Slavery profoundly corrupted Mrs. Auld, transforming her from a kind and compassionate individual into a harsh and cruel mistress.
Initially, Mrs. Auld was described as a woman with a cheerful disposition and a voice of sweet accord, embodying an angelic demeanor. However, upon acquiring the "fatal poison of irresponsible power" that slavery bestowed, her character underwent a dramatic and disturbing metamorphosis. This absolute power, unchecked and corrupting, swiftly began its "infernal work" on her nature, leading to a complete reversal of her former traits.
The Stages of Mrs. Auld's Transformation
Slavery's influence led to a systematic degradation of Mrs. Auld's character and outward demeanor, as detailed below:
| Aspect | Before Slavery's Influence | After Slavery's Influence |
|---|---|---|
| Disposition | Kind, compassionate | Cruel, enraged, tyrannical |
| Eyes | Cheerful | Red with rage |
| Voice | Sweet accord | Harsh and horrid discord |
| Face/Overall Demeanor | Angelic | Demonic |
| Moral Compass | Guided by empathy | Corrupted by power |
The Corrupting Influence of Unchecked Power
The narrative highlights that the unrestricted power granted by slavery was the primary catalyst for Mrs. Auld's moral decay. This "irresponsible power" enabled her to act without consequence, stripping away her initial empathy and replacing it with tyranny.
- Loss of Empathy: Her original kindness, which initially allowed her to consider teaching enslaved people to read, quickly eroded. The institution of slavery demanded strict control and suppression, which directly conflicted with her former humane impulses, leading to a hardening of her heart.
- Embracing Cruelty: What began as a potential internal struggle evolved into open hostility and aggression. Her eyes, once cheerful, became "red with rage," symbolizing a constant state of anger and frustration, likely stemming from the psychological burden of enforcing and maintaining such a brutal system.
- Vocal Harshness: Her naturally pleasant voice transformed into one of "harsh and horrid discord," reflecting the verbal abuse, commands, and dehumanizing language typical of slave ownership. This change underscored her loss of gentle persuasion and adoption of an authoritarian, often cruel, tone.
- Moral Degradation: The ultimate transformation from an "angelic face" to that of a "demon" illustrates the complete moral degradation. It suggests that her very essence became warped by the cruelties she inflicted or condoned, symbolizing the profound dehumanization that slavery imposed not only on the enslaved but also on the enslaver.
Mrs. Auld's transformation serves as a stark example of how unchecked power can poison even a seemingly kind soul, demonstrating that slavery corrupted the moral fabric of the enslavers as profoundly as it oppressed the enslaved.
