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Mr. Whitechapel
Unlike her father, Mr. Whitechapel, Lydia is firmly committed to racial justice and equality. Her desire to teach Chapel to read and write demonstrates her capacity to translate her ideals into action, as she considers that the young slave can and should develop his natural talents. Her letters to The Virginian, written under the pseudonym of “Miss L.,” also reveal her desire to provoke her contemporary, conservative society to reflect on the dangers and injustice that slavery inflicts on people. She is also progressive for her acceptance of interracial relationships, as she falls in love with Chapel and consequently rejects all of her white, wealthy suitors. Idealistic and hopeful, Lydia hopes that Chapel and she will be able to elope to the North and live a free life as a couple. However, it is during Chapel’s attempted escape to the North that he is caught, brutally whipped, and ultimately killed.
Lydia Quotes in The Longest Memory
The The Longest Memory quotes below are all either spoken by Lydia or refer to Lydia. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8: Cook
Quotes
You would hold up your glorious life as an example of the slave who has done all the proper things to survive and earn the respect of the master and overseer.
I can hear you, my husband. Your voice is strong and clear but without the strength and clarity of the voice of my son as he lifts word after word from the pages of a book.
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Chapter 9: Lydia
Quotes
“By teaching little Whitechapel to read and write when he can never use it you have done him the gravest injustice.” I want to reply that a law which says a slave should not read and write is unjust. But I look at my feet and nod when he enquires whether I have heard every word. He said it might be possible in the future. I look up at him and, as if to dash my hopes of a future when Chapel and I could sit and read together, he adds, in the next century, perhaps.
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Lydia Quotes in The Longest Memory
The The Longest Memory quotes below are all either spoken by Lydia or refer to Lydia. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 8: Cook
Quotes
You would hold up your glorious life as an example of the slave who has done all the proper things to survive and earn the respect of the master and overseer.
I can hear you, my husband. Your voice is strong and clear but without the strength and clarity of the voice of my son as he lifts word after word from the pages of a book.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9: Lydia
Quotes
“By teaching little Whitechapel to read and write when he can never use it you have done him the gravest injustice.” I want to reply that a law which says a slave should not read and write is unjust. But I look at my feet and nod when he enquires whether I have heard every word. He said it might be possible in the future. I look up at him and, as if to dash my hopes of a future when Chapel and I could sit and read together, he adds, in the next century, perhaps.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
