Final answer:
The effect of a slave wanting to return to their former master involved complex emotions and practical concerns, with the newfound freedom bringing both opportunities and overwhelming responsibilities, causing some to seek familiarity in the bondage they had known.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effect of a slave suddenly deciding to go back to their former master after emancipation was a complex phenomenon rooted in a multitude of factors. On one hand, freedom presented new responsibilities and uncertainties for former slaves. For many, the prospect of securing a home, a means of living, rearing children, and finding a new community was daunting. On the other hand, years of bondage had fostered a deep-seated psychological connection to their masters and the only life they knew, creating a paradoxical sense of belonging and attachment amidst the oppressiveness of slavery. This attachment and the fear of the unknown sometimes drew freed slaves back to their former masters for advice, support, or even a place to live, highlighting the challenging transition from slavery to freedom.