Styron's novel clearly wrestles with the enormous fact and function of slavery in the American South. He produces instances and images of racism, degradation, humiliation, and discord throughout. The system itself produces the disruptions in people's lives, and Styron focuses on them from every angle. The topic of slavery is enough to stimulate a long and fruitful discussion in terms of its lasting effects on human beings, both the white masters and the black slaves.

1. Nat Turner was a real character in history. How does Styron embody him in more personal terms to render him more human and understandable instead of in "cardboard" heroic terms?

Are there contradictions here?

2. The role of the Bible speaks directly to our own age in terms of Christian fundamentalism and rightwing politics. Does Nat Turner use the Bible in ways that seem similar to our own age? Is his a...