The Bondwoman's Narrative

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses racism, violence, enslavement, torture, and abuse.

At the enslaver’s house, there is a linden tree. The tree was the site of a terrible event and, as a result, it has a curse on it. At numerous points during Hannah’s time at the home, she hears the wind moving through the leaves of the tree and hears the branches creaking. These sounds always pre-figure awful events. The tree represents the horrible history of slavery, which haunts the enslavers and comes back time and time again to punish them for their sins.

The story of the tree is a narrative aside, taking place many years before Hannah was born. Even in a novel packed with horrific anecdotes, the story is particularly brutal and results in every future inhabitant’s tragic ends. The enslaver, for example, kills himself when learning the truth about his wife’s race. Mr. Cosgrove tries to keep a secret harem of enslaved women and his wife dies as a result. The curse punishes each enslaver for their involvement in the institution of slavery, and the tree is always nearby, functioning as a timely reminder of the true brutality of slavery.