Xenophobia in Dacre's Zofloya

In the 17th century the British Empire started it's task of conquering and making foreign countries their own colonies. Colonization was apart of Great Britain's imperialist ambitions. Their goal was to control the other countries and obtain all their foreign goods. However, the country that became a British colony was was on the smaller end of the deal. The colony was often exploited and overrun by the British. At the turn of the century, colonies from other Imperialist powers started to gain momentum and resent.

In 1791, France (Great Britain's strongest rival) entered into the Haitian Revolution for five years. Haiti was a colon of France that was continuously being exploited for their goods such as indigo, sugar, coffee, and a few other small crops which was all managed by the enslaved nation's residents. Haiti was composed of 5 subgroups: the white plantation owners, the slaves on the plantation, the petit blancs that were shop keepers and artisans. The remaining population of Haiti was made up of African descent: those who were free, those who were slaves, and those who had escaped. This small population of white people on Saint Dominigue directly opposed France's political power and ability to control the markets. Haiti residents and merchants were only allowed to export and import from France. Even though the white people living in Haiti opposed France's control, their attitude towards enslavement remained untouched.

Toussaint L'Ouverture or "The Black Napolean"

In 1791, Toussaint L'Ouverture also known as the "The Black Napolean" rallied his people to revolt against the white plantation owners on the island. By the time the fighting ceased, L'Ouverture and his troops managed to kill over half of the 40,000 white residents that fought against them. L'Ouverture and the rest of the slaves were successful in their rebellion. Even when France sent troops to restore the power, L'Ouverture and the rebels were successful, and eventually pushed France forces out of Haiti. L'Ouverture was captured and imprisoned in France in 1803 where he eventually died.

Great Britain looked at this uprising as a forewarning that their would be revolutions in all of the colonies. The Imperialist nation was beginning to have a wave of xenophobic fears that the slaves and colonist would rise up and attack Great Britain.

In regards to literature at this time, the authors took this theme of Xenophobia and incorporated it into their writing. For example, Charlotte Dacre's Zofloya or The Moor is the a novel that portrays a moor (Zofloya) as dark, sinful, and violent. His character is seen as threatening, fearful, capable of committing unexplainable violence, murder, and a powerful character. Dacre more than likely had the idea of expressing the fear of the foreigner when she created Zofloya's character.

Jose the Prince of the Moors

The Moor was a term that originated in the English language. It is a term used directly to describe the "dark-skinned" or "black" volume of people in Europe. The term originated because of Queen Elizabeth I fear and hatred for the English moors. She proclaimed that the black moors of England were infidels and incapable of believing in Christ or Christianity. This marks the development of resentment and racism against the Moors in England.

Back to Dacre's novel, Zofloya's character is described as a majestic character but is worthy of Victoria's fascination and growing affections. We see this is the first description of Zofloya's character:

He was clad in a habit of white and gold; on his head he wore a white turban, which sparkled with emaralds, and was surmounted by a waving feather of green; his arms and legs, which were bare, were encircled with the finest oriental pearl; he wore a collar of gold round his throat, and his ears were decorated with gold rings of an enormous size (136).

Dacre begins to describe his character as one that is wealthy and has power. However, he still holds the status as a slave. His status in the novel is to serve Henriquez. This is where the reader starts to question and raise suspicion towards Zofloya's character and role in the novel. This can be the xenophobic fears of the time drifting into Dacre's novel. The reader is cautious and is not aware of what Zofloya is capable of until his character is revealed to have the ability to provide poison for Victoria to kill Leonardo. His growing attachment to Victoria also reflects the xenophobic fears of miscegeny. By the end of the novel, Zofloya's power over Victoria is seen out in the open. Her dependence on him transgressed throughout the novel, and lead her to fully submitting herself to Zofloya:

The attempt was vain, a numbing torpor began to creep over her as before; she essayed to conquer it, though contrary to the direction of Zofloya; and her incapacity to do so conveyed a bitter pang in her heart, while she felt that she was no longer mistress over herself or her faculties . . . she hopelessly resigned herself to the arbitrary spell that appeared to be cast over her (232).

There are many other moments throughout the Dacre's novel where we can see the overtones of Xenphobic fears and race at play.

Here's a documentary of "When the Moors Ruled Europe" is discusses the history behind the Moors.

Discussion Questions:

1) Considering the history behind Slave Rebellion, do you think the fear of a slave revolution played a part in Charlotte Dacre's creation of Zofloya as a novel and as a character? Why do you think this novel was highly criticized? 

2) Where do we see sexual tension between Victoria and Zofloya? Why did Dacre choose to have these moments?

3) What is the significance of racial difference in this novel? What is Zofloya's role throughout the novel? Why do you think Dacre chose Zofloya to have "dark-skin?" What is the significance behind Zofloya's past?