Let Us Descend Summary, Characters and Themes
“Let Us Descend” by Jesmyn Ward is a powerful novel published in 2023 that delves into the harrowing and resilient journey of Annis, an enslaved woman in the American South. Set against the brutal backdrop of slavery, the story weaves together themes of generational strength, cultural heritage, and the unyielding will to survive.
Through Annis’s odyssey, Ward paints a vivid portrait of the horrors endured by enslaved people, while also celebrating the indomitable spirit that drives them toward freedom and self-determination. The novel is both a haunting exploration of the past and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Summary
Annis, an enslaved woman in the Carolinas, is abruptly torn from her mother, Sasha, and forced on a treacherous journey to the slave markets of New Orleans. Sasha, a fierce woman trained in combat, teaches Annis essential survival skills before they are separated.
These lessons, passed down from Sasha’s mother, Mama Aza, a warrior of the Fon people, become Annis’s lifeline as she is thrust into the brutal realities of slavery.
Annis’s existence is dominated by her oppressive “sire,” a man who not only enslaves her but is also her biological father.
As he turns his predatory gaze towards Annis, Sasha intervenes, and in retaliation, is sold away. Before parting, Sasha gifts Annis a small, sharp awl carved from an elephant’s tusk, a family heirloom, urging her daughter to remain strong and assuring her that they are connected, even in separation.
Grieving her mother’s absence, Annis finds solace in the companionship of Safi, another enslaved woman. Their bond grows into a tender relationship that offers them both a fleeting sense of humanity amidst their suffering.
However, when Annis’s sire discovers their relationship, his anger leads to the sale of both women. Annis and Safi are then forced to endure a grueling march to New Orleans, a journey fraught with physical and emotional torment.
Along the way, Annis draws on memories of her mother and the stories of her grandmother, while mysterious spirits, particularly one named Aza, visit her, offering cryptic guidance that she struggles to trust.
In New Orleans, Annis is purchased by a harsh woman who, with her husband, runs a sugar plantation. The conditions are abysmal, with enslaved workers starved and forced to scavenge for food.
Despite the cruelty around her, Annis finds a sense of community among the other enslaved women, Esther and Mary, who work alongside her.
The plantation’s brutal labor is compounded by the constant threat of sexual violence from the enslaver. When he falls ill with yellow fever, Annis contemplates poisoning him, but fate intervenes as the disease claims his life.
Annis and others are then forced to bury him, a final act of indignity.
During her time on the plantation, Annis forms a deep connection with Bastian, Esther’s brother, who has escaped slavery and lives hidden in the nearby woods. Bastian secretly provides food for his sister, and he and Annis share a brief but meaningful romantic encounter.
This connection, however, triggers further trouble when a package of raccoon meat from Bastian is discovered by an overseer. The plantation mistress accuses Annis of theft and sends her to a horrific underground cell known as “the hole.”
Faced with the grim reality of her situation, Annis resolves to escape. Using the elephant-tusk awl, she manages to pick the lock and flee. Guided by the spirit of Aza and her own determination, she escapes into the wilderness, eventually settling in an abandoned clearing where a family had succumbed to yellow fever.
There, Annis taps into the survival skills her mother taught her, hunting and foraging to sustain herself.
Discovering she is pregnant, Annis vows to raise her child with the same strength and wisdom passed down through generations, ensuring that her family’s legacy of resilience and defiance endures.
Characters
Annis
Annis is the central character of Let Us Descend, a young enslaved woman whose journey from captivity to self-determined freedom forms the core of the narrative. She embodies resilience, drawing on the strength and teachings of her mother and grandmother as she navigates the horrors of slavery.
Annis’s evolution is marked by a deep internal struggle; she is haunted by loss, particularly the forced separation from her mother, Sasha, which leaves her emotionally adrift. However, her mother’s lessons in survival and combat, as well as the spiritual guidance from her ancestors, provide her with the tools to endure.
Annis’s journey is one of both physical and spiritual emancipation, culminating in her escape and eventual settlement in the wilderness, where she prepares to pass on her inherited strength to her unborn child. Her character is a complex blend of vulnerability and tenacity, shaped by her connections to her lineage and her refusal to be broken by the brutal forces that seek to oppress her.
Sasha
Sasha, Annis’s mother, is a formidable presence in the novel, even after she is physically separated from her daughter. She is a woman who has internalized the lessons of survival passed down from her mother, Mama Aza, and who, in turn, seeks to impart these lessons to Annis.
