Life Of A Slave Girl Literary Analysis

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 Jacobs wrote “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” under the pseudonym Linda Brent. Even though there were dangers in writing the truth about what black slaves (black slave girls particular) had to go through; Jacobs believed that her autobiography could make a difference. In the introduction of her story, Jacobs tells the reader that her story is a painful one that she would much rather leave in private but she wanted to help in the antislavery movement.

Battle, urgency, constancy; these subjects and more appear to be the focal proposition of Harriet Jacobs ' novel Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Based around the individual battles of a slave 's individual mission for flexibility, this novel additionally points of interest the episodes and lives of those whom she comes into contact with. The arrangement of occasions that happen throughout the primary character, Linda 's, life as a slave characterize for herself and her group of onlookers what subjugation implies, as well as what flexibility implies.

Harriet Jacobs constantly refers to friends that help her through her plight for freedom. Relying on the kindness of others seems to be a trend through out her life. Harriet was always helped out when she was a slave and when she escaped from slavery. When ever she got into trouble someone always came to her rescue. Everyone that came to her rescue was risking themselves when they would aid her. Be it a good old friend from the past, someone who knew her mother or a random stranger in the last expected place, there was always someone to save her. She thankfully accepted every bit of aid that came her way.

The reader can infer that Harriet is Linda, since this is a primary document which means that the writer lived through it and was there. The book was written in the 1850s right as tensions were beginning to rise on the issue of slavery towards the Civil War. One could make a valid argument that Harriet Jacobs has a biased perspective, since she lived in a black community her whole life and experienced these things. One could argue that part of the twisted world was just handed down to white people because that was all that they ever knew. However, I believe that the fact that she lived her life in slavery and experienced some of the worst things only adds to her credibility as a person and an author. I do not know many people who could argue against the things she wrote because they are too scary to be false and no one today can rebuttal her argument since they did not live then. Despite doubts or reservations that people may have about Harriet Jacobs’s book, the reader is still shocked, informed, and compelled by the text and insight into the culture of the U.S.A. in the mid-late

No one in today’s society can even come close to the heartache, torment, anguish, and complete misery suffered by women in slavery. Many women endured this agony their entire lives, there only joy being there children and families, who were torn away from them and sold, never to be seen or heard from again.

The life experience of an African women during slaver time took place in the 1800’s in North Carolina and is told in the book, Incidents in the Life of a slave girl written by. Harriet Jacobs, whom herself tells the story of the misfortunes she went through. Her story is important, because we then learn more about history itself, we learn how people have changed throughout history. Also the importance of those good hearted people who even though were only a few helped and treated slaves with decency. In these book it’s shown by personal experience what many had to go back at the time which is why it gives this book a sense of more personal feel. Because it wasn’t based on what others said it what based on first hand experiences.

So many things are over looked or not spoken of when you are treated as probity and owned by a master. Its people like Harriet Jacobs that comes forward and tell us all the gruesome details of her first hands experience. In “Incidents in the life of a slave girl”, Harriet Jacobs tells a very intriguing story as Linda Brent who is the protagonist, about her struggle being born into a slave family not just as a slave but also as a women. This autobiography is a very excellent representation of all the obstacles African Americans during that time had to overcome. Even though this book had some flaws like any other book. It was more of a success in my eyes.

The Antebellum period of America was an important growth factor for the young country; this was a very profitable time. The free labor for the white supremacists not only gave birth to the foundation for the economy but in the same hand it also traded, killed, bred, scattered and put fear in the lives of many slaves, used for the greed of a nation. This high dollar business was taking away the basic rights from many slaves, debasing and demoralizing the woman hood for many female slaves. Many slave owners tore children from their mothers for mere profit. In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, sheds light on a delicate and yet very inappropriate subject matter for its time, sexual abuse of female slaves. This book is an autobiography of

“Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” is a book about a young African American women that was a fugitive slave named Jacobs, which is a nickname since her real name is Linda Brent. The book tell us about Jacobs' life as a slave and how she escaped slavery and gained freedom for her children.

Trauma: an emotional shock causing lasting and substantial damage to a person’s psychological development. Linda Krumholz in the African American Review claims the book Beloved by Toni Morrison aids the nation in the recovery from our traumatic history that is blemished with unfortunate occurrences like slavery and intolerance. While this grand effect may be true, one thing that is absolute is the lesson this book preaches. Morrison’s basic message she wanted the reader to recognize is that life happens, people get hurt, but to let the negative experiences overshadow the possibility of future good ones is not a good way to live. Morrison warns the reader that sooner or later you will have to choose between letting go of the past or it

Harriet Jacobs autobiography, “The Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl”, narrates her life as a slave and journey to freedom under the pseudonym, Linda Brent. The central message was to appeal to abolitionists and gain support of the women in the North, to expose the anecdotes of sexual victimization and abuse slave women commonly faced. The ideals of womanhood at the time of Jacob’s writing process, asserted that all women should have virtues of piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness. In the narrative, Jacobs remarks how slavery prevented women from obtaining these virtues. Jacobs writing was also influenced by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, permitting the recapture of fugitive slaves to their masters. This led to abolitionists

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is the life story of a mother and wanted slave named Harriet Jacobs, who is later found to be the author, but published and edited by L. Maria Child in 1861. Jacobs used the stage name Linda Brent. The autobiography speaks on the maltreatment of slavery, the slave’s conflict for self-definition and dignity, and the disturbing specifics of a fatal escape.The slave structure brutalized the slaves.The south was a territory that was agricultural with minor industrialization related to the North. Slaves were forced into undesirable sexual relationships with the owners, promised unkept promises, threatened, given violent whippings,and harsh hardships exposed to them. It asserts the different dilemmas confronted

The writing shows that Harriet Jacobs is effective in providing evidence to “arouse the women of the North”. In Harriet Jacobs story, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” we learn that she goes through things sexually and physically, that she doesn’t want any woman to go through like she did. The female gender was abused so much during this time and her message in the story was very clear about the actions of men. The Southern law stated that, “the children followed the situation of the mother, very important so as to ensnare a slave woman's children if she ever had any even if her lover was free.” All of the trials that she faces in slavery challenge her moral principles and are meant to arouse the women of the North. Harriet presented

Both elite white women and slave women played an important role in their families back in 19th century. The Spate Sphere ideology had helped women to achieve better standards in life, but still they had no political rights. Even though women had no political voice back in 19th century, they played influential roles behind the scenes. According to the Incident in The Life of a Slave Girl, Harriot’s grandmother became a widow at very young age and she had 5 children and they were all sold to different masters. Throughout the story, Harriot’s grandmother never stopped trying to set her children free and she was never successful neither. Harriet’s grandmother also plays a great role in her life and we see her support throughout the story.