The Confessions of Nat Turner: The Leader of the Late Insurrection in Southampton, Virginia Literary Elements

Non-fiction

The book is set in 1831 in Southampton County, written in a slave rebellion.

First-person narrative

Sad, buoyant, sanguine, heartening

Turner is the protagonist of the story.

The conflict is when Turner confesses before the attorney that he killed 65 white slave masters during the slave rebellion between 22nd August and 31st August in 1831.

The climax comes when Turner, alongside his fellow rebels, is sentenced to serve various terms in jail for murder. In the process, Turner provides the list of all the victims that he killed.

Turner’s rebellious nature against the masters was foreshadowed by the adults who raised him. The people who raised Turner told him that he would become a prophet in life.

The murder of slave masters is understated. The court case majorly focuses on Turner's rebellion and killings. However, not much is discussed about the mistreatment and killings silently conducted by the slave masters.

The story alludes to slavery in America and the actions of the blacks to fight for their freedom.

The imagery of the rebellion against slave masters depicts sight to show readers how slaves were mistreated. Turner is just a representation of slaves who wanted to revenge against the atrocities committed against them by the white masters.

The main paradox is Turner's revenge against the slave masters. Turner wanted to kill every slave master, but he did not have enough army to execute his mission. Ironically, Turner's actions turned out to be his death sentence.

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The term 'prophet' is used as a metonymy for a savior. When Turner is brought by adults who help raise him, they assure him that he would grow to be a prophet to get the slaves out of bondage.

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