The end of harriet reveals that the abolitionist and former slave would lead troops in the Civil War and free hundreds of additional slaves. Based on the true story of Harriet Tubman, harriet is based on the true story of one of the most successful “conductors” of the Underground Railroad. Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, harriet features performances by Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe and more. harriet She was nominated for two Academy Awards, both for Cynthia Erivo, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Best Achievement in Music for her performance of the song “Stand Up.”
After the death of his owner, Edward Brodess (Edward Brodess), his son Gideon (Joe Alwyn) plans to sell Araminta “Minty” Ross, also known as Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo), so that she will abandon her husband and flee to freedom in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, she decides to return to Maryland to free her family and other slaves. After successfully bringing several slaves from Maryland, Harriet is appointed conductor of the Underground Railroad, freeing even more slaves and eventually leading black Union soldiers in a battle to free 750 slaves.
Harriet’s true story
How accurate is Harriet to the real-life story of Harriet Tubman?
Harriet Tubman was a true abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor with a widely documented history, and although harriet takes some creative liberties with her life story for the sake of dramatic tension and, in adapting it to a film narrative, is largely faithful to the true story of Tubman’s life. The real-life Harriet Tubman is also known for making a 100-mile journey to freedom from Maryland to Pennsylvania and then returning on multiple trips to free approximately 70 more slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, Harriet served as a spy for the Union army and also led the raid on Combahee Ferry, freeing 750 more slaves.
The real-life Tubman was born Araminta Ross and later changed her name to Harriet Tubman, using her mother’s first name and her husband’s last name, although, while harriet The film has her choose the name after reaching freedom; In reality, she took the name after marrying her husband while she was still a slave. In real life, Harriet’s husband tried to stop her from escaping and she made multiple attempts. The first time he left her, her brothers went with her, but when they got scared and returned to the plantation. Tubman’s second escape attempt is more similar to the film, including the depiction of her singing about it. “I’m heading to the promised land.”
Harriet Tubman’s owner was Edward Brodess, whose wife Eliza began selling her slaves after Edward’s death, causing Harriet to flee, as in harriet, although the character of Gideon Brodess is completely fictional and created to give Harriet a clear antagonist. The film also condenses the timeline to maintain narrative tension, but in real life, Harriet undertook 13 different missions over more than a decade before the start of the Civil War.
Did Harriet really hear the voice of God?
Was God protecting her and telling her where to go, or was it brain damage?
As a child, Harriet was hit on the head by a heavy metal weight, after which she had “spells”, including visions of things that would happen in the future. During her expeditions to free slaves, Harriet prayed and said she could hear God’s voice guiding her along the way. All of this fits with the true story of Harriet Tubman, who was devoutly Christian. According to a real-life quote from abolitionist Thomas Garrett (played by Tim Guinee in harriet) “I have never met a person of any color who had more confidence in the voice of God, spoken directly to their soul.”
In harriet, Tubman’s visions often occur during her epileptic seizures, and William Still (Leslie Odom Jr.) writes that she may suffer brain damage after telling him about the voices, and although no one in the film directly questions her ability to hear the voice. From God, she clearly infers that her visions and voice are the result of the traumatic brain injury she received when she was a child. However, Harriet follows instructions that she believes come from God and that helps her avoid capture on multiple occasions.
Obviously, there is no way to prove what Harriet was or was not hearing in real life, but by Harriet’s own testimony, it was the voice of God, and others who worked with her at the time believed it. She not only relied on her religion for her own guidance, but also for others. As it is shown in harrietHe sang spirituals as a way to convey hidden messages to other slaves to guide them on their journey.
Why did everyone think Harriet was Moses?
Harriet had a greater connection to Moses than the film revealed.
After Harriet began freeing slaves, people began referring to her as “Moses” and many of the slave owners in the area are convinced that she is actually a white man, but where did the name Moses really come from? ? When Harriet begins to free slaves, she is shown singing a spiritual “Go Down Moses” which is a reference to the biblical story of Moses, who led the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. Since Harriet was also leading slaves out of slavery, the name is appropriate.
Moses’ alias is also historically accurate. In real life, he received the nickname due to the association with the biblical Moses, as well as the song “Go Down Moses”, which is one of the songs he sang to deliver coded messages to other escaping slaves to guide them along the way. . his route. Additionally, the real-life Harriet also had an additional connection to the name, as one of her brothers, who was not included in the film harriet – His name was Moses.
Why didn’t Harriet kill Gideon?
Was Harriet showing mercy to Gideon?
At the end of harriet, Gideon kills Bigger Long and pursues Harriet, but catches up to him, shoots him in the hand with his pistol, and forces him to surrender. At first, it looks like Harriet is going to shoot Gideon, but instead she says “You’re going to die right here. On a frozen, blood-soaked battlefield.” Harriet is predicting the bloodbath of the Civil War, and although we don’t see Gideon’s fate, and he is not an actual historical person, he is a metaphorical stand-in for all the other slave owners, who Harriet says will die. “for the sin of slavery.”
As Harriet says this, voices and noises from a battlefield swirl around her, implying that she is delivering another vision of God. She says “God has shown me the future and my people are free.” harriet It does not confirm whether or not Gideon fulfilled the destiny Harriet prophesied, but the film ends with her leading her soldiers to free hundreds of additional black slaves, gaining their freedom just as she predicted.