Overview Of Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs

By the early 19th century, slavery was firmly established in the United States. While the South was undeniably pro-slavery, where the North stood on this issue was not particularly clear. Throughout the 1800s, many abolitionists and anti-slavery advocates were active in the Northern colonies and territories. However, the idea of a free black man still unnerved many people who did not see the positive aspects of equality. Rather than immediately putting an end to slavery, Northern states took a gradual approach towards abolition. This method allowed for the steady growth in the population of free blacks, which the majority of Northerners generally accepted at the time. In the book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs described her life as a slave in the early 1800s and her ultimate goal to escape to New York. She primarily focused on the abuses of slavery and the slave’s struggle for self-definition. Her story not only impacted the lives of other female slaves when it was published in 1861, but it also affected Northern women who were dedicated to the Cult of Domesticity. All in all, Harriet Jacobs served as an example for white and black women who wished to gain respect during the 19th century.
Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery in 1813 near Edenton, North Carolina. She begins her autobiography by

Since these women were never exposed to this form of cruelty before, it would have been difficult for them to comprehend the problems that Jacobs faced as a slave. Her difficulties become evident when she starts working for Dr. Norcom at a very young age. Not only did he physically abuse her on a daily basis, but he also psychologically abused her with sexual threats regarding herself and her children. She goes into detail about the horrors of slavery when she