The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave

Freedom stands out as the central theme of narratives of enslavement. The History of Mary Prince is no exception. Its writing was motivated by her desire to share her experiences with the British public to influence them toward abolition. This sentiment permeates Prince’s narrative: “To be free is very sweet” (18). Ultimately, her History explores the contours of freedom, defining it as closely linked to mobility and the freedom of choice.

For many enslaved people in the Americas, enslavement entailed a state of being trapped in one place. Many of them suffered a life of forced immobility, such as those doing agricultural labor who were born and died on the same plantations. However, Prince’s experience of entrapment is the opposite. Her enslavement is closely tied to forced movement. Over the course of the narrative, Prince travels from Bermuda to Antigua, Turk’s Island, and England. In these places, she is also sold to different enslavers, changing residences multiple times. Prince experiences a great deal of movement, but it is nearly always against her will. Regarding being sent to Mrs. Pruden and away from her enslaver’s wife, Miss Betsey, and her family, Prince says, “I thought my young heart would break, it pained me so.