An Archival Study Leading to the Role of Women in "Our Nig"

Mag says that “she had a feeling of degradation oppressing her; but she resolved to be circumspect, and try to regain in a measure what she had lost” (Wilson 7). Circumspect in this context means that she is trying to be aware of everything that is going on around her. She wants to use that knowledge for her advantage.

Mag “return[s] her work to her employer, and thus provide[s] herself with the means of subsistence. In two years many hands craved the same avocation” (Wilson 8). Avocation means a distraction or the act of being pulled away from something. This is interesting because she describes her job as being an avocation, and an avocation can specifically mean being pulled away from employment. But, instead her employment is pulling her away from something else, probably her pain.

The title page has two different titles. First is “Our Nig,” and the second is “Sketches from the Life of a Free Black.” The fonts for these two titles is different. The first title is written in a fairly standard font, similar to the one used throughout the book. The second title is written in an elaborate font, unlike the font used in the book. This is important because Harriet Wilson, the author, relates more to “Our Nig” which is evidenced by her use of a similar font throughout the book. “Sketches from the Life of a Free Black” is more of a definition that was superimposed upon her book at a later date with an unusual font. This helps the reader to be aware of the possibility of alternative interpretations’ lurking throughout the book that may not be a reflection of the author.
The title page also tells us that the majority of the story is set in a northern house. This is followed by a disclaimer saying the the book is “showing that slaver’s shadows fall even there,” meaning a northern house. This is important to the reader because there is the perception that slavery was incomparable in the North in the south, and this disclaimer prepares the reader to reconsider their assumptions.
There is a poem on the page in very small lettering. It is a statement that the author knows about care and virtue and sorrow and other emotions. They are called “hell’s temptation, clan in heavenly guise. This is a warning to the reader to not get too caught up in the sadness or momentary happiness of the novel, but to stay on the straight and narrow path toward the overall purpose of the work.

Mag is an example of how women are viewed in “Our Nig.” It was said that as “[Mag] merged into womanhood, unprotected, uncherished, uncared for there fell on her ear the music of love, awakening an intensity of emotion long dormant.” This gives the impression of Mag’s needing to be cared for. This is reiterated when she marries Jim because “[he] can give [her] a better home than this, and not let [her] suffer so.” This description is similar to the description of Jane as the “invalid daughter, the eldest of those at home.” Both are described as being helpless.
This description is starkly contrasted though by the description of Mrs. Bellmont as “a whirlwind charged with fire, daggers and spikes” and as “self-willed, haughty, undisciplined, arbitrary and severe.” This description has a much more negative tone though, as if Mrs. Bellmont shouldn’t be that way.
So the tone used to describe Mag and Jane as helpless is pitiful, while the tone used to describe Mrs. Bellmont as strong willed and mean is very negative. This shows that women who cannot take care of themselves are seen as deserving to be pitied when they have no one to care for them, but that a strong-willed woman is absolutely undesirable. This shows the assumption that women are less able than men to take care of themselves.