Underground Railroad Flashcards
(5 cards)
Symbol of Resistance and Agency
-Cora’s act of killing Ridgeway marks her final reclaiming of power.
-Her breaking free from the physical and psychological chains of slavery.
-She moves from being a victim to an active agent in shaping her fate.
Collapse of White Supremacist Control
-Ridgeway represents the relentless system of white supremacy and control over Black bodies.
-His death signifies a momentary dismantling of that system—one individual rejecting and overpowering it.
-It undercuts the myth of white invincibility and moral authority.
Justice Outside the Law
-The legal system in the novel does not offer justice for enslaved people, so Cora’s act serves as extrajudicial justice.
-Her killing of Ridgeway is morally complex but understandable in a system where legal justice is absent.
-It reflects a broader theme in the novel: the enslaved must often create their own paths to liberation.
Reversal of Power Dynamics
-Throughout the novel, Ridgeway has power over Cora through chasing, capturing, humiliating.
-His death reverses that dynamic, putting Cora in control of her life and his death.
-It mirrors her evolution from hunted to survivor and possibly even avenger.
Closure and Transition
-Ridgeway’s death closes a chapter of constant fear and pursuit.
-It allows Cora the possibility of escape—not just from Ridgeway, but from the trauma he represents.
-Symbolically paves the way for a new life—still uncertain, but no longer tethered to him.
