Biblical allusion is a literary device that authors use as a brief reference to a person, event, or place from the Bible. Biblical allusions often compare characters struggles with a character from the Bible. This allows the reader to associate the character with one that is easily recognizable. When a writer uses the allusion it can be clearly seen or more subtle in its construction. The use of Biblical allusions is often used in African American literature. The allusion was often used to associate the character with one from the Bible but often was used to directly show the Whites of the time the hypocrite way. Many slave owners claimed to deeply religious but yet they held entire families against there will and forced them work. Three great examples of Biblical allusions in African American literature is Zora Hurston “Sweat”, Harriet Jacobs “Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl”, and Phillis Wheatey “On Being Brought from Africa to America”
"Sweat" is a short story written by Zora Hurston that is rich in moral and religious parallels. The story is set in the deep south of
One of the best examples of biblical allusion from “Sweat” is the use of Biblical story from Genesis of the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. The symbolism of snakes in "Sweat" subtly and cleverly illustrates Sykes as being an evil antagonist character. The snake portrays the devil and Sykes as being evil. The serpent also takes on its role as the devil. Delia becomes Eve and gives into temptation allow for her husband’s death. This can be viewed much like the story of Adam and Eve when Eve decides to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit.
“Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl” is written by Harriet Jacobs and is a slave narrative. Jacobs is very religious women strong in her Christian faith. In her story she is trying to show the reader of the time period the abuse that female slaves undertake. Hoping not to gain sympathy from the reader but for the reader to have an understanding of the struggle and pain of slavery. Jacobs in “Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl” constantly shows the reader that slaves are more than just property but human beings. The major theme in the story was bringing attention to the sexual victimization of slave women by white men. Throughout most of the story she is raped, beaten, and verbally degrade in such a manner she says, “words can not describe.” She gives vivid details that yes to be slave is terrible, but to be female slave is much worse a fate.
Her use of biblical allusion can be seen here when she says, “Will the preachers take for their text, ‘Proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of prison doors to them that are bound? Or will they preach from the text, ‘Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you?” The opening of prison doors to them that are bound is reference to Isaiah 61.1. Do unto others as ye would is a biblical reference to Matthew 7.12 which says “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” What she is trying to show the reader which would be white is that they practice there religion but at the same time are hypocrites because of use of slave labor. She is showing the reader that they do not practice what they preach.
Phillis Wheatley in her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to
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