Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs

In Incidents In the Life of A Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, Harriet shares her experience in slavery and how she overcame trials presented in the form of her master and mistress, and how she battled constant separation from her family and children. In order to protect herself from her master, who constantly attempts to pressure Harriet into a sexual relationship with him, Harriet becomes involved in a relationship with a white man and gains two children. However, in order to escape slavery, Harriet stays for seven years in a small shed in her grandmother’s home and eventually gains her freedom. The book shows that in a system of slavery, family ties and the idea of motherhood are two things that are almost unachievable due to the uncertainty

Harriet’s parents tried their hardest to not show Harriet the horrors of slavery until she was older. It’s a mother’s nature to shield her children and protect them no matter what, and that’s why Harriet struggles some much with the birth of her two children. When her son, Benny, is born Harriet says, “I had prayed for his death, but never so earnestly as I now prayed for his life; and my prayer was heard. Alas, what mockery it is for a slave mother to try to pray back her dying child to life! Death is better than slavery.” Harriet experience an internal match between wanting her child to live and wanting him to die so he’s not forced to experience the horror of slavery. As a slave mother, it’s impossible for Harriet to be able to protect her son because she’s considered as property. This is why she thinks in some ways it would be better for her children to die than rather experience the pain of slavery. Then, when her daughter, Ellen, is born, Harriet says, ““When they told me my new-born babe was a girl, my heart was heavier than it had ever been before. Slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women. Superadded to the burden common to all, they have wrongs, and sufferings, and mortifications peculiarly their own.” As a mother,

A prime example is all the people that assist Harriet in her escape from Mr. Flint’s grasp. When Harriet runs away she takes shelter at Sally’s house. Without any hesitation Sally opens her doors and shelters Harriet even though the consequences of her actions could lead to death. Then, Harriet’s grandmother’s childhood friends plays a big part in assisting Harriet. She says, “‘Aunt Marthy, I pity you both. If you think there is any chance of Linda’s getting to the Free states, I will conceal her for a time.’” At the house Harriet sees her friend Betty. Harriet says, “My friend Betty was there; she was the last person I expected to see.” Everyone does their part in order to assist Harriet out of captivity and protect her as best they can. No matter the risk, the community protects Harriet and does whatever they can to ensure her freedom. While relationships and families are constantly torn apart Harriet is able to be in an environment where she is still protected by others and loved. On page 94, Harriet talks about her friend Peter that leads Harriet to her home for the next seven years. Harriet says, “Betty bade me a hurried good by, and we walked off. “Take courage, Linda,” said my friend Peter. “I’ve got a dagger, and no man shall take you from men, unless he passes over my dead body.”’ The people around Harriet are fiercely loyal to her are will do