Amazing Grace Movie Analysis Essay Example

After watching Amazing Grace and reading the sources, I liked the movie. The title for this movie was inspired by a hymn; by John Newton. Although it’s not linked to the abolition of slavery in Britain, the hymn was described as -"an anthem against all forms of social injustice." The hymn uplifts the soul from despair to salvation through the gift of grace (Library of Congress). Thus, perfectly describing William Wilberforce and his journey toward abolishing slavery. Overall, I think the movie is historically accurate due to the parallels with the readings.

William Wilberforce is portrayed- as a well-respected man in the beginning scenes of the movie. When two men recognized Wilberforce, they immediately stopped beating on a horse, per Wilberforces' orders (A review of the movie ‘Amazing Grace’). As a Member of Parliament, Wilberforce tried his best to abolish slavery, stating it was incompatible with Christianity (Turning Points, pg. 253). Thomas Clarkson met Wilberforce in 1787 and mentioned that Wilberforce had “little knowledge in detail [of the slave trade]” (Baker, 436). William wants to bring “such ‘damning proof’ to the contrary that no honest man could resist…” (Baker, 437). Though the slave traders believed they were conducting an act of mercy by taking the slaves to the West Indies (Baker, 435). When offered a slave, Wilberforce storms out. The Duke of Clarence tells him that he saved the slaves' life by buying him, instead of having them die on a plantation. During a meeting, someone in the movie mentions that no evidence shows the Africans had any objections to the trade. Shortly after, Wilberforce began gathering evidence of the mistreatment of African slaves. 

Wilberforce had asked Equiano to show him a slave ship in the movie. Wilberforce observed the conditions the slaves went through during their three-week journey. The slaves had to endure being shackled in irons, crammed into wooden vessels, thirst, etc. (Baker, 435). The boxes in which they were placed were 4 feet by 18 inches. Equiano said that women were often tied to their ankles, allowing them to get raped. Other slaves were thrown into the water, as a way to make the ship lighter. Before he was sold to the slave market in Barbados, Equiano was an African prince (Equiano’s Autobiography).  In an attempt to change the minds of the other Members of Parliament, Wilberforce takes them to the slave ship. They are asked to uncover their noses so they can breathe in the smell of death. On the ship, there were 600 slaves, some of which died because of diseases and/or despair. Despite the cruel descriptions of Africans, Wilberforce thought that they were “more polite and civilized than most people in the world” (Baker, 438). The evidence gathered by Wilberforce came from agents, officers, merchants, and seamen (Baker, 437). After a year of gathering evidence, Wilberforce collected over 390,000 signatures for a petition to abolish slavery. 

In a letter written by John Wesley, he tells Wilberforce that he hopes God continues to provide him strength (Wesley to Wilberforce). There’s a scene in the movie where Wilberforce visits John Newton, a former slave trader, who didn’t speak out against slavery until 30 years after having left the trade (Tunzelmann). He tells Newton that he’s there to seek advice from him, to which Newton replies by saying: “when you were a child, you used to ask God for advice.” Wilberforce says to Newton that his faith is slowly coming back. There were several instances throughout the movie where Wilberforce was having problems deciding between doing God’s work or the work of a political activist. The attendees tell him that he can believe in both God and politics. Pitt even told Wilberforce that he wishes he had his faith. While at this meeting, Equiano shows Wilberforce his iron tattoo and says that branding is conducted “to let you know you no longer belong to God but to a man.” The reason for showing Wilberforce his tattoo and the chain demonstration is because they think he doesn’t believe in something until he sees it. 

There were some inconstancies, according to The Guardian, relating to the boycott of sugar. A discussion between Spooner and Wilberforce is about sugar. Spooner mentions that she stopped taking sugar in her tea and tells her friends that every cube of sugar contains actual slave blood, as a way to prevent them from buying sugar, too. The movie depicts Wilberforce as agreeing to the boycott, The Guardian says he disapproved of this campaign. The notion that slaves were “in a state of humble happiness” was also false, as described throughout the movie. One article also states that the movie is not historically accurate as it is a “biased approach to the subject matter…” A review of the movie ‘Amazing Grace’, states that Clarkson and Equiano were discredited in the film, thus making Wilberforce the only saint. 

Despite this, I enjoyed the movie. I thought the acting was good and had a nice flow. The parallels between the readings and the movie led me to believe that Amazing Grace is historically accurate, for the most part. My favorite part was when the bill for the abolition of the slave trade passed. The look on everyone’s faces made me very emotional. John Newton’s reaction was great, too. The movie added the part where he recites a portion of his hymn “I once was blind, but now I see.” It was a great addition given that Newtown was blind, and once he was able to write his confession, he was finally able to feel free and “see.” Lord Charles Fox gave a speech towards the end of the movie, which was also moving, recognized Wilberforces' efforts, and said he [Wilberforce] would be able to lay his head on his pillow and see that slavery is no more. I liked the inclusion of the hymn during Wilberforce's wedding with Barbara. To me, it shows the extent of their relationship and how much they listen to each other.