Harriet Jacobs Psychology

The ideology of slavery still exists, whether we notice it or not, but it is covered up by our institutions and enforced through a systematic way to manipulate one. These systems are in place by society to enforce an order. We are built on the notion of a hierarchy class system where white men are constructed to be superior by asserting their dominance and oppressing people of color. Suppressing one can be done by using aggression. Aggression is a tactic used to implement change for a specific cause, and although it is seen in many shapes and forms it helps bring awareness, while also building steps to adjustment an issue. Aggression is not only used to suppress one because of the color of their skin but because of their gender as well. Women

Flint. At one point in the book, Linda gets a glimpse of freedom when Mr. Sands likes her. She has an affair with Mr. Sands not only because she’s human and has feelings, but also as a way to manipulate her master in selling her. Linda portrays aggression by using resistance and asserting that she had a choice to have an affair, and this makes Dr. Flint look weak because his property is tending to her feelings and not his needs. After having an affair with Mr. Sands she becomes pregnant in which she intends to get sold to obtain freedom. It bothered Dr. Flint that his property was having an affair, so he then used aggression in an evil twisted way. Throughout the book, Dr. Flint torments Linda, “He rushed from the house, and returned with a pair of shears…he cut every hair close to my head, storming and swearing all the time…I replied to some abuse and he struck me (Jacobs 66).” Dr. Flint used aggression towards Linda with the possession of force he holds in society. Dr. Flint reaction to Linda’s pregnancy makes him become sick, where his intentions are to make her suffer, so she can crumble to weakness and obey his

Flint, and thus causes an inner conflict within him. He is desperate for revenge and constantly seeks to north in search of her. Linda resists him by lying and giving the message that she runs away to New York while remaining hidden in her grandmother’s house for almost seven years. She lives uncomfortable in a small space and this resistances of hers shows the ambition she holds to get better circumstances for her children and herself. Linda played her cards against the card dealer and won. Linda concealed her identity from her children for the sake of aggression Dr. Flint had out for her. Linda’s love for her children causes her to make sacrifices, sacrifices that pay off in the end when she makes it to the north and her children are by her side. Towards the end, she says, “My story ends with freedom; not in the usual way, with marriage. I and my children are now free (Jacobs 164)!” She concludes that her life is like a roller coaster and had many ups and downs, especially very steep drops, but it comes to an end when her conscious is satisfied and freedom is flowing in through her