Topic #2 - Relating to The Quadroons

Topic #2:  (Relating to “The Quadroons”). As stated in the above topic, this story is undoubtedly a tragedy for all the main characters, but particularly for Rosalie and Xarifa. Lydia Maria Child’s fictional but also realistic story has elements of Shakespearean and Ancient Greek tragedy as well. For example, all the main characters are dead before the story ends. Some of these characters, particularly Edward have “fatal flaws” that contribute to their own deaths and the overall tragedy of the story. In Edward’s case, he allows his political ambitions to take precedence over his love for Rosalie, even though he regrets this decision almost immediately. In fact, he becomes so miserable in his loveless marriage to Charlotte that he becomes an alcoholic and dies when he falls off his horse, which he was riding while drunk. In addition, the central tragedy of this story is that all the characters are living under the rules and laws of an evil system: slavery. No matter how well intentioned many of these individual characters are, they are doomed by the system under which they must live. Even though Edward does everything he can to protect his daughter, Xarifa, and Charlotte continues this support and protection after Edward dies, nothing can prevent what ultimately happens to Xarifa, even her beloved George, who also tries to rescue her and ends up being shot and killed. The slave who acts as a “double agent” and betrays Xarifa is also a victim of the evil system. How does this interpretation align with the author’s purpose in revealing the hopelessness of living with the evil of slavery? Discuss your thoughts on these issues and any other aspects of the story that you find interesting.