Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 1, of Julius Caesar. SERVANT. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel. Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down, And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say. "Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest. Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Say I love Brutus, and I honour him. Say I feared Caesar, honoured him, and loved him. If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony May safely come to him and be resolved How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead So well as Brutus living, but will follow The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus Thorough the hazards of this untrod state With all true faith.” So says my master Antony. What is the best summary of this monologue? Antony sends his servant to respectfully tell Brutus that Antony loves and honors him, as he did Caesar. Then the servant says that if Antony can safely come and inquire about Caesar’s death, then Antony will be loyal to Brutus. Antony sends his servant to kneel down, prostrate himself, and beg that Antony be kept safe from harm if Antony comes to Brutus to ask why the conspirators killed Caesar. Antony’s servant reports that Antony will be loyal to Brutus if Brutus explains why Caesar had to be assassinated. Antony’s servant says that Antony told him to kneel, praise Brutus, and say that Antony loves Brutus, as he loved Caesar. Then he says that Antony asked him to see if it will be safe for him to come to Brutus to discuss Caesar’s death. If Brutus grants this, Antony’s servant says that Antony “shall not love Caesar dead / So well as Brutus living,” but will follow Brutus faithfully. Mark this and return
Answers
Answer:
(i) In order to overcome the shortage of labour on the plantations, a triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas began in the 17th century.
(ii) French merchants sailed from the ports of Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coast, where they bought slaves from local chieftains. Branded and shackled, the slaves were packed tightly into ships for the three-month long voyage across the Atalantic to the Caribbean. There they were sold to plantation owners. Thus, slave trade was deeply rooted in France.
(iii) Throughout the 18th century there was little criticism of slavery in France. The National Assembly held long debates about whether the rights of man should be extended to all French subjects including those in the colonies. But it did not pass any laws, fearing opposition from businessmen whose incomes depended on the slave trade. It was finally the Convention which in 1794 legislated to free all slaves in the French overseas possessions. This, however, did not last for long. After a decade, Napoleon reintroduced slavery in 1804 which was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848.