Get ready, because we're about to drop a big truth bomb: Slavery is bad. There, we said it. While we think—and hope—that no one needs a reminder on this one, we still think it's worth talking about. Why? Not everyone in the novel takes this as a given. In fact, Toussaint and his posse spend a lot of time trying to convince everyone that slaves are humans, too. He doesn't see why someone should get to own someone else just because of the color of their skin. In Darkness makes us think about why this was such a big hurdle to overcome for the French and English in the novel.
Questions About Slavery
- What does it mean to be free? Why is a republic (and not a monarchy) so important to Toussaint's idea of freedom?
- Toussaint tells us that the evil idea of slavery corrupts everyone, even good men. Do you think that's true? How does he use his master (a really nice guy, comparatively) as a way to prove his point?
- Is Shorty enslaved? If so, how? What parallels can we see between the slaves during the revolution and the gang members in the Site?
Chew on This
Toussaint might think slavery corrupts everyone, but there are still good people in the book… who happen to own slaves.
Regardless of how nice Toussaint's master is, slavery corrupts everyone.