“It has strains of both jezebel figure, a sexually precocious slave who disturbs the natural order of the nuclear household, seeking to supplant the white wife; and the “mammy” figure, a motherly slave who earns her spot in the white household by loving and caring for the master’s children”.
Chloe was chosen as the mistress at a young age. She had taken care of the children and was free to do as she wished, more than the other slaves. She fell in love with her master, she was eavesdropping on a business meeting and she was caught and had been punished for it; he cut off her ear and had her wear a green turban to hide her imperfection. She was placed into the kitchen and she planned to make the children sick so she could care for them to make him love her again. Her plan backfired and the children including his wife died because of the poison in the cake. He had her hunged and her body thrown into the river; later it was revealed they died of yellow fever just over a year apart from each other in 1820s; except for Mary Octavia who didn't pass until 1889.
“Killed violently and denied a proper burial, Chloe now stalks the grounds of the Myrtles Plantation, talking to guest, wandering the hallways, and appearing in photographs-always wearing her green turban”.
Chloe went to ask for help from the other slaves and they turned her in and made her feel betrayed. It could have been her fault because if the children and his wife had yellow fever the poison could have made them sicker and killing them in the process. With her being betrayed by everyone she was angry and her spirit could be wandering the plantation in hopes of being forgiven by the master.
It also states that “the lack of clear details or historical substantiation means the legend of Chloe is adaptable” meaning her story can be changed.
What origin does the name Chloe come from?
If there is no record of a slave named Chloe, how did the story come about?
Is the ghost trying to warn others or tell them something in regards to the Plantation?
