The beginning line of The Bondwoman’s Narrative by Hannah Craft is puzzling: “Look not upon me because I am black; because the sun hath looked upon me” (Song of Solomon 1:6). Craft throughout her text begins each chapter with a biblical quote, yet the Song of Solomon is only used once. Why begin her story with a biblical quote? Or, perhaps the better question, why use this specific quote?
The Song of Solomon also referred to as the Song of Songs, has four primary interpretations: the first being an allegory detailing God’s love for Israelites (Judaism), the second as Christ’s love for his Church (Christianity), the third revering the love between Christ and the human soul, and the last as a celebration of human love, inner fulfillment, and harmony with God’s creation. The songs are typically read during the Hebrew Passover, celebrating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
While it is unclear what interpretation Craft thought of when writing her story, the final interpretation, celebrating love and inner fulfillment, is scattered throughout her quest to seek education.
Craft notes that she “felt the immortal longings” in her and was “determined to learn if not in a regular, approved, scientific way” (Craft 5.2). Her desire to learn exceeds far beyond curiosity; education forces the acknowledgment of her humanity. Through learning, she disproves the notion of her master that “slaves were slaves” and that she was viewed “not as a man or woman, but in the same light as horses and other domestic animals” (Craft 5.2). When Craft eventually meets an aged, white, woman, who hopes she will “thereby be made better in this world and that to come,” she reaches a state of thought similar to an epiphany: “It sometimes seems that we require sympathy more in joy than sorrow; for the heart exultant, and overflowing with good nature longs to impart a portion of its happiness” (Craft 7.3). Perhaps this is why Craft opens the book with this quote: there is a paradox, but harmony within that paradox.
The very thing that the bible quote advocates against, being to “look not upon [someone] because [they] are black; because the sun hath looked upon [them],” is the very reason why the woman made the conscious decision to satisfy Craft’s desire to be educated. She sees the beauty of the child and loves her not only for who she is but the person she can become. The woman was able to augment “the importance of any little success to [a child]” by offering sympathy. She, the woman who “was the wife of a sand-digger and very poor,” creates a beautiful harmony where love overpowers the atrocity of slavery, even for a brief moment. Following this scene, which is perhaps another reason why this passage was chosen, Craft begins her own “Exodus from the Israelites”, where a flash of liberation shines through the grip of oppression.
Question: How does Craft’s view of education act as a key to closing the paradox? Is there another solution?
Something I think is important to note about the opening quote is its context in the Bible. The Bible has different translations for the words, and so the use for this moment was one that was translated to “black” as opposed to dark or tanned as it is written in other versions of the Bible. I feel that this idea of different understandings of the Bible relates to how so many groups can relate to the same religious ideas. Even though the slave and the slave master are opposing, they pray to the same God. Yet, religion serves different purposes for these groups.
Craft’s emotions throughout the story that involve her seeing the importance of grace and how she chooses to be happy reflect how religion serves her. It provides a separation from the ills she may face, as with so many other slaves, and gives her the ability to see beyond her situation at some moments.