The Longest Memory - Quote Analysis Sheet

After reading the chapter, what do you think are the 3 most important quotes? Please use the table below to interpret and explain your choices.

Char
acter
& Explain the ideas/themes
Significant quotes
Page explored in this quote.
num
ber
Prologue: Remembering
Whitechapel page 1 discusses the monotony of slavery and how Whitechapel has witnessed and personally
experienced his fair share of sorrow and misery. The phrase also alludes to Whitechapel's experience with
the same acts of cruelty and loss of hope for the future.

page 1 Theme: suffering and loss

“I swore it would be the last time because it hurt more than any pain I’d felt before or since”

“Don’t make me remember. I forgot as hard as I can”

page 2 Theme: escape from past trauma.

Chapter 1: Whitechapel

“ I realized my son was in the first, troublesome category” page 15 Theme: Enshrined enslavery.

“Bestower of death. Outliving all” Page 27 Whitechapel Theme: Guilt

“I want to forget” Whitechapel page 26 Theme: Forgetting and escape

Whitechapel seeks to run away from the guilt he is experiencing and the reality of his son's murder. Chapter
2: Mr. Whitechapel

“We agreed in this very dining room to protect him from himself by driving his mind from the foolish notion
of escape”

Page 28 of Mr. Whitechapel Theme: Institutionalised slavery Whitechapel persuades Chapel not to try to flee
by working with his owner. “

Treats them first and foremost as subjects of God”

Mr. Whitechapel Page Defence Mr. Whitechapel thinks his strategy of "Christian slave ownership" is
morally superior and consistent with God's instructions.

“God should guide us in our dealings with slaves” Mr. Whitechapel Page According to Mr. Whitechapel,
God has given him permission to practise slavery.

Chapter 3: Sanders Senior

“Caroline was in a room with a crowd of women. I was the only man. I had my way with them all” Sanders
Sanders Senior's possessive demeanour and lusty attitude are highlighted on Senior page 43.

“I said she could have whatever she wanted” Sanders senior page 45 shows the strength of Mr. Whitechapel
Senior through the dread of Sanders Senior of the repercussions.

“Mr. Whitechapel said he would find me” Sanders Senior Page 46 illustrates the class disparity between
white people and slaves by simply imposing a modest fine as punishment for such a horrific deed..

Chapter 4: Cook

“There is no earthly way I can match his love” Cook. Love, theme on page 55 Cook believes there is no way
she can return Whitechapel's love for her. “He promised to defend my honor” Cook Page 55 An example of
love triumphing over limitations. Even Whitechapel the model slave was enraged and compelled into action
by love.

“After he laid his hands on me I wanted to die” Cook Page 54 demonstrates Cook's reaction to being sexually
assaulted. Whitechapel rescued her from the depths of despair after her purity was violated..

Chapter 5: Chapel

“Lashes on youth spirit as a lesson for later life; to teach a slave his situation” Chapel page 57
Powerlessness.

“She called them books” Chapel page 59 As knowledge is power and a slave obtaining authority never boded
well for the slave owners, it was extravagant and unwelcome in the eyes of the plantation owners.

“Do not, I repeat, do not let me ever catch you reading Chapel page 61 Because knowledge is power and a
slave gaining authority is never good for the slave masters, the plantation owners saw this as extravagant and
undesired.

Chapter 6: Plantation Owners

“I leave my plantation to face the ridicule of my peers” Mr. Whitechapel page 65 Shows how important
reputation is to Mr. Whitechapel, and how his method of management is looked down upon.

“I stand by every word” Mr Whitechapel page 68 demonstrates Mr. Whitechapel's tenacity in the face of
criticism from his peers over his managerial style.

“ I have not, Whitechapel, taken food with my slave one day and beaten him the next” Plantation Owner
page 69 draws attention to the hypocrisy in Mr. Whitechapel's management of his plantation.

Chapter 1: Whitechapel
Chapter 2: Mr. Whitechapel

Chapter 3: Sanders Senior

Chapter 4: Cook

Chapter 5: Chapel

Chapter 6: Plantation Owners

Chapter 7: Lydia
Not allowed to reveal my smile It is forbidden to let
79 Chapel learn to read and
write. Lydia has some
compassion for Chapel so
she tries not to smile.
swearing to keep these occasions to himself and not breaking the promise 82 This links to the identity
and family generations.
She acts like her father in
a way to keep people
quiet to ensure a good
view. And also to not get
caught.
There is more light on his face and a broad smile 81 Happy to be educated.

