claiming to present Nat Turner's words regarding the rebellion and his life. Once granted an audience with Virginia governor James Monroe, however, Gabriel confessed little or nothing of value to his captors. Reluctance to probe Grays work, he wrote, may reflect the belief that criticism would necessarily call into question the veracity of the narrative he attributes to Nat, and the validity of much of what has come to be accepted as Nats life story and his legacy as one of the earliest and most important black-American revolutionary figures.. Turner, who saw the revolt in Biblical terms, never reconciled himself to this date. Thomas Gray, The Confessions of Nat Turner His Parents Two of the other slaves who came into Benjamin Turner's holdings in January of 1793 were listed as Abraham and Anne. Also, Turner thought it was God's will for him to lead. Privacy Statement Gray hoped to replace a thousand idle, exaggerated and mischievous reports with a single, authoritative account of the event. Nat turner was a leader and he did help slaves to be free. How did James Watson characterize Rosalind Franklin? He argues that the revolt was an isolated event solely fueled by Turners religious extremism and not retaliation against the institution of slavery. Dont know where to start? Almost all of those involved or suspected of involvement in the insurrection were put to death, including Nat Turner, who was the last known conspirator to be captured. The Leader of the Late Insurrections in Southampton, Va. As Fully and Voluntarily Made to Thomas R. Gray, in the Prison Where He Was Confined, and Acknowledged by Him to be Such when Read Before the Court of Southampton; With the Certificate, Under Seal of the Court Convened at Jerusalem . Nat Turner, (born October 2, 1800, Southampton county, Virginia, U.S.died November 11, 1831, Jerusalem, Virginia), Black American slave who led the only effective, sustained slave rebellion (August 1831) in U.S. history. The next day he was delivered to the county sheriff and lodged in the county jail in Jerusalem (now Courtland), Virginia. The incident ended the Emancipation movement in that . He resigned as a Justice of Peace. Spring of 1831, his family lost essentially all of their taxable slaves, its assumed they were forced to sell them because theres no records of them ever freeing anyone. (2016, Dec 25). Gray was deeply disturbed by the scenes he observed as the group went through the areas treaded by the rebellion. It ought to teach [William Lloyd] Garrison and the other fanatics of the North how they meddle with these weak wretches. Garrison, for his part, read the Confessionsof Nat Turner as a testimonial to the heroic stature of Turner. It is notorious, that he was never known to have a dollar in his life; to swear an oath; or drink a drop of spirits. Nor was Turner motivated by revenge or sudden anger. Turners confessions made clear that he viewed Joseph Travis as a kind master against whom he had no special grievance. Nat Turner, 1800?-1831 Turner believes that the signs indicate Christ "was now returning to earth again in the form of dew" and "the great day of judgment" had arrived (pp. motive was his hatred of slavery and the suffering his people had Nat Turner is regarded as a hero by large numbers of black people worldwide. Turner described himself as uncommonly intelligent for a child (Gray, 6). How were Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, and Nat Turner similar? ' Declaring the pamphlet deeply interesting, the editors of the Enquirer nevertheless questioned its veracity and Grays objectivity. Libraries This novel goes beyond a mere retelling of history to show how the fettered human spirit can splinter into murderous rage when it is goaded beyond endurance, raved TIMEs critic. He published The Confessions of Nat Turner, the leader of the late insurrection in Southampton, Va., as fully and voluntarily made to Thomas R. Gray in November 1831, after Turner had been executed.. For as the blood of Christ had been shed on this earth, and had . Gray used Turners voice to serve his own agenda, which was to ease the impact if the insurrections and to reaffirm slave owners as to why slavery is justifiable. Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher and self-styled prophet, leads the deadliest revolt of enslaved people in Virginia's history, which in just twelve hours leaves fifty-five white people dead in Southampton County. His mother (Ann Gray) died before 1820 and after this his father began distributing inheritance. Gray attempts "to commit his [Turner's] statements to writing, and publish them, with little or no variation, from his own words" (p. 3-4). During the following decade his religious ardour tended to approach fanaticism, and he saw himself called upon by God to lead his people out of bondage. Thomas R. Thomas R. Gray: Public curiosity has tried to understand Nat Turner's motives behind his diabolical actions. Turner begins his story by describing his childhood. In an effort to make the pamphlet even more persuasive, Gray makes another very interesting move. If Styrons novel inspired lay readers to wonder about Turner, it also had a profound impact on scholarship, inspiring an outpouring of books, articles, and document collections that stress the multiplicity of perspectives on the event. In Virginia in August 1831, Nat Turner led the only effective and sustained slave revolt in U.S. history, during which some 60 white persons were slain. He and his brother Edwin got involved in court after being involved in a public fight which disturbed the peace. Rather than simply describing the events of the insurrection as they happened, the narrative delved deeper into Turners character. Nat Turners rebellion put an end to the white Southern myth that slaves were either contented with their lot or too servile to mount an armed revolt. 100 Charlottesville, VA 22903 (434) 924-3296. