Analyzing Chesnutt's Short Story 'Passing Of Grandison'

ENG 242
February 8, 2013
The Passing of Grandison In Chesnutt’s short story The Passing of Grandison, the aspect of passing is addressed on both a narrative and textual level in order to show a destabilization of race and identity. In this short story, Grandison makes an impact on this story showing how talented and smart a slave can really be. The master trusted him to a point to let him out of the plantation. The entire short story itself was very interesting and had many ways to see it in. What makes this particular passage that I choose so interesting is that I feel that Grandison had a more significant role than the master’s son Dick Owens. We ask our self why was he trusted so much and why did he have to lie the way he did, how
did they believe everything he said. Grandison is the main character in this short story.
He was a very confusing and smart slave. The master knowing Grandison his slave for years knew he did not know how to read. Tom on the other hand did and he declared that “He’s a good enough boy, but too smart to trust among those low-down abolitionists”(Chesnutt 143). The master thought that Grandison was the best slave to accompany Owens to his travel, “What’s the matter with Grandison?’’(143) suggested the colonel. “He’s handy enough, and I reckon we can trust him” (Chesnutt 143). The master thought Grandison had everything he ever wanted or needed there in the plantation he thought he was happy and would never leave. Grandison faked everything, because he knew he would have the life changing experience on his travel with
Owens. After Owens taking Grandison to travel with him, he wanted him to escape. Which never ended up happening, while they were away. Owens attempted doing everything in his power to make Grandison leave. Owens left Grandison by himself for a day or two with a lot of cash and alone. It was the perfect opportunity to run away and never go back. But, he always had his family and future wife on his mind. When Owens came back after those days he left Grandison by himself hoping he would not find him there no longer, “he came back a couple of days later and found the faithful Grandison at his post, and the hundred dollars intact, Dick felt seriously annoyed” (Chesnutt 146). He really acted like he was scared to leave the Master Owens, it was almost as if he was scared to loose him and never find him again. Owens told him that if he would leave right this second he would not have a care in the world and would let him move on. Grandison’s answer was, “Let’s go back ober de ribber, Mars Dick. I’s feared I’ll lose you ovuh heah, an’ den I won’ hab no marster, an’ won’t nebber be able to git back home no mo”(Chesnutt 147). Notice how he emphasizes that he is scared that he will not get back home anymore. He does get back home without Owens. So, as you can see he was a very smart slave. Owens father trusted Grandison so much that he took advantage of that and acted like he was innocent of everything that went on.
After finally leaving Owens alone and running off in Canada, weeks went by and Grandison came back to the plantation. The master talked really bad about Grandison for leaving like that and was very upset. “About three weeks after Grandison’s return the colonel’s faith in sable humanity was rudely shaken, and its foundations almost broken up” (Chuesnutt 150). He knew what he was doing and had it all figured out. He had said something very terrible had happened to him. When Grandison came back to the plantation, the master was very surprised and astonished on how appreciative his slave was. Nothing of what came out of Grandison’s mouth was true. They only reason he came back was to get his family out of such a horrible place to live. Being a slave is not a good thing and if a opportunity is given to you to leave and have a better life why not do so. “One Monday morning Grandison was missing. And not only Grandison, but his wife, Betty the maid; his mother, aunt Eunice; his father, uncle Ike; his brothers, Tom and John, and his little sister Elsie, were likewise absent form the plantation” (Chesnutt 150). It comes to show that Grandison thought more about his family than anyone, if he passes through so much things his method was always to get his family out of there. Having that great choice of being free in Canada made him go back and get his
family to live a better life and have better things. And, not to be treated any longer like a slave. Living as a slave could have been very hard, and it was the only way he could get out of what they were living. Grandison does make a great impact in this story showing how talented and smart a slave can really be. He became a hero to his family, and from them that will always and forever be appreciated. He did not have an education but he was very smart in his own ways, and he fought for what he wanted for himself and his family. The colonel finally found him, but still what he had done for his family was a strong and impressive thing to do even though it was at the same time dangerous. “The colonel saw Grandison point him out to one of the crew of the vessel, who waved his hand derisively toward the colonel. The latter shook his fist impotently-and the incident was closed” (Chesnutt 151).
Works Cited
Chesnutt, Charles. “The Passing of Grandison”. Heath Anthology of American Literature. 6th ed. Lauter, Paul. Vol. C. 140-151. Print