Final answer:
Stevenson uses images and accounts to illustrate the similarities between slave plantations by describing the opulence of plantation architecture contrasted with the hard labor and bondage of the enslaved people. Images like those of the Westover and Nottoway Plantations, along with firsthand narratives, reveal the systemic nature of slavery and its impact on both the landscape and the individuals who lived through it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert Louis Stevenson uses vivid descriptions and powerful imagery in his writings to show the similarities between different slave plantations. For instance, in Figure 4.12, the photograph of Westover Plantation gives us a glimpse into the stark contrast in living conditions between the owners and the enslaved people. The grandeur of the architecture suggests a lifestyle of comfort and opulence for the plantation owners at the expense of the enslaved servants who lived there.
Meanwhile, the 1862 photograph of a family of former slaves provides a humanizing contrast, showing the everyday life and familial bonds of those who lived through slavery. Figure 12.3 depicts the labor-intensive process of cotton harvesting that remained unchanged post-emancipation, emphasizing the continuity of hard agricultural labor in the South.
The comparison of these images alongside the narratives from the Library of Congress project "Born in Slavery" can help us understand the commonalities among enslaved individuals' experiences despite geographic variances.
Additionally, the image from Haity that showcases the Nottoway Plantation indicates how architectural styles like the Greek Revival could co-opt symbols of freedom to serve the purposes of the enslaving class. These sources collectively contribute to a nuanced understanding of the shared aspects of the plantation experience across the South.