yr13_ia_2007_macphail_d

= = =D. Analysis (500-650 words)= //The slave trade is historically important as through the slaves resiting a life of slavery, people all over the world were inspired to fight for its abolition, but it also important for society today as it shows us that it is necessary to keep these same values. It appears that Spielberg’s overall intention was to show audiences that many do not know the difference between law and justice, and that just because the law states something, does not make it justified. This was applicable during the slave trade, and is very relevant for the public today.//

i. Conditions on the slave ships
In the film Amistad, we are shown the conditions on the slave ships to be quite inhumane. A good example of this is the clothes that they wear. Some of the slaves, in particular the children on board, are barely wearing any clothing, and the men and women have just enough to cover parts of their bodies. They are torn and dirty.

Further examples are contained in the classic autobiographical primary source of the time, "The Life of Olaudah Equiano". In this book, Equiano recalls that “one white man in particular I saw, when we were permitted up on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast, that he died consequently of it.” This particular account of what life was like is very disturbing. Also, there is a scene at the beginning where the slaves can be seen on the floors underneath the decks of the ships. There are chains seen hanging from the ceiling, suggesting that they are chained together at some point. One slave can also be seen trying to get water from a water barrel, but finding that there is nothing left.Olaudah Equiano also discussed the conditions in which they ate on board the ship, and, how often it was that they went without food. “one day they had taken a number of fishes, and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on the deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat, as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish back into the sea again.”

In terms of secondary sources as well, the film appears to be accurate. James Walvin, in his book “A Short History of Slavery” says “slaves were shackled below, normally in small groups. They fed from communal supplies, and shuffled, in chains, to the ‘necessary tubs’; but when sick, they relieved themselves where they lay, their faeces soiling and contaminating themselves and their fellow prisoners.”

However, despite depicting many of the horrors of the slave trade, and what life was like on board a slave ship such as the Amistad, it would be incorrect to say that the film is one hundred percent accurate. As the film actually only lasts about two hours, it is impossible for the director to include all of what would have happened. As well as this, it is possible that not all of these horrifying conditions would have been present on board the Amistad. It is possible that the director took liberties when directing the film, so that he could include most of what he thought was important. 'Truth' is a broad word. Is the movie still considered within the realm of the truth if certain actual events were taken out and others, gleaned from records of other ships are added in?

ii. The Trial
In the film, Cinqué and the other slaves are present in the courtroom during the trial. Cinqué is also given a chance to speak, and soon begins to chant with the other slaves. This is highly inaccurate. At the time, it would be impossible for slaves to be allowed into the court for the trial. The trial would take place while they sat in their cell, waiting to find out what the verdict was. However, mirroring this, Spielberg also implies that the slaves present wouldn’t have had any idea how courts worked during the time of their trial. This is untrue.[|[1]] In fact, three of the slaves captured on the Amistad had been considered ‘gentlemen’ at home, and it is quite possible that they would have overseen court proceedings and trials. Many others would have been in trials at home as well, for various things such as being in debt, or adultery. John Thornton stated that the slaves experiences in their courts in Africa"might have been woven into the sotry in such a way as to let the audiences see that Africans had a legal system of their own" rather than making them appear as though they had no idea what was going on.

It is during the court scene that the director portrays the slaves in a weakened and less human light. They are unable to fight for themselves, and have to depend on the Americans to procure their freedom. They are hurt, confused, and indignant. This is an important scene in the film. It is the job of the director to provide a more representative picture of what happened during the trial in order to display the "truth." If the director limited himself to only the facts given, it would be harder to depict the whole story of the slave trade.

iii. The Zong Incident
In the film, one particular scene depicts some fifty slaves chained together, and thrown off the ship into the ocean. This is, historically incorrect. No such event ever occurred on board La Amistad. However, it did occur on the ship, Zong. The Zong sailed from the island of St Thomas in late 1781, with four hundred and forty slaves on board, along with seventeen white crew members. However, disease and sickness spread throughout the boat, and in late November, the crew members began to throw the sick slaves overboard, in order to save the lives of the rest. James Walvin discusses this issue in his book, and quotes Collingwood in saying “it would not be so cruel to throw the poor sick wretches into the sea, as to suffer them to linger but a few days.”

Although this event never occurred on board La Amistad, I think that perhaps the director is taking liberties with the truth, in order to depict the whole story of what happened on the slave ships. It would perhaps, be more of a sin not to display something so horrific, as people would not see what true horrors occurred on board.

[|[1]] Liberty or Licence? By John Thornton; History Today Magazine Online, Volume 48 Issue 4, April 1998