Topic for discussion - manumission

[epeeblade]

(I haven't done one of these in a while, so here goes...)

I was reading the latest bit of A Kept Boy last night when something occurred to me.

In it Jensen vehemently denies being part of any family, and denies any identity other than that of slave. He's not the only one raised from childhood to be the perfect slave.

So what would happen then if the abolitionist movement does pass a manumission clause? Now granted, it's probably not going to cause hundreds of people freeing their slaves en masse, but I can imagine wealthy owners "freeing their slaves" in their will after they pass. What happens to the slaves who can't imagine a life outside of slavery?

(And yes this would probably be AU like whoah, but it's something I'm interested in seeing explored in fic...)

Comments

[epeeblade]

(I really wish I didn't have a head cold so I could be more coherent in my reply. Bleh!)

Your comment brings up what I only remembered when I went to check the faq before I posted. But that also got me all thinky because if Dylan and the abolitionists wanted a manumission clause there would have to be a whole lot of upheaval. (I guess that's what I'm interested in exploring, the upheaval.)

Although now I'm thinking about it in the context of the global economy. Wouldn't it be a good way to get back in with countries they've lost diplomatic ties with? Like, "look we free our slaves, maybe you'll contribute towards their freedom..."

And yes, Jensen is an extreme, of course, though I think probably not the only one who's been brainwashed at such a young age. As for Chris (Pine) I wonder how it can not be tied to his sense of self in some way. It's not like he can be anything else. He can't change careers if he gets a bad master. I mean, look at how it's affected Joe - he does have a sense of self but it's been molded by his slavery. I don't think he'd turn down freedom in the way Jensen would, but I don't think he'd necessarily know how to be free.

(once again I apologize if this doesn't make sense. Stupid sinuses. Although maybe it IS the cold meds that's making me get all introspective like this...)

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

And yes, Jensen is an extreme, of course, though I think probably not the only one who's been brainwashed at such a young age.

Definitely not. But it's still not all that common. It takes time and money and patience to break someone like that and then reshape them the way that you want to. Cruise was involved in every aspect of Jensen's upbringing--and he also kept him isolated. He could afford to have tutors come in instead of sending Jensen to training with other kids his age, and he was able to make sure that all of Jensen's emotional focus was on him.

As for Chris (Pine) I wonder how it can not be tied to his sense of self in some way. It's not like he can be anything else. He can't change careers if he gets a bad master.

I think I didn't word that right, because yes: being a slave is who Chris is. The difference between him and Jensen is that he's never thought of himself primarily as $MASTER's slave. His identity isn't tied into any particular master, and his training was in many ways the opposite of Jensen's, because the last thing the agency wants is to have a slave who can only function well in a very narrow set of circumstances. Chris was also was allowed to be a child, with other children He wasn't sold for the first time until he was 14, and he had the chance to make friends and form relationships with people who weren't his owner.

I mean, look at how it's affected Joe - he does have a sense of self but it's been molded by his slavery. I don't think he'd turn down freedom in the way Jensen would, but I don't think he'd necessarily know how to be free.

The problem they'd both face would be that what they know how to do is take care of someone else. As long as they can keep doing that, they'd be fine with being free--but in practice, nothing would change. But yes--if Dylan freed them and said, "Okay, guys, good luck!" neither of them would have any idea what to do with themselves all day.