Dubon, Vily
To My Old Master, Colonel Owens, Old Kentucky.
Sir: I got your letter, and was glad that you haven’t forgotten. I felt amusement of hearing that
you’re in good health, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again. Promising
to do better for me than anyone else would. After so long, I felt as you may’ve found someone to
do my previous job. More profoundly, what good is that you’re proposing to offer me? Let me tell
you that, I’m living a happier life here in Canada. Where I’m currently been taken good care off
by my family. I would love to respond to you that there isn’t anything to gain off from your
proposal. Instead, I’d like to share with you that, I’ve received the freedom you’re proposing me
here in Canada. I’ve obtained my free papers, I receive thirty-five dollars a month, with food and
clothing; have a comfortable and accessible household for Betty and my family, so what else do I
seek back in Old Kentucky?
Betty often speaks to me that she would be afraid to go back without any imminent proof that our
lives would be better off then here in Canada. What proof can you provide to us that our treatment
there will be kindly, and equally. In response to this letter, please state if there would be any safety
for sister Elsie, and my brothers Tom and John. What would you offer them that I can’t offer here
with my own hands. My great desire is to give me brothers and sister an education, and have them
live their lives with freedoms and virtuous habits.
From your old servant,
Grandison.
Dubon, Vily
Question:
Then, write at least two paragraphs explaining the choices you made with your letter. Include
information from the reading assignments linked above in your response.
First, let me start with my reasoning behind why I got rid of Grandison’s dialect, and
instead used a more standard English. The main reason why I did so was because I believed that
after being in a different country, learning their culture, and language people have the tendencies
to learn and speak that same way. Since he was living in a country where he found freedom and
able to express himself, he should have been able to speak in a different manner than what he used
too when he was a slave. Secondly, in response to what my letter has that its different from the
original story, I would say that something different between them it’s the idea that Grandison was
able to portray (speak) his thoughts, and feelings freely. The reason why I believe this its that when
he was a slave he was instructed to speak and do what he was told. He wasn’t able to speak his
mind freely, and it’s something I really tried to touch in my story. I tried to build a story where our
character was able to speak and show his reasoning on why he was better off in a free country.
Thirdly, in response to why Chesnutt chose not to tell us the reader about Grandison
thoughts and feelings was because by doing so he was able to limit our understanding of the
characters purpose, and plans throughout the story. In fact, if the author had provided us with
Grandison thoughts and feelings we could had gather important information of his disloyalty to
his master Owens, it would have affected the main idea or the ending of the story.