MovieChat Forums > Jefferson in Paris (1995) Discussion > Modern mores.

Modern mores.

posted 15 years ago by Petie3-2
6 replies | jump to latest

There is a tremendous tendency among critics and historians in general to interpret behavior in light of current standards of society, law, mores, folkways and custom. That Sally Hemmings was a slave and 15 years old and therefore off limits to the 50-something Jefferson is entirely revisionist standards. As a slaveowner Jefferson was within his legal rights to do literally anything including kill her. Economic considerations, humanistic considerations and manners precluded anything so drastic, but runaway and recalcitrant slaves were sometimes abused or killed. Several of the founding fathers owned slaves, many were inherited, and many were emancipated from the estates; very humane for the period.
It is frequently overlooked that the whites in the early 19th Century started the abolition movement and persued that philosophy to its conclusion --- Civil War; and triumphed.

[–] Blueghost 14 years ago

But if one applies moral values to all entities considered to be human beings, than said morals are applicable by one standard, and no amount of time will alter a baseline of who is human and who isn't. Therefore the treatment, whatever it may be, can be said to be good or ill based on such a standard.

[–] Petie3-2 14 years ago

Agreed but slaves were considered 3/5ths human for the census, but property able to be bought and sold. This was a transition time, and the institution of slavery was being deconstructed. It took eighty years and a great war but was done. Now we inherited a rather large group of people, distinguished by color, heritage, education who were granted citizenship and expected to assimilate.
We are still in transition.

[–] Flickfan-3 9 years ago

Jefferson was a man of his times--nothing more, nothing less--
there were likely slave owners who did not congregate with their slaves but I don't know how we would ever now who they were...and likely they were in the minority...slavery seemingly brings out the worst in both ruling and slave class...

We are watching Jefferson in Paris right now and one thing I find faintly repulsive is that Sally comes across as engineering the relationship between herself and Jefferson--
Thandy Newton is definitely more than 15 and comes across as someone who knows what she wants--
I think that just plays into the Stockhold syndrome idea that slaves were glad to be taken care of...

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[–] OnlyRocknRoll 9 years ago

I saw this film again recently. Granted Sally is supposed to be 14-15 years of age, but Newton played her as if she was a perpetual child simpleton. Very irritating. On the other hand, I've read that in addition to the slave-master- rapes-slave scenario, there were many slave women who thought that having a child with the master would somehow elevate their status so they did it willingly.

She was too stupid and afraid to take the chance at freedom. She wanted to go back to her comfort zone of slavery in Virginia. Her brother should have let her go and not tried to bargain with TJ about her. He became a drunk and his attempt to take care of his sister caused his death.

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[–] Cine-Verite 8 years ago

Thandy Newton is definitely more than 15 and comes across as someone who knows what she wants-- I think that just plays into the Stockhold syndrome idea that slaves were glad to be taken care of...

Do you mean the Stockholm syndrome? (Although that phenomenon would be incorrectly applied in this context.) Hmmm, I give. What did you mean?

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[–] MariMcCabe 7 years ago

We are watching Jefferson in Paris right now and one thing I find faintly repulsive is that Sally comes across as engineering the relationship between herself and Jefferson--
Thandy Newton is definitely more than 15 and comes across as someone who knows what she wants--
I think that just plays into the Stockhold syndrome idea that slaves were glad to be taken care of...

They were not going to portray the president as a pedophile, so of course they portrayed Sally as an older teen and the aggressor of the relationship. Makes him look better.