Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Free choice and free will did not exist for slaves, and the difference between good and bad owners was nothing more than an illusion. Harriet Jacobs writes about this in her autobiographical novel Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Telling her story of slavery and escape, the author addresses white readers, thereby showing that everyone is involved in the system of violence and exploitation not only the owners of slaves but also white women and residents of the northern states who do not have slaves.

Discussion

Although the novel does not describe the details of the connection of the main character Linda Brent with her neighbor Mr. Sands, it is obvious to the reader that the girl preferred him to her master Dr. Flint. It is however questionable if the girl ever had a choice. It seems that Mr. Sands compared to Dr. Flint was kind to the young slave (Jacobs 34). He did not intimidate her, did not show aggression, and even helped ransom her children. Whereas in the house of Dr. Flint Linda, who was only 15, became the object of compulsive sexual harassment. A man 40 years older than Linda used manipulation and cruelty to lure her into sex. In addition, the girl was subjected to pressure from Dr. Flints wife, who was jealous of her (Jacobs 56). However, Mr. Sands turned out to be a typical representative of the patriarchal system and stood out positively only against the background of Dr. Flint. He knew that Linda was hiding in her grandmothers attic, but did nothing to help and stand up for her. Like Dr. Flint, Mr. Sands served a system in which the sexual exploitation and enslavement of blacks were common and normal.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that Linda had no real choice between Dr. Flint and Mr. Sands. The relationship with Mr. Sands was the result of the system in which Linda was forced to exist. Harriet Jacobs convinces white readers of the idea that there is no choice in slavery and shows them that everyone was involved in the system of exploitation.