James: A Novel
Part One:Chapter 6
by Everett, PercivalThe chapter opens with James, a slave, suffering from a venomous snakebite. He experiences intense physical pain, fever, and delirium, drifting in and out of consciousness. In his feverish state, he hallucinates scenes from his past, including memories of secretly reading in Judge Thatcher’s library—a dangerous act for a slave. His thoughts reveal his fear of white retaliation for his literacy and his awareness of the hypocrisy of a society that denies education to enslaved people. Huck, his companion, watches over him with concern as James grapples with the physical and psychological torment of his condition.
During his delirium, James encounters the philosopher Voltaire, who engages him in a conversation about equality and slavery. Voltaire espouses contradictory views, claiming to believe in equality while simultaneously asserting the biological and cultural inferiority of Africans. He argues that enslaved people can achieve equality only through European education and assimilation, a notion James challenges with biting sarcasm. Their dialogue exposes the hypocrisy of Enlightenment thinkers who opposed slavery in principle yet upheld racist ideologies. James’s fevered mind critiques these contradictions, revealing his sharp intellect and deep resentment toward such paternalistic attitudes.
As James regains consciousness, Huck questions him about the strange words he uttered in his sleep, including references to Raynal and “hierarchy.” James, realizing he may have revealed his literacy, quickly feigns ignorance and superstition, claiming his ramblings were the result of demonic possession. He deflects Huck’s suspicions by leaning into the stereotype of the uneducated, superstitious slave, using his “lucky piece o’ glass” as a prop. This moment underscores the constant performative survival tactics enslaved people employed to navigate a hostile world.
The chapter concludes with James still weakened by the snakebite but no longer in immediate danger. Huck leaves to forage for berries, while James, left alone, reflects on his precarious situation. The encounter with Voltaire—whether real or imagined—has deepened his awareness of the systemic injustices he faces. The chapter masterfully blends physical suffering, intellectual critique, and psychological tension, highlighting James’s resilience and the complexities of his relationship with Huck.
FAQs
1. How does the narrator’s fever-induced delirium reveal his true intellectual capabilities and inner conflicts?
Answer:
During his snakebite-induced fever, James experiences vivid hallucinations where he reveals his extensive knowledge of literature, mathematics, and philosophy—demonstrating his secret literacy and education. He references concepts like “hypotenuse,” “irony,” and engages in sophisticated philosophical debate with Voltaire about equality and slavery. This contrasts sharply with his deliberate use of broken English when speaking to Huck, showing his internal conflict between his true intellect and the survival persona he must maintain as a slave. The delirium scene exposes both his hidden capabilities and the psychological toll of concealing them (pages 48-51).2. Analyze Voltaire’s contradictory views on equality as presented in James’s hallucination. What does this reveal about Enlightenment-era attitudes toward slavery?
Answer:
Voltaire’s dialogue presents a paradox of Enlightenment thinking: while claiming to believe in equality (“all men are equal”), he simultaneously argues that Africans are biologically inferior due to climate adaptations and require European training to “become equal.” This exposes the hypocritical logic used by even progressive Enlightenment figures to justify racial hierarchies. His comments about “the devil in African humans” further reveal deep-seated racial prejudices coexisting with anti-slavery rhetoric, illustrating how abolitionist views often still maintained white supremacist assumptions (pages 49-50).3. How does James’s interaction with Huck after the fever break demonstrate his code-switching abilities and why is this significant?
Answer:
When Huck questions James about his sophisticated dream-speech (asking about “Raynal” and “hierarchy”), James immediately reverts to exaggerated slave dialect, claiming ignorance (“Ain’t no such word”) and deflecting with superstition about being “possessed.” This rapid code-switching shows his survival strategy of performing ignorance to avoid suspicion. The tension in this exchange—where Huck’s curiosity threatens to expose James’s literacy—highlights the constant danger educated slaves faced and the psychological burden of maintaining a fabricated identity (pages 51-52).4. What symbolic significance does the snakebite and its aftermath hold in this chapter?
Answer:
The snakebite serves as a multilayered symbol: first as a literal survival threat, then as a metaphorical “venom” of slavery that induces both physical and existential suffering. The fever’s hallucinations force James to confront his dual identity, making visible the suppressed knowledge he must hide. The snake—associated with both the biblical devil and deception—mirrors James’s own necessary deceptions. His recovery parallels his ongoing survival strategy: enduring poison (both literal and societal) while maintaining outward composure (pages 48, 52).5. How does this chapter use the contrast between James’s internal monologue and external dialogue to develop its themes?
Answer:
The chapter creates striking dissonance between James’s eloquent philosophical internal world (seen in narration and hallucinations) and his deliberately simplified external speech with Huck. This contrast emphasizes themes of hidden humanity and the violence of forced ignorance—showing what slaves knew but couldn’t safely express. The gap between his sophisticated understanding of “natural liberties” versus his performance of superstition (“Lawdy…I hopes he din’t put no demons in my blood”) illustrates slavery’s cruel demand for intellectual self-negation (pages 48-52).
Quotes
1. “I had wondered every time I sneaked in there what white people would do to a slave who had learned how to read. What would they do to a slave who had taught the other slaves to read? What would they do to a slave who knew what a hypotenuse was, what irony meant, how retribution was spelled?”
This powerful internal monologue reveals James’ secret intellectual life and the dangerous paradox of enslaved literacy—knowledge is both empowering and life-threatening in a system built on enforced ignorance.
2. “You shouldn’t be a slave… Like Montesquieu, I think we are all equal, regardless of color, language or habit… However, you must realize that climate and geography can be significant factors in determining human development… It’s those factors that stop you from achieving the more perfect human form found in Europe.”
Voltaire’s contradictory Enlightenment philosophy exposes the hypocrisy of “equality” rhetoric that still maintains white supremacy—claiming abolitionist ideals while asserting European biological superiority.
3. “That is what equality is, Jim. It’s the capacity for becoming equal. The same way a black man in Martinique can learn French and so become French, he can also acquire the skills of equality and so become equal.”
This quote crystallizes the patronizing colonial mindset that equality must be earned through assimilation to white European standards rather than being an inherent human right.
4. “You’re saying we’re equal, but also inferior… I’m detecting a disapproving tone… Listen, my friend, I’m on your side. I’m against the institution of slavery. Slavery of any kind.”
James’ sharp retort exposes the cognitive dissonance in Voltaire’s position, highlighting how even progressive Enlightenment thinkers maintained racist hierarchies while claiming moral superiority.
5. “Are you possessed, Jim?… You didn’t sound like you.”
Huck’s suspicious reaction to James’ educated speech reveals the performative nature of racial stereotypes—James must consciously revert to exaggerated dialect to maintain his “safe” enslaved persona and avoid dangerous suspicion.