Week of Feburary 1-7

Thylias Moss’s Slave Moth was a little hard for me to get started with. I was averse to reading an entire narrative in verse, but once I started it was hard to put down. I was surprised to notice about a twenty five percent into the book I forgot that I was reading in verse; I went back and started reading some of the lines again and looking at in the form of poetry, and it was even more intriguing and beautiful rather in just a verse. The notion of this book in verse makes even more spectacular then just reading at a book, even though I forgot I was reading verse. I was surprise to see how vindictive Varl is portrayed, I think that reason for this was previous mind set was because the other slave narratives I was exposed to have all been given from a perspective of a slave who was un-educated. (I had to get over imaging Varl as the Varl from Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying because alls that could picture is Varl boring holes into his mom’s face while she was in the coffin- I know that is terrible to laugh at, but I had to because of Faulkner). I love how Varl says what she would like to do; like make her master into the pages of a book, or make Lusa choke on the mud by shoving it down her throat. I love how she manipulates Lusa into thinking that there were supernatural acts interfering with Varl layering her in mud. I love the vindictiveness, and how quick-thoughted she is. I found myself laughing at her devious thoughts so many times; I even wished that Varl carried out her vindictive acts like cutting of her master and making him into a book or choking Lusa. Varl dealt with Lusa so well, she played along silently laughing at her foolishness- I absolutely loved it. My reaction to the beehive in Irene Perry’s mouth was mixed. I found myself laughing and astonished all at the same time. I was more struck by the fact that the honey was selling for a dollar a jar. I am was curious as to how long the bees would dwell in a rotting body- but it fit so well into the story. Varl was also impressive because she was smarter than her master’s wife and knew the importance and value of having the ability to read and write. Varl knows that her literacy will be her reason for ability to escape and survive as a runaway slave. I think that Varl’s literacy makes her situation and the master’s wife a swap. Varl is more empowered because of her education while Rawls Jenning is trapped to her life as a slave master’s wife because of her lack of education. I feel that Varl is more powered then her or her daughter. Lusa is so oblivious to Varl making fun of her because she is so uneducated she has no idea. Lusa is also cruel, like when she threatens to tell Dob about Varl, so Varl’s reaction and cruelty back to Lusa is well-placed and deserved. Slave Moth gave me an entirely new perspective on slave narratives and books in verse. I have found a new appreciation for the subjects because of Moss’s book. I had huge expectation of being moved after previous encounters of her poetry, and the book did not disappoint that notion.