Point of View

William Styron received a great deal of literary backlash for choosing to write The Confessions of Nat Turner from Nat Turner's point of view. The narrative is written in the first person and reflects Styron's attempt to put himself in the famous slave's shoes. Styron's intent was admirable, and in many cases he does seem to succeed in speaking from Nat Turner's point of view, particularly in his insightful passages about the rage Nat experiences in response to the occasional kindness of white people. Nat's questioning of himself and his motives also rings true, though this may well have inspired some of the criticism Styron faced. Nat continually tries to justify his hatred and rage at being enslaved, and has a difficult time doing it. As a Godly man, he deplores violence, and uses it only because he sees no other option for ending the despicable...