ance as inhabitants of such a district. These images, I must confess, I always behold with pleasure and extend them as far as my imagination can reach; for this is what may be called the true and the only philosophy of an American farmer (853).Although his life is filled with the joys of family and prosperitythe idealthe unsettling images of slavery and war are encountered.My Negroes are tolerably faithful and healthy, he simply states. However, he evidently does not appear to be overly concerned with the issue. However, this acknowledgment, not acceptance, of slavery drastically changes when the image of unfortunate creatures that cry and weep, day after day as they drudge on without any prospect of ever reaping for themselves is offered (860). His slaves provide him with a successful pursuit of self-interest and the wealth afforded to him by their labor. Nonetheless, he simultaneously fails to acknowledge the problems in society that persist on account of slavery and so he remains ignorant with regard to his failing ideal world. The most horrendous illustration of the cruel nature of slavery is the image of a Negro, suspended in the cage and left there to expire(where) the birds had already picked out his eyes; his cheek bones were bare; his arms had been attacked in several places; and his body seemed covered with a multitude of wounds (865). To further this abomination, James is later informed that the laws of self-preservation rendered such executions necessary, and supported the doctrine of slavery with the arguments generally made use of to justify the practice (866). The bold statement sparks the realization that although his slaves are tolerably faithful and healthy they are so only to preserve their own lives. They are not freea complete contradiction to James` notion of a free Americaand thus is rendered the new consciousness that his ideal society is failing. This inhumane practice and the images it provokes are appalling, y...
