Question

Why is it ironic that Freeman considers the deed of manumission to be so precious?

(A) Although the deed freed Freeman, the document did not hold any weight because it was a British pass, and Britain lost the war.

(B) Although the deed freed the man Alexander Freeman, it might not remain effective if he returns to his identity as a woman.

(C) The risk or gamble did not give Freeman freedom. It's ironic because initially, the story noted Freeman's luck, and choosing a name with "free" did not result in freedom.

(D) The British lost the war, and Freeman must escape retaliation from the US Patriots. The slaves that fought for King George III had warrants for their arrests. It is ironic because Freeman chose the wrong side to fight for.

Answer 1

The irony lies in the preciousness of Freeman's manumission deed during a period when freedom was the core value fought for in the American Revolution, yet slavery persisted. The insignificance of the deed post-war due to the British loss further emphasizes this contradiction.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is ironic that Freeman considers the deed of manumission to be so precious because the document represents freedom from slavery, which was in stark contrast to the terms of the American Revolution that fought for liberty while still maintaining the practice of slavery. Given the complexities of the Revolutionary era, where African-Americans took sides to fight for the Patriots or the British in hope of securing freedom, Freeman's deed embodies the paradox of a nation seeking independence and natural rights while concurrently denying these rights to enslaved individuals. This irony is heightened by the fact that despite joining the British side that promised liberty, the British loss in the war meant that such pledges of freedom held little weight, thereby undermining the value of the manumission deed.