Maryjane Peluso asked:

Does it depict much violence?

flag

36 likes · like
9 years ago
31 answers

To answer questions about The Underground Railroad, please sign up.

Jim Yes. Violence was an integral part of slavery.

flag

Fran Becker Absolutely. And it left me feeling betrayed by Margaret Mitchell, who depicted slavery as benign. I read Gone With the Wind when I was 13 and it distorted my visions of the antebellum South with pretty ivory lace curtains. It has taken much more reading and several decades to wipe the vision of Ashley Wilkes and the KKK as heroic men.

flag

Scotty "Does this porno depict much nudity?"

flag

Lucy The descriptions of slave life are undoubtedly grim, and the violence is truly horrific, but it isn’t dwelled upon, it’s just there - a fact about life, something to know, to try not to avert your eyes from, but not to linger on either. As it should be

flag

Allison It is a book that takes place in the time of slavery. Naturally it depicts violence.

flag

Kristen I don't understand these answers - there are some brief descriptions but the book is not focused on a broad expose on violence against slaves, rather it touches on the various ways that they were exploited, and explores the plight to get away and what is encountered along the way.

flag

MollyRN Very much so. There would be no way to tell this story without depicting brutal violence.

flag

RITA BUTTERFIELD I agree with previous answers by Kristen and Lucy. There is violence, but it is not graphic or gratuitous. The depictions of violence, like much in this wonderful novel, are upsetting-- but they must be. That said, the rape scene, for example, is more hinted at. It is described with phrases like, "they took her behind the shed," which leaves much to the imagination. Painful and difficult, but not overwrought.

flag

Robyn For those that are saying, the violence "was not graphic or gratuitous," "there are brief descriptions," etc, do you not remember the scene with Big Anthony? About as horrific as it gets. My question is how often, in actuality, did this happen? Did reporters from London and the townspeople really watch as slaves were whipped for days at a time, then roasted alive? How could they tolerate it, much less watch it as an afternoon's entertainment? I was so disturbed and acutely ashamed again that this is a part of our culture's past. How could so many people agree that the institution of slavery was okay? Obviously a lot of people did not think it was okay, but millions did. Horrible, and the way the slaves were treated, also unbelievably shameful.

flag

Kathleen Moscillo Yes, the truth hurts.

flag

Karen ☕️ Of course it depicts violence; think of the subject matter! I'm kind of shocked by people who say they didn't expect violence, or didn't think violence was necessary. I guess they're reading all the books about slavery where the slaves get kissed and cuddled by their masters every day, and are given an abundant supply of chocolates and puppies.

flag

Marsha Yes; the descriptions were graphic but of course, this is the legacy of slavery and all its hatred. It was not the bulk of the story. The main character Cora you will remember forever; the author presents a wealth
of various types throughout the course of the novel. Beautifully written.

flag

piranha Yes, it contains a lot of violence, which is at it should be, because slaves were treated with much violence. However, the violence isn't gratuitous -- no lovingly rendered violence porn like you might expect from a horror novel. It is also in many parts not very explicit (Cora's gang rape, for example, is not described as more than that she is "taken behind the shed"). But there are other parts where it is explicit (the killing of Big Anthony is described with enough detail to make me nauseated), though it is still never gratuitous, because the book doesn't dwell on it and we know these things really did happen, and so they must be depicted.

Even if you don't like reading about violence (I don't), I think it is important to read this book if most of your impressions of slavery stem from pretty depictions of the antebellum South -- because those are not the truth; they're only the fancy curtains drawn to hide a despicable time in American history. The violence seems to me in fact mostly downplayed because Cora depicts it as so matter of fact, with a low affect, that it becomes all the more chilling because in this day we would no longer countenance any of it, never mind viewing it as an everyday, inescapable part of life as Cora does.

flag

Pamela Brucker I cannot read about violence or watch it in the news. However, I found the violence in this book to be tolerable because it is such an integral part of the story. As someone else stated, Whitehead does not dwell on the violence, but states it an moves on. The story is so moving that I was able to read those sections and move past it.

flag

Julie Yes. While a book like say, 12 Years a Slave, focused more on the daily beatings while a slave, The Underground Railroad focuses more on violence outside the plantation. Plantation beatings are intended to punish but not kill (they still needed the slave to work) but the violence against runaways and free blacks was done with the intention to kill. There's multiple hangings, some lynchings, and surprisingly shootings (wasn't expecting those).

flag

Linda FitzGerald seriously?! Perhaps a well-written, history book should be read first, and not one from Texas.

flag

Sarah Yes. That is a huge part of the legacy and horror of slavery.

flag

Charlotte Yes, way too much for the story in my opinion. I almost put it down in the first fifty pages but want to see what happens.

flag

Sonia Reppe There could have been half as much violence as there was in this and it would have still been effective. So I say yes, there was gratuitous violence. I heard Colson speak, and he said it was hard, but he "had to" right the violence. Really Colson? I think you could have chosen to leave some out. I think it was your choice.

flag

Rachel Yes, there is a violence. Reading the other comments below, I see that too many people are reading this like a history book or historical fiction. It is neither.

flag

Ken Yes, but only referred to or told in a matter of fact way. Not grossly descriptive like a Steven King story.

flag

Ann Fergsuson It needs to depict violence.
It's not gratuitous; it's purposeful and confronting. It awakens the sleeping history of racial prejudice and the abhorrent lies promoted in the form of propaganda by the ruling faction to control the populace and mould culture, particularly in favour of the white minority. We need to wake up and take notice. History can't be changed, but we can learn from it, acknowledge it without excuses, address it, try to make amends and work for a better, more mindful and equal future. Ask questions. Seek the truth.

flag

Josephine Briggs There is very much violence. Much burning alive, beating just because they can. Much torture and hanging.

flag

Paolo del ventoso Est Yes but not in a Tarantino way as written in the italian edition. There's a kind of respectful decency in Whitehead's violence depiction.

flag

Donna Davis It's gritty stuff. There's violence, but also hope. If you are squeamish, it may not be the book for you; the N word is also used freely, but it's necessary rather than prurient. If you are considering this book for a teen or another person and aren't sure about it, I suggest you read it yourself first, then decide.

flag

Babs Yes, of course it depicts violence! The violence is raw, honest and an important part of understanding the realities of slave life during this time period. I feel this is a very important book.

flag

Vickie Of course. It made me wince and shudder. But then, without the violence, it would not have been a realistic depiction.

flag

Karen E. Well, the Middle Passage was not a pleasure cruise! I am currently reading the book as much as I can before going to sleep. I don't want to rush through it in order to match the thoughtful and interesting style of the author. Based on the comments and ratings I looked at so far, I can tell it is a very difficult read for some. However, I understand that and commend those who were able to continue reading and finish the story. We all can find reality hard to take and of course the treatment of enslaved black peoples is usually horrific. These stories need to be told. I would venture to say the reality is much worse.

flag

Megan Yes, do not read it unless you are okay with reading violence however, it does not dwell on it as it is very matter of fact and not so much emotionally upsetting. You will not stay up at night tormented by the violence.

flag