The Confessions of Nat Turner Study Questions & Topics for Discussion

The Confessions of Nat Turner Topics for Discussion

Do you think Margaret Whitehead had romantic feelings for Nat Turner? Defend your position with specific examples from the story.

William Styron was criticized for writing this fictionalized account of Nat Turner's life. After reading the novel, do you believe his critics were correct in labeling it racist? Why or why not?

What does Nat's vision of the temple above the sea mean in the context of the story?

Imagine that Nat's case is being tried today, and you are his defense attorney. How would you defend his actions?

Now imagine that you are prosecuting Nat's case. Summarize the evidence and arguments you would make to convince a jury to convict him.

Do you believe Nat's repression of his own sexuality contributed to the violence he later perpetrated? Would he have been better off if he had taken a wife and abandoned his war-like urges? Why or why not?

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