Sasha’s character is defined by her fierce love for her daughter and her determination to protect her from the horrors she has herself endured, particularly from the sexual violence perpetrated by their enslaver, Annis’s “sire.” Sasha’s tragic fate—being sold away as punishment for trying to shield Annis—underscores the powerlessness of enslaved women.
However, her legacy lives on in Annis, who draws on the strength and skills Sasha taught her. The small awl Sasha gives to Annis, carved from an elephant’s tusk, symbolizes the enduring connection between mother and daughter, and Sasha’s influence continues to guide Annis even after her departure.
Mama Aza
Although Mama Aza, Annis’s grandmother, is not present in the narrative as a living character, her spirit looms large over the story. She represents the cultural and familial heritage that grounds Annis and Sasha in their identity as descendants of the Fon people.
Mama Aza’s past as one of the “warrior wives” of the Fon, a group of women trained in combat, is a significant part of Annis’s history, providing her with a sense of pride and a lineage of resistance. Her legacy is transmitted through Sasha’s teachings to Annis, and her spirit, as represented by Aza, continues to play an active role in guiding Annis.
Mama Aza embodies the resilience and defiance of African culture in the face of enslavement. Her presence in the story highlights the importance of ancestral memory in the survival and empowerment of enslaved people.
Annis’s Sire
Annis’s “sire,” the unnamed man who enslaves both her and her mother, is a figure of overwhelming cruelty and dominance in the novel. He represents the absolute power that white enslavers held over the lives of those they enslaved, and his predatory nature adds a layer of horror to Annis’s life.
His interest in Annis, following his repeated assaults on Sasha, drives the narrative forward and is the catalyst for Sasha’s forced separation from her daughter. The sire’s actions are driven by a sense of entitlement and a complete lack of humanity, which is common among the enslavers depicted in the novel.
His eventual removal from Annis’s life, following her sale and his own demise, marks a significant turning point in her journey towards freedom. The sire’s character is a grim reminder of the dehumanization inherent in the institution of slavery and the trauma it inflicted on countless lives.
Safi
Safi is another enslaved woman who forms a deep bond with Annis, offering her companionship and emotional solace in a world dominated by brutality and despair. Their relationship is a rare source of comfort and mutual understanding, providing both women with a brief respite from their harsh realities.
However, their relationship also brings danger, as it provokes the ire of Annis’s sire, leading to their sale and separation. Safi represents the fleeting nature of happiness and safety for enslaved people, but also the profound impact that such connections can have on their ability to endure suffering.
Esther and Mary
Esther and Mary, two enslaved women who work alongside Annis on the sugar plantation in New Orleans, represent the solidarity and community that can form among the enslaved despite the divisions imposed by their enslavers. These women, like Annis, endure the brutal conditions of the plantation, but their camaraderie and mutual support provide them with some measure of resistance against the dehumanization they face.
Esther’s brother, Bastian, also becomes a significant figure in Annis’s life through his connection to Esther. The bond between these women underscores the theme of collective survival and the ways in which enslaved people found strength in each other.
Bastian
Bastian, Esther’s brother, is a former enslaved man who has successfully escaped and now lives in hiding, providing food and assistance to his sister and others still in bondage. He embodies the possibility of resistance and freedom, offering Annis a glimpse of a life beyond enslavement.
Bastian’s brief romantic relationship with Annis represents her reclaiming a part of her humanity and the potential for love and connection despite the horrors of her existence. His character is a symbol of hope and the possibility of escape, which ultimately inspires Annis to seek her own freedom.
Aza (the Spirit)
Aza, the spirit who visits Annis during her journey, is a complex and enigmatic presence in the novel. She claims to be connected to Annis’s lineage, having guided both her mother and grandmother before her.
Aza’s guidance is cryptic and at times unsettling, leaving Annis uncertain whether she can fully trust the spirit. However, Aza’s role is crucial in helping Annis navigate her treacherous path to freedom.
The spirit represents the ancestral knowledge and spiritual guidance that are central to Annis’s survival and ultimate escape. Aza’s ambiguous nature adds a layer of mystical realism to the narrative, blurring the lines between the physical and spiritual worlds in Annis’s journey.