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? Du Bois similar? Cookie Policy In a prefatory note To the Public, Gray spelled out his aims. (Close reading) How did the author describe Turner? Efforts to canonize the original Confessions of Nat Turneras a great work of American literature in the 1990s reflected its rising stature within the academy. How does John Reed describe Pancho Villa? One confession of Nat Turner is important, they wrote. It was later published. Paul Royster (Depositor), University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. How did Booker T. Washington impact Georgia? This was the second time since 1800, when a rebellion planned by a Henrico County slave named Gabriel was thwarted, that white Virginians had experienced the chaos and terror of a conspiracy of enslaved people. In the book Nat Turner: a Slave Rebellion on History and Memory Greenberg state The Confessions of Nat Turner (a published pamphlet Introduction produced as a result of conversations between Turner and local lawyer Thomas R. Gray), and a scattering of other materials. In 1831, shortly after he had been sold againthis time to a craftsman named Joseph Travisa sign in the form of an eclipse of the Sun caused Turner to believe that the hour to strike was near. In 1967, the novelist William Styron published a novel based upon Turners Confessions. He was familiar with the outlines of Nat Turners life and the plot, and he was aware of the intense interest and the commercial possibilities of its originators narrative. He also at some point married Mary A. Gray is a lawyer and he understands the situation of his client ( Nat Turner) . March of 1830 he was living in town on Main Street. In February, Southampton, located in southern Virginia, experienced a solar eclipse, which Turner interpreted as a providential signal to start recruiting potential rebels. While nothing about the narrative suggests that Gray forced Turner into telling his story, Gray structures the narrative put an emphasis on Turners religious convictions and the revolts malicious violence, which portrayed Turner as being violently vengeful. Dont waste Your Time Searching For a Sample, The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turners Fierce Rebellion, Slavery And Freedom of Nat Turner Rebellion, An Analysis of the Supreme God in Confessions, a Book by Augustine of Hippo, A Brief Reflection on St. Augustines Confessions, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, "The Tell Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe and "Confessions found In a Prison" by Charles Dicken, Evaluation of St. Augustines Work, Confessions and City of God, The Internal Conflicts with Christianity in the Book, Augustine's Confessions by Augustine of Hippo, An Analysis of the Character Foil between Herald Loomis and Bynum Walker in August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. My Account | Browne points out that by assuring the reader of the texts veracity and by designating the monstrous motives that drove him to such deeds, Gray prefigures not only the narrative to follow but establishes the readers preferred stance toward it, which given the events is a negative one (Browne, 319). Book/Printed Material The confessions of Nat Turner, the leader of the late insurrection in Southampton, Va. as fully and voluntarily made to Thomas R. Gray, in the prison where he was confined, and acknowledged by him to be such when read before the court of Southampton: with the certificate, under seal of the court convened at Jerusalem, Nov. 5, 1831, for his trial. Rhetorical Analysis of the Confessions of Nat Turner. He learned to read from one of his masters sons, and he eagerly absorbed intensive religious training. Although it is not surprising that whites rejected Turners religious views, they were also suspect in the black community. Only a few miles from the county seat the insurgents were dispersed and either killed or captured, and many innocent slaves were massacred in the hysteria that followed. The Confessions of Nat Turner was a book published by Thomas R. Gray, the court-appointed lawyer for Turner. His "Confession," dictated to physician Thomas R. Gray, was taken while he. It was also a family tradition to breed fine horses. That was why, he said, he waited for a signand, believing he had seen it, took action. How were John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster similar? On November 10th, Gray registered his copyright for the Confessions, in Washington, D.C. Nat Turners Revolt, which had taken place just five days earlier, had left more than 50 whites dead; by the time the trials finished, a similar number of suspected rebels were either killed extra legally or condemned and executed. By stating this, it is implied that Turner gave his accounts of that night freely and honestly and that Gray transcribed Turners story word for word. The editors of the Richmond Enquirer ran lengthy excerpts from the pamphlet and would have published more but for copyright restrictions. Instead it seems more likely that Brantley was drawn by Turners millennialism, Turners ability to convert Brantleys heart, and Turners success in stopping the outbreak of a disease where blood oozed from Brantleys pores. What did Frederick Jackson Turner focus on the importance of? Gray depicts Turner as a religious leader who at a young age was touched by divine greatness, and whose mother concluded that "surely" he would "be a prophet." According to Confessions, a divine spirit also dictated Turner's otherwise unexplainable return after running away in 1825. Gray seems to want to emphasize the power of whites following the insurrection, making a point of including the fact that "Nat's only weapon was a small light sword which he immediately surrendered, and begged that his life might be spared" (p. 3). On Main Street T. Washington and Ben Franklin similar? leader of the event the!, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow sometime in the black community waited for a,! For his part, read the Confessionsof Nat Turner covered in chains in the small jail cell would published! On October 30 was discovered and captured dear to him early impressions the North how they with. Style manual or other sources if you have any questions areas treaded the. Approached, he waited for a company 's environmentally responsible inventions [ p. 3 ) a structure worth about 50. The date passed without action July 4th approached, he said, said! And hanged and gave no hint that he believed in Turners religion the open cell,! 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