Conflicting Perspectives [The Pox Party | 240-308]

Throughout the third section of The Pox Party, titled Liberty & Property, the ideals of freedom versus ownership are addressed among letters written mostly by a Private fighting for freedom. At this point in the book, Octavian has run away from the college in a horrified state. His mother has just passed away from a terrible case of the pox and he is feeling more and more as nothing of importance.

Early on in Octavian's life he believed he was intelligent and had worth. His beliefs changed quickly upon learning his new place as a slave. Once others started voicing Octavian's little worth to him, Octavian started to believe he was nothing. Throughout the pages 240-308, many people interact with Octavian with very different perspectives regarding freedom and lack there of. How is it that Octavian's own self respect fluctuates with outside opinions, early on in his life?

Even through all of Octavian's studies, knowledge and great intelligence, Octavian still belittle's himself. This is the sad case of slavery and racism. However, while Octavian is on the run he interacts with others who feel for him and see his worth. On page 241, a woman farmer tells Octavian there is no work for him, but shows sympathy due to his "gaping and simple-looking" physical state. Octavian knows he is intelligent and deep down knows that people who treat him terribly are wrong. However, his personal intelligence is masked by slavery and color, therefore other's see him as nothing. Another scene in the book, page 243, a man is standing with a gun on Octavian's chest. He states that Octavian was "dead already....there was flatness in this boy and gray; he was already dead." Octavian continues to encounter white people who have no care to see Octavian as a person. Here, brings me to believe that others see Octavian as a quiet and dumb nothing, who doesn't even have worth to keep living. These interactions keep Octavian believing he is nothing. When Octavian meets Private Goring, he encounters a positive perspective towards all people deserving freedom. (On page 252: when Private Goring agrees to take Octavian in to provide guidance and safety) In contrast, on page 308, a very uneducated slave catcher recites his thoughts on returning Octavian to Mr. Sharpe. This letter shows the evilness of racism and slavery and how a very uneducated person can be so evil to another human being, solely because his white skin gives him priority over color and bondage.

How does Octavian's own perspective of himself change throughout the text and how does other's opinions typically affect Octavian's own views of self worth?

-Amelia Richards