In Homegoing, we
are introduced to Esi and Effia, two sisters that do not know of each other’s
existence. Effia is marred to James Collins, the governor of Cape Coast Castle,
and lives a labor-free life on the very top floor in the Castle. Esi, on the
other hand, is trapped in the women’s dungeon of the Castle, listening to the
cries and wails of other women and children around her, unsure of what will
happen next. Effia knows that there are people in the dungeon, but is unaware
that her sister is one of them. When describing Effia and Esi living conditions
that way, one may believe that Effia is living a good life, a life better than
Esi’s. However, when giving It deep thought, these sisters are both products of
enslavement.
Sure, Effia is being fed, bathed,
and clothed, while Esi is not. While Effia’s living conditions are stable,
Esi’s are not. The only job Effia has is to be the Fante wife of James, however
she is not actually seen as a wife but instead as a wench. Her duty is to make
babies for James and that is all. We see this when Adwoa says, “If you don’t
give that man children soon, he will take you right back” (21). She spends her
time in the Castle, roaming the village, and making conversation among other
wenches. This may be seen as a very comfortable or enjoyable lifestyle,
especially by those in much worse conditions, but it really is not. She is
living an enslaved lifestyle, just with a differing degree.
It was not Esi’s choice to be in
that dungeon nor was it Effia’s choice to be in the Castle. These are forced
lifestyles. These women were torn away from their homes and their families,
doing things against their will. Effia had no decision in who she was to marry;
it was up to her Baaba and Cobbe. Effia was traded by her village for goods and
forced to marry an Englishman. Esi is a product of Fante and British slave
trade. She was sold by the Fante’s in exchange for goods. This enslavement,
being more apparent, was definitely not a choice. No matter the extremity of
the enslavement of the African people, the Englishmen were profiting from both.
With Effia, these men received wives to sleep with and make babies with. With
Esi, these men received slaves to take advantage of and force into horrid,
detrimental living conditions. These Englishen are clearly hypocritical because
how can you store some African women in the dungeon and allow them to live in
their feces while sleeping and impregnating other African women? Analyzing both
Esi and Effia’s lifestyles, it is clear that these African women are both
products of enslavement with varying dynamics.
It's interesting that you picked up on or noted that African women were used for different purposes. I believe that since the women were viewed as property, or in Effie's case a wench, that the Englishmen were able to rationalize both means of use for the women. Both women served a greater purpose to the Englishmen, therefore it was rational to use one as a wench and the other left in the dungeon. It's important (as you noted) to realize that both women allowed the Englishmen to have more slaves in the long run. This was the main reasoning behind their actions I believe because they were able to create more financial capital for themselves through different means (trade and sex).
ReplyDeleteI found it extremely interesting in pointing out the enslavement of Effia especially as an enslaved married woman. While Effia marries an Englishman, the only person who seems to benefit directly from this marriage is the Englishman. It is made clear throughout the novel that Effia is a wench rather than a wife. She is unequal to the other English wife overseas. She is seen as a means to an end in producing babies. In both cases, Effia and Esi are used by the Englishmen to add to their own capital and personal benefit. By labeling Effia as a wench, these types of marriages are built on the basis of enslavement for one's own personal gain.
ReplyDeleteI think the main distinction between the two is that Effia has even the smallest amount of security in her position. She takes comfort in James after spending time with him, and is able to find joy in her child. She is most definitely enslaved within the marriage, as she is fully subservient to his fancies and feelings about his OTHER WIFE, but she does have some outlet to find peace in. Esi, on the other hand, does not even have the light of day to take comfort in during her time in the dungeon. It sounds superficial, but Effia's enslavement was augmented with the sense of pride she had in being chosen as well. She was excited to be chosen to live in the castle, though it did mean her bondage to men that would ravage her homeland. Esi's enslavement came with no honor, no choice. The two women seem to be on perpendicular tracks in their lives when it comes to these differences, as they experience completely different family atmospheres that led them to the same location.
ReplyDeleteEsi and Effia, I agree, are both enslaved. It is the idea that they are forced to do things against their will and that they are considered to be inferior that legitimizes their enslavement. It is interesting that you constitute Effia's experience in the castle as slavery; however, it is important to make out that distinguish of what kind of enslavement they are in because Effia lives considerably different than her sister Esi. I feel that since Effia is forced to live in the castle, knowing that her own people live right below her feet is a form of enslavement. It is causing her to become desensitized to the reality of slavery; therefore, trapping her in mental slavery as well.
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ReplyDeleteYes, these are two different and yet still similar instances of enslavement. Esi was kidnapped and put away to endure labor inflicted enslavement while Effia was given away by her step mother into a more humane sense of enslavement. We must consider the fact that Effia was not a wife but a wench, which by definition is a young girl or prostitute. These women were only needed for sexual pleasures while the Europeans were away from their wives and children, even though James began to fall for Effia. I also think that this forced way of living above her own people is a way to evolve Effia's mental state into thinking that slavery is okay, and that their is a such thing as being more superior than others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of your points. I think it is interesting that at a surface level, Effia is shown to have an easy life, for lack of a better word. However when one begins to think more critically, all these underlying themes of slavery appear. In her case, Effia is more of a marital slave than a racial slave. As you said, it is her duty to be the Fante wife of an Englishman and to provide him children and company. As others have mentioned, even the term "wench" eludes to this fact. It is sad to think that people get away with treating women like this. It is even sadder to think that arranged marriages like this still go on today. Additionally, in Esi's case it is made more clear that she fits the traditional definition of a slave. I thought it was interesting to see in later chapters the outcome of her enslavement on both her and her descendants.
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