Celia's death
Celia’s death becomes a metaphor for the faults of the American justice system during slavery. Although the trial appeared to be fair externally, the trial was actually not fair and Celia was wrongly condemned to death. For example, the jury was comprised of men who were similar to the murdered Robert Newsom. As Mclaurin states:
“Celia’s story derives much of its significance, as well as its narrative power, from the nature of the specific issues and moral dilemmas it forced individuals to confront. Her case starkly reveals the relationships of race, gender, and power in the antebellum South, in addition to illustrating the manner in which the law was employed to assuage the moral anxiety slavery produced."
Sexual assault
Celia's sexual assault at the hands of Robert represents the lack of autonomy and control she has over her own body, relating to the wider themes of slavery in the text. It represents the power that Robert has over her, and the lack of protection that black women had from this kind of abuse.
Political unrest
The political unrest between supporters and opponents of slavery is a metaphor for the political unrest in American history after this. This includes the American Civil War, which was caused by the slavery issue and disagreement over it.
