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A review by lovesbun
Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History; A Play in Three Acts by C.L.R. James
5.0
hurt my feelings. especially since it's based on the haitian revolution. everyone should read this. of course, it makes more sense when read with The Black Jacobins, but you can get necessary context from documentaries all the same.
i read the 1934 version of the play so i can't speak for the other versions, but i can say james' portrayal of toussaint louverture was quite heart wrenching. not that he is the most noble figure, but to see him rise, becoming to a great leader, then stumble and stagnate as he seemingly clings to power and certainly clings as a loyal subject would to france—
As long as the French do not try to re-establish slavery in San Domingo we shall be loyal to France. We are no longer Africans. We who live here shall never see Africa again, some of us born here have never seen it. Language we have none. French is now our language. Your English language we do not speak. We have no education, the little that some of us know we have learnt from France. France must teach us more. Those few of us who are Christians follow the French religion. Your English religion is different. Our future is with France, General. As long as she does not seek to re-establish slavery.
—only to see his loyalty dashed as he is betrayed by the very colonial power he loyally aligned himself with throughout. this betrayal ends with his imprisonment and lonely, cold death in the alps. there is a lot to be said about this from the play alone, but i'm not very articulate and can only gesticulate and make various sad faces about it.
toussaint's last words as a free man were brilliant, though, as he stuck to his declaration of freedom above all, even france:
phew. a riveting work. 100 out of 10 would read again.
i read the 1934 version of the play so i can't speak for the other versions, but i can say james' portrayal of toussaint louverture was quite heart wrenching. not that he is the most noble figure, but to see him rise, becoming to a great leader, then stumble and stagnate as he seemingly clings to power and certainly clings as a loyal subject would to france—
As long as the French do not try to re-establish slavery in San Domingo we shall be loyal to France. We are no longer Africans. We who live here shall never see Africa again, some of us born here have never seen it. Language we have none. French is now our language. Your English language we do not speak. We have no education, the little that some of us know we have learnt from France. France must teach us more. Those few of us who are Christians follow the French religion. Your English religion is different. Our future is with France, General. As long as she does not seek to re-establish slavery.
—only to see his loyalty dashed as he is betrayed by the very colonial power he loyally aligned himself with throughout. this betrayal ends with his imprisonment and lonely, cold death in the alps. there is a lot to be said about this from the play alone, but i'm not very articulate and can only gesticulate and make various sad faces about it.
toussaint's last words as a free man were brilliant, though, as he stuck to his declaration of freedom above all, even france:
“Do with me what you will. In destroying me you destroy only the trunk. But the tree of Negro liberty will flourish again, for its roots are many and deep.”
phew. a riveting work. 100 out of 10 would read again.