Midterm Topic

For my midterm essay, I am going to do a close reading of the case files Celia, a slave who is being tried in Missouri for murdering her master after being raped for five years. While it is illegal for slaves to testify against whites, Celia is allowed to testify in court under certain limits. By examining the case files, I hope to understand the story behind Celia's assault and actions. Additionally, by comparing Celia's testimony with that of her master's nephew, I hope to be able to understand what Celia was truly trying to say while exposing the discrimination in the court that led to her censorship.