Read the following translated excerpt from the 19th-century anti-slavery novel *Sab* (1841) by the Cuban-Spanish author Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda:
'The slave, Carlota, is a miserable being who is bought and sold like a beast of the field. His labor belongs to his master, his sweat feeds the wealth of others, and his very thoughts are considered a rebellion if they do not match the desires of those who own him. Yet, despite these chains, my heart remains free, and I cannot help but look at the stars and wonder why the color of my skin determines my destiny in this land.'
Which of the following historical and cultural realities of 19th-century colonial Cuba is most directly reflected in this passage?
- AThe establishment of industrial trade unions protesting Spanish colonial labor laws.
- BThe peaceful assimilation of indigenous populations into colonial society.
- The rigid racial and social hierarchy maintained by the colonial plantation economy.Answer
- DThe sudden decline of sugar exports due to international trade bans.
Answer
The rigid racial and social hierarchy maintained by the colonial plantation economy.
The passage explicitly describes the dehumanization of slaves, referencing their status as property ('bought and sold like a beast') and how racial identity ('the color of my skin') determines one's life. This directly reflects the rigid social and racial hierarchy of 19th-century colonial Cuba, which relied heavily on African slave labor for its plantation-based agricultural economy.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Connecting literary themes to historical and cultural contexts, specifically the social hierarchies of colonial Latin America.