Ezekial never explains why he wants the last
name of Freeman.and readers meet Ezekial in chapter 6. He is hiding out in Lyddie's family home,
and he is hiding because he is an escaping slave that hopes to gain his freedom by making it all
the way to Canada.
Lyddie is initially frightened by him, but he earns her
trust quite quickly, and Lyddie is shocked at how well spoken and educated he is. Ezekial
cordially introduces himself to Lyddie and says that his name is Ezekial Abernathy. He follows
up that statement by saying that is what he was formally called, but Ezekial does not say what
he now calls himself. Readers have to wait all the way until chapter 14 for that
information.
Luke Stevens brings Lyddie a parcel and a letter. It turns out
the letter is from Ezekial. He has several pieces of good news. He safely managed to get himself
to freedom in Montreal, and he credits Lyddie's loan to him as one of the things that made it
possible. The letter thanks her, and the package includes his repayment of the loan. The letter
is signed Ezekial Freeman, but there is no explanation for the name change.
Readers are meant to hypothesize potential reasons. It's not that much of a stretch to
think that he changed his name to Freeman to further indicate that he is a slave no
more.
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