Contradictions

Dear Prof. Annette Gordon-Reed, 

While reading your novel, I was intrigued by your portrayal of the many aspects of Thomas Jefferson’s identity. I was previously aware of his conflicting beliefs on the prospect of freedom (his statement that “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence directly contradicts his usage of slaves), but I was interested to learn about his personal identity. Per your novel, he was clearly a complicated man with contradictory ideals; these contradictions in his ideology lead to conflicting identification in his private life. For example, you discuss his identity as a loyal husband, and caring father, while still being a slave owner who had no qualms about separating a fourteen year old girl from her mother. He also refused to directly acknowledge his children by Sally Hemings, but separated them from other slaves at Monticello, which adds another complicated aspect to his identity as a person who was well known for putting his family first. How do you believe Jefferson acknowledged and dealt with these contradictions in his moral beliefs and private life?

Sincerely, 

Jahnavi Bhavsar

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