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Social norms theory
Social norms theory
The effect of slavery in african americans
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Social norms theory
Social norms theory
The effect of slavery in african americans
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In their respective narratives, both Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs expose slavery as a brutal and degrading institution. Though the tone and approach they incorporate in their individual narratives differ, both seek to renounce the romanticized view of plantation culture and reveal the harsh actualities. Jacobs also seeks to debunk the stereotypical notion that house slaves lived a more privileged life than plantation slaves. Furthermore, Jacobs goes on to explain the role of the slave-mistress and how that complicates the life of a slave girl growing up in a house with a licentious master and his jealous wife.
But, unlike him, she had very good memories of her mistress, saying that“ she taught me to read and spell; and for this privilege, which so rarely falls to the lot of the slave, I bless her memory”. Jacobs’s mother and her mistress had gown up together since they were children and, when they became women, her mother was “a most faithful servant to her foster sister” (pg. 10). When Jacob’s mother died, the kind mistress had promised her that she would take care of her daughter and she would never let her suffer for anything. As a matter a fact, she kept her word, until her death, and although it was unlawful, she educated her slave. The mistress also taught her the precepts of God’s Word and treated her like she was one of her own daughters.
Jacobs rhetoric is pretty simple compared to other anti-slave writers such as Frederick Douglass. She does not use many metaphors or symbolism and gets her
Jacobs had a distinct sexual vulnerability which Douglass did not have to face. Jacobs biography, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” recounted her experiences as women in slavery, “He peopled my young mind with unclean images, such as only a vile monster could think of…I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature. He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things” (Jacobs 6-7). This quote demonstrates the inhuman conditions in which Jacobs was forced to navigate in her life as a slave. Her master, who was vastly older, pursued her sexually, and she could do little to protect herself.
Jacobs was able to have her family near her for much of her life in slavery, particularly her grandmother. Jacobs writes,”To this grandmother I was indebted for many comforts.” (806). Jacobs also later mentions, “I was indebted to her for all my comforts, spiritual or temporal” (2). Jacobs felt that her grandmother helped her so much through these times that she would never be able to repay the comfort she received from her grandmother and all the good deeds she did for her.
This meant that Jacobs life as a slave was worse that style of life that anyone could have; because she was a slave the fear of being raped or abused was always in her mind. Jacobs was dealt a life with a double edge sword; meaning that she did not have to be worry about being abused because her master did not allow it but her master had plans to make her his own when she came to age. Jacobs did not know the latter of her situation, therefore she like any woman of her time began to become a good woman. This consisted of he being pure holy and domestic. Since her purity was being saved for her master, her being a house slave the same as Douglass, also the love for god came easy to her; she believed that she was a good woman.
Similarly, Harriet Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Seen Years Concealed” follows the early childhood of a young girl born into slavery. The first few chapters lay out the foundation of the book, particularly highlighting stories of her parents, first mistress, and the new family whom she later served. When reading these wonderful
Jacobs later began “to contribute her life story to the abolitionist cause in a way that would capture the attention of Northern white women in particular, to show how slavery debased and demoralized woman” (Baym, 921). Jacobs wrote an autobiography on her life as a slave little girl. In her book she described the kind of treatment African
Jacob had a good relationship with her mother’s mistress after her mother died. Her mother worked under her mistress for many years, her mother was able to gain some respect from her mistress. When she died, the mistress seemed to take Jacobs under her wing to take care of her. The mistress taught Jacobs how to read, this also ignited a desire for freedom. (Jacobs,
Harriet Jacobs experienced firsthand how slavery within the white household degrades the virtue and motherly instinct of white women. Throughout the 18th century, Jacobs is passed from owner to owner relearning their rules and regulations of the house. Jacobs knew nothing different, but noticed how her owners would slowly change and their caring humanitarian actions would start to diminish. Jacobs was not the only one who noticed her owners changing, the whole world began to take note of the dwindling virtue in all women. Harriet Jacobs experienced firsthand how slavery within the white household degrades the virtue white women by ridding them of compassion and altering their perception of what is right and wrong.
1) Harriet Jacobs chooses to start her biography with her childhood and how extremely fortune she is. The very first sentence is “[She is] BORN a slave; but [she] never knew it till six years of happy childhood ha[s] [went] away ” (8). The reason why she does not know she was born a slave is because “she never dream[s] [she is] a piece of merchandise” (8). Jacobs, Linda the protagonist, says “When [she is] six years old, [her] mother die[s]” (9), and that is when Linda realizes that she is a slave. This is why Linda believes that her childhood happiness ends due to the horrifying things slaves have to do.
She talks about how she was treated by Dr. Flint " But Dr. Flint swore he would kill me, if I was not as silent as the grave." Although in Jacobs narrative she was treated, in Douglass' his grandmother was whipped "The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped, and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped the longest." He also talks about how bad women had it "He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome, would he cease to swing the blood-clooted cowskin." Then he talks about how slavery was like hell "It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass."
At the age of six, her mother died and she was forced to live with Margaret Horniblow, the mother’s owner. The mistress took a good care of Jacobs and taught her how to read, write and sew. Her father was always telling her to feel free and do not feel someones property. While her grandmother was always teaching Jacobs respect and manners. She was always telling her about principles and ethnics.
The main purpose of Jacobs "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" was to try to sway people's