Analysis Of The Book ' Harriet Jacobs '

The life of a slave woman is far more complex than that of a slave man, although understandably equal in hardships, the experience for a woman is incredibly different. The oppression that women have faced throughout their lives in the struggle to even be considered equal to men is more than evident in slavery, not only because they were thought of as lesser but in some ways many women actually believed it to be true. The experiences that Linda Brent, pseudonym for the author Harriet A. Jacobs, went through in her life story in Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl prove that the difficulties for slave women were more than significant in many different cases. For Linda Brent, her life had been a constant fight since she was six years old

Harriet lived from roughly 1820-1913; the exact year of her birth is completely unknown. She was born to Harriet Green and Benjamin Ross, under the name of Araminta “Minty” Ross, on the Thompson plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland. The plantation was owned by Edward Brodess, son of Mary Pattison Brodess, a young widow. Mary was an awful mistress, in the sense that she enjoyed her slave’s misery. She often drove the families apart, causing extreme anguish. Although it was common for masters and mistresses to hire out the man to another plantation, Mary separated the family even more by selling two of Harriet’s sisters to a plantation in Georgia.

Harriet Jacobs wrote, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” using the pseudonym Linda Brent, and is among the most well-read female slave narratives in American history. Jacobs faces challenges as both a slave and as a mother. She was exposed to discrimination in numerous fronts including race, gender, and intelligence. Jacobs also appeals to the audience about the sexual harassment and abuse she encountered as well as her escape. Her story also presents the effectiveness of her spirit through fighting racism and showing the importance of women in the community.

Harriet was born into slavery around 1820 in Dorchester, Maryland to Benjamin Ross and Harriet Green. Her master, Edwards Brodas, gave her the name Araminta but she eventually took on her mother’s name. At the age of five when most children would be starting off into school, Harriet began working as a house maid. Many times she would be “rented” out to different plantation homes for several months at a time. During this time she received multiple routine beatings, whippings, and verbal assaults. But these times of house work wouldn’t last long.

Harriet Jocobs was born into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina 1813. Her parents were Delilah and Elijah Jacobs, was slaves who lived together. In Edenton she worked as a caterer she was also highly respected by the black and whites. Delilah and Elijah both died when Harriet and her brother John were young. After the death of her mother in 1819, Harriet went to live with Margaret Horniblow. After Margaret Horniblow’s death, She became the property of her young niece the daughter of Dr. James Norcom. He was also the owner of Molly when her mistress died but he decided to put her in the auction. That was considered wrong but an elderly white woman bought her and emancipated her. Molly bought A house of her own her son Joseph, escaped And disappeared,

February 11, 1813 in Edenton, North Carolina Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery. Harriet Jacobs’s parents were Elijah and Delilah Jacobs mother and father of Harriet and her older brother John Jacob’s. Elijah Jacob’s was a skilled carpenter, who made enough money so that his family could all live together. Harriet Jacob’s grandmother Molly Horniblow played a major role in the Jacob’s family life. At the age six Harriet Jacob’s mother passed away Harriet was sent away to live with her mother’s owner and his mistress. “I was born a slave; but I never knew till six years of happy childhood had passed away.” Harriet felt as if she was living a good life until her mother passed away. Even though she was born a slave she did not feel

Harriet was born between 1820-1825 In Maryland Buck Town , facing tough times in her early childhood. She got whipped every day and suffered from severe injuries. She babysat and worked for her master at the age of 5 , she had to sit on the floor and hold the baby because she was so small and she didn’t want to drop the baby. Harriet

Harriet A. Jacobs Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiography written under the name of Linda Brent. This autobiography is a detailed account of her life or lack thereof. I use the term lack thereof because Harriet Jacobs was raised by her grandmother due to her mother dying at a young age. Harriet was taught to read and write as a young slave girl by her mistress.

Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: A Harrowing Escape from Abuse

In the non-fiction book “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” by Harriet A. Jacobs and published in Boston in 1861. The author Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813, in a town called Edenton, North Carolina. Jacob uses the pseudonym Linda Brent to narrate her first person account. The book opens with Jacobs stating her reasons for writing a biography of her life story. Her story is agonizing and she had rather have kept it confidential, although she felt that by making it public that perhaps it might help the antislavery movement. A preface by Linda Child, states in the beginning of the book, “READER, be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true” (Jacobs 5). I would like to explain the main themes in this story, they include family and community, dangers of slavery for women, motherhood, and altogether the corrupting power of slavery, religion, and last but not least perseverance.

Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery. Her parents, both of mixed race, were salves as well; although her father was such a skilled carpenter he was able to buy his freedom but unfortunately not his families, Jacobs’ mother on the other hand died as a slave. In her testimony, she describes her younger years as a slave were happy and unaware that she was considered property. Jacobs shared the same treatment as her Mistress’ children until

Harriet Jacobs, in her narrative, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, was born into slavery in the south. While her youth contained “six years of happy childhood,” a few tragedies and mistresses later, Jacobs spent many years in pain under the possession of her cruel five-year-old mistress, Emily Flint, and Emily’s father, Dr. Flint. Once able to obtain freedom, Jacobs spent most of her life working for the Anti-Slavery office in New York, in hope that one day she could make a difference in the world. “She sought to win the respect and admiration of her readers for the courage with which she forestalled abuse and for the independence with which she chose a lover rather than having one forced on her” (Jacobs 921). Linda Brett, the pseudonym that Jacobs uses to narrate her life story, endures the harsh behavior women slaves were treated with in the south during the nineteenth century. The dominant theme of the corruptive power and psychological abuse of slavery, along with symbolism of good and evil, is demonstrated throughout her narrative to create a story that exposes the terrible captivity woman slaves suffered. The reality of slavery in the past, versus slavery today is used to reveal how the world has changed and grown in the idea of racism and neglect.

Harriet Jacob was the first African American women to have authored a slave narrative in the United States and was instinctive into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina. Living a good life with her skilled carpentered father and her mother, Jacob didn’t much of being a slave. However, when her mother had passed away, Jacob and her father were reassigned to a different slave owner were her life as a women slave began. Because of this change, she fled to New York where she started working in the Anti-Slavery movement. During this period, she focused more on her family then she did the issue of slavery. Family is an emotional anchor in the Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl because Linda was devoted to her children. She uses symbolism, imagery, and allegory because she wants to demonstrate what families should be like.

Growing up as a slave Jacobs was constantly exposed to sexual abuse from her master. She was forced to learn what it meant to be a slave that was

The narrative begins with the tale of Jacob’s childhood. She tells tales of a childhood oblivious to slavery being allowed to enjoy the pleasures of child’s play. Her mother died when she was six years old and was left under the mastership of her white foster sister. On her deathbed, her mother’s white sister promised to protect her slave sister’s children. While, this was true during her lifetime, upon her death, Jacob’s expected that she would be freed. Jacob’s first painful realization that despite what appeared to be a good relationship, her mistress viewed her as a slave and did not free but bequeathed her to her five year old niece. From this point Jacob’s has a new master and mistress .