The Underground Railroad is a powerful novel that depicts the history and journey of an exceptional character named Cora and her journey to escaped slavery into freedom. Along the way she experiences the cruelty and brutality side of human nature, and its opposite, compassion and kindness. Let’s follow Cora’s physical journey through America and what her experiences teach her. Starting from the deep South where slavery is entrenched to the North where opportunities are beginning to shimmer. We will explore noteworthy stops in her journey and what their significance is in developing her character even further.
<<<<<<< Cora's journey begins in Georgia and continues into South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana. As the sketch shows, a quick visualization of her journey is mapped.
GEORGIA
The beginning for Cora, the Randall plantation she lives and works on in Georgia. Many important moments in Georgia for her, but the most important is Cora’s garden plot. It belonged to her mother and when she ran away it was all Cora had left to call her own. She took care of this small garden, one of the few things which she owned and the only reminder of her mother. When she finds a fellow slave has trampled her garden to build a doghouse on top, Cora does not allow it to overtake her. A hatchet in hand, she destroys the doghouse, violently dismantling it with all eyes on her, including the owner of the doghouse. Cora, in this intense altercation displays a deep fiery passion inside her, one that is displayed several times throughout the novel and a major contributing factor into her continued survival throughout her story.
A visualization sketch for Cora's garden plot, a major significance in her story. >>>>>>>>>>>
SOUTH CAROLINA
Cora is settling into a new life in South Carolina, after having fled the Randall plantation in Georgia instead of moving onward she feels she could settle here and start over as a free person. Not is all that it seems though, as Cora comes to find out the dark side of South Carolina and that she is not as free as she thinks she is. The most substantial farce in her time in South Carolina is Cora’s doctor visits, which reveal to be scientific racism instead of health and well-being checkups. After one of her exams she is informed about birth control and its benefits for her, a ‘simple’ procedure of tying her tubes to prevent pregnancy thus allowing her to live a life without the worry of childcare. It is made to sound like a gift, a benefit of freedom to have such healthcare available. Cora is immediately uncomfortable, voicing her disinterest and leaving the office
<<<<<<< A visual sketch for the waiting area in the Griffin building where Cora gets her first health checkup, thus foreshadowing that South Carolina isn't the freedom she thinks it is.
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina is a stagnant and gloomy phase for Cora, foreshadowing great struggles ahead for her. Appearing in North Carolina alone, she manages to come across an underground railroad worker who allows her to take shelter in his home. Hiding her away in a tight attic space during the heat, Cora is grateful for the kindness but frustrated at her stationary position, trapped in a town of black and white persecution. Hatred for blacks, whether free or not, and hatred for whites who support black freedom. Death is ready at the hand at the mere appearance of a black person and demise also ready for any whites who help them. With the threat of lynching’s always at the ready, tensions are severly high. Cora spends months trapped in the attic losing hope of escaping the town until the worst-case scenario plays out and she is caught and captured by a seasoned slavecatcher, to take her back to the Randall plantation. Cora is taken away, while the couple who sheltered her for those many months are killed by the townspeople.
Sketch of the cramped attic space where Cora spends many months hiding, all the while losing hope for an escape. The Wells family ultimately sacrifices their lives for this sheltered protection. >>>>>
TENNESSEE
The journey to be returned to the Randall plantation, Cora is forced to detour through Tennessee which the scenery of the landscape mirrors her emotions to her seemingly hopeless situation. The land is scorched and barren, due to massive fires that scoured the land even destroying small towns in its wrath. Cora sees the devastation and feels a small pang of justice. The white man deserves this, they stole the land and its people, so they deserve nothing but misfortune. Things take a drastic turn however, when they reach foliage again thus Cora’s fortune turns as well as she is rescued by a group of black men and runs away with them off into the night.
<<<<<<<< Rough sketch of the scorched barren earth that Cora makes her way through while under the capture of slave catchers.
INDIANA
Again, Cora feels a new beginning for herself, another rebirth, in the form of the farm she arrives at. The Valentine farm she is free from slavery, but shared labor is necessary. There she works in the fields to sow crops and goes to school to learn her letters. It seems Cora has finally found a place to call home, even meeting a love interest. She is wary though, after what seemed like new beginnings in the past all proved to be illusions. Cora’s trauma and suspicions prove to be true, when having a debate about the farm’s future at a meeting house they are attacked in a surprise raid by white men all from neighboring farms. Cora manages to escape again, through an old route from the underground railroad.
A quick sketch of the meeting house on the farm, where its future was debated and discussed. Also the location where the raid takes place killing many residents; including Cora's love interest, Royal. >>>>>
THE NORTH
Tired, distraught, and disheartened Cora makes her way through the dark tunnel and eventually exits into the sunlight. Wagons pass by, and an elderly black man appears on one and she approaches him. He offers her a ride, saying he is going out West. Cora accepts, wraps herself in a blanket and rides on.
<<<<<<< Sketch for the wagon that Cora climbs into, continuing her seemingly endless journey to freedom.
Cora’s journey is full of trauma and suffering, yet the fire that burns within keeps her going. She is an exceptionally strong character, displaying her sheer force of will throughout the novel, overcoming dire situations and emotional trauma. A truly admirable character who displayed perseverance through oppression in their quest for freedom and what it truly means.