The Sugar Plantation Owner and His Wife
The plantation owner and his wife, who purchase Annis in New Orleans, are embodiments of the cruelty and dehumanization that characterize the institution of slavery. The wife, in particular, is portrayed as a miserly, cruel figure who denies the enslaved people under her control even the basic necessities of life, forcing them to forage for food.
Her harshness is matched by her husband’s predatory behavior, as he sets his sights on Annis. Their eventual downfall, particularly the husband’s death from yellow fever, is a moment of grim justice in the narrative.
However, their cruelty leaves a lasting impact on Annis and the other enslaved people, serving as a stark reminder of the pervasive brutality of the slaveholding class.
Themes
The Brutality of Slavery
At the heart of Let Us Descend is the unflinching portrayal of slavery’s horrors. Ward does not shy away from depicting the physical, emotional, and psychological torment that enslaved people endured.
Annis’s journey from the Carolinas to New Orleans, the relentless labor on the sugar plantation, and the constant threat of sexual violence underscore the dehumanizing conditions that enslaved individuals faced daily. The novel also illustrates how slavery not only oppressed the body but also sought to crush the spirit, stripping people of their dignity and autonomy.
Yet, through Annis’s story, Ward also reveals the quiet defiance and resilience that allowed enslaved people to maintain a sense of self even in the most degrading circumstances.
Cultural Heritage and Ancestral Memory
A significant theme in the novel is the importance of cultural heritage and the memory of one’s ancestors. Annis’s connection to her mother, Sasha, and her grandmother, Mama Aza, serves as a vital source of strength and identity.
The skills and stories passed down from Mama Aza, a warrior of the Fon people, to Sasha and then to Annis, represent a link to a pre-slavery past, a heritage that slavery could not erase. This ancestral memory provides Annis with a sense of continuity and purpose, even as she faces the uncertainty and brutality of her present.
The presence of spirits like Aza further emphasizes the theme of ancestral guidance, suggesting that the wisdom and strength of past generations can offer direction and support, even in the darkest times.
The Resilience of the Human Spirit
Annis’s journey is ultimately one of survival and resilience. Despite the overwhelming odds against her, Annis continually finds ways to assert her agency, whether by resisting her sire’s advances, finding solace in her relationship with Safi, or ultimately escaping the sugar plantation.
Her ability to survive, to find moments of love and connection, and to eventually escape to freedom speaks to the indomitable nature of the human spirit. Ward’s portrayal of Annis’s resilience is not just physical but also psychological and emotional, highlighting how, even when enslaved people were stripped of nearly everything, they held onto their humanity and the hope for a better future.
The Complexities of Freedom and Identity
Freedom in Let Us Descend is not simply the absence of physical bondage; it is also about reclaiming one’s identity and agency. For Annis, freedom comes with the opportunity to reconnect with her cultural heritage and to live on her own terms.
Her escape is not just from the physical chains of slavery but also from the imposed identity that her enslavers tried to force upon her. By choosing to live in the wilderness and raise her child according to the traditions of her ancestors, Annis reclaims her identity, asserting a sense of self that is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage and personal experiences.
The novel suggests that true freedom is found in the ability to define oneself and one’s life, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
The Power of Female Solidarity and Relationships
The relationships between women in Let Us Descend are central to Annis’s survival and emotional well-being. The bond between Annis and her mother, Sasha, is foundational, providing Annis with the strength and skills she needs to endure her trials.
Similarly, her relationships with Safi, Esther, and Mary on the plantation offer her moments of comfort and humanity. These connections highlight the theme of female solidarity in the face of patriarchal oppression.
The novel suggests that, despite the efforts of enslavers to isolate and dehumanize enslaved women, these women find ways to support and uplift one another, creating a shared sense of strength and community that is crucial for their survival.
The Role of Spirituality and the Supernatural
Spirituality and the supernatural play a significant role in the novel, particularly through Annis’s interactions with the spirit Aza. These encounters underscore the idea that the physical world is not the only realm that influences the lives of enslaved people.
The spirits represent a connection to the past and to a deeper, spiritual understanding of the world, offering guidance that is both cryptic and profound. Annis’s ambivalence toward these spirits reflects the complexity of relying on spiritual guidance in a world that is so dominated by physical suffering.
Yet, these supernatural elements also suggest that there is a spiritual dimension to the struggle for freedom, where the wisdom of the ancestors and the power of belief play crucial roles in shaping the present and future.