Chapter 8: Cook
All my life my two pots are never empty A metaphor for Cook’s
83
I cant bring myself to tell him not to open a book. I cant even mention the fact that I heard him with my own ears, and saw him too, 85 This shows the pride she
poring over a book. has for her son learning
to read and use English,
but emphasizes the
inequality between
Africans and white people
as they are prohibited
from being able to
educate themselves. She
tries to hide it because
she is so proud of her
son.
My son can open a book and sound like the master 85 This demonstrates the
inequality again from
Africans and the white
people of the book, who
are able to read and write
 like the master.
Chapter 9: Lydia
But I am more scared for Chapel. She feels scared for
87 chapel, showing the care
and her progressive views
that slaves are more than
just slaves, but are
capable of being loved.
Chapel (repetition of his name) 89 The repetition of chapel
shows the immense care
and love Lydia has for
Chapel as a person.
By teaching little Whitechapel to read and write when he can never use it you have done him the gravest injustice 87 Features the notion of
the enshrined nature of
racism that slaves cannot
be allowed to read or
write as it would mean
they taste freedom and
can educate themselves.
Thus, in this way they are
forced to be bound to
being a slave for their
lives.
Chapter 10: Lydia
Mother has started making more and more of a fuss about my etiquette, my carriage, my composure Shows the gender
92 expectations at this time
compared to now. As
women are expected to
be delicate and present
themselves in a certain
way.
I wish you were white 95 Says this to Chapel,
demonstrating the love
she has for him and the
inability for them to be a
couple due to the
ingrained racism at the
 time.
I SEE CHAPEL WALKING ARM IN ARM DOWN ONE OF THESE DIRTY STREETS WITH ME. CHAPEL AND I UNDER THE SAME ROOF. 96 Shows the hope that
CHAPEL AND I IN THE SAME BED. Lydia has for a future for
them to be together one
day.
Chapter 11: The Virginian
Any fool can beat a foolish slave. Only a man can do it and remain dignified The progressive nature
104 of the Virginian editorial
which endorses to not
treat slaves as harsh, but
to instead reward them
for good behaviors they
exhibit. This is similar to
Mr Whitechapel’s
plantation views.
They are quite literally not like us 106 Although progressive,
they still have views that
slaves are not equal to
them. This demonstrates
the woven inequality and
racism present in this
context.
There is no sight more perfidious than that of a white woman and a black man 120 The author despises this
notion. The question was
posed by Lydia to be with
Chapel.
Chapter 12: Great Grandmother
He said Africa was his past and not ours. If anyone had the right to dream about it, he did and he chose not to, so why should Illustrates the obedience
anyone else. 125 and acceptance to slavery
that Whitechapel exhibits
although he originated
from his home in Africa.
This was considered a
paradise, but he has now
accepted and chooses not
to talk about Africa
Africa is not for you 125 The severed identity that
 his Whitechapels great
granddaughter has with
her origin in Africa. And,
Whitechapel reinforces
this to stay obedient.
I start at his head, his face, neck and behind his ears; wiping the slack skin in his neck. 128 This is the death of WC,
and his great
granddaughter still
washes him like he used
to do to her. This
showcases the love she
still has for WC although
having awareness of his
mistakes in being a
obedient slave and
causing the death of his
son.
Chapter 13: Sanders Junior
I like you 129 The overseer says this to
show some form of
respect for WC’s
cooperation as a slave. He
believes WC was a model
slave who did what he
was told and that all
slaves should strive to be
like him. Despite his racist
values, he still forms
somewhat of a liking to
WC.
Even if you had shouted to me that I was killing my half-brother I would have had no choice but to carry out the punishments 131 Justifies his role as an
overseer rather than his
moral value. He is like his
father, in that, he justifies
his actions to cope with
himself. He killed his half-
brother but still says this
to cope.
Cover him with my jacket. I offer it to you, old man, in death. 133 Sanders Junior offers a
gift to WC while he is
deceased. This is because
it is prohibited for slaves
to own or receive gifts
from others, so in this
way, Jr shows his
immense respect to him
for being a good slave.
Epilogue: Forgetting
I do not care about your happiness; your life is everything to me 135 Shows the father son
relationship WC has
although they are not
related at all. WC is
inclined to sacrifice his
son’s happiness for his
survival, thus he imprints
the ideology of being a
good slave and being
obedient.
All the time you are listening to your blood and following the dictates of your dreams 136 Since he is half white,
Chapel is following his
dreams dictated by his
blood. This illustrates the
ingrained racism between
the two races.
Rest your eyes after too much seeing for one body. 137 The guilt and shame that
whitechapel has face
throughout his old life.
Links to the theme of
memory.