indentured-servitude

The chapter illustrates the conditions and social dynamics of indentured servants in colonial America, including exploitation and limited freedoms.

1 chapter across 1 book

American Gods (2001)Neil Gaiman

Chapter 26

This chapter presents a historical and mythic account of early American colonization through the story of Essie Tregowan, a Cornish girl sentenced to transportation for theft and her subsequent life as an indentured servant in the American colonies. It explores the harsh realities of transportation as punishment, the blending of folklore with colonial life, and Essie's resilience and survival amidst exploitation and hardship. The narrative critiques the sanitized version of American history by revealing the brutal and complex human stories behind colonization.