In the movie Mandingo why did the Master use a slave beneath his feet to his ease his aches and what is the history behind this practice?

Answer 1

Hi, I have Mandingo on DVD. I have watched it over a dozen times, and I must say it is truly an unforgetable story. I will do the best I can to answer your question. I feel that young Master Hammond used Ellen and the other young slave women for pleasure, so that he could do what he wanted to them whenever he wanted. Afterall, they were his slaves. I especially felt sorry for poor Big Pearl, the young lady at the beginning of the movie, who was obviously ill when she was visited by the doctor. (She probably had a stomach virus.) Anyway, after the doctor examined Pearl, he concluded that there was nothing wrong with her, but if Master Hammond did not pleasure her, she wouldn't be much good later on (the later are my words.) Old man Master Hammond, I believe, said that it was the Master's duty to pleasure the slaves for their first time. This is something that happened often during slavery...the master pleasured the females, until he got tired of them. Also, Hammond, Sr also stated that the wenches being pleasured by their master would save the wives from having to be submissive. In other words, the Missy, could take a break from her wifely duties because of the wenches. Anyway.... Unfortunately, poor Big Pearl still had to be pleasured by young Master Hammond, despite how she actually felt. I also feel the doctor's silly concoctions and notions caused some of this immoral behavior and silly thinking with Hammond and his father. Take for instance, the cure for Hammond, Sr.'s reumatism.... I have never heard of such, and as far as I know, his ailment was never cured despite the numbers of time that poor young black boy had to have those old feet pressed at his belly. Once again, because Big Pearl, Ellen and the other women, were a piece of property, they simply didn't own their feelings, and they didn't own themselves. I have to disagree with some of the lyrics by the brilliant bluesman, Muddy Waters, who sings in the movie's opening. It was more than obvious slaves truly did not even own their own feelings. I will add this....Young Master Hammond did develop a close bond with Ellen. Ellen was a virgin, pretty, smart, and truly had a mind of her own. I think Hammond really liked her. Perhaps if she wasn't a black slave, maybe he would have married her instead of Blanche! After all I have said, I say this is probably the best movie about slavery that I have ever seen in recent years. Hope this answered your question...I tried.