THE REBEL
Lyle’s story is loosely based upon the rebellion of Nat Turner’s that occurred in 1831 in Virginia. Lyle has many parallels to the this historical event. Both resisted their masters by organizing a band of slaves(9). Unlike Turner, Thomas did not kill anyone, he merely threatened his master. While this was a minor event in which those who tried to spark rebellion ended up being executed in both stories does not take away from the historical significance of the event. It showed that slaves were unhappy in their position and could organize themselves in order to try change it.