Story Map- Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

Information Technology High School
Ms. Hyde
English 5/ Period 8
November 12, 2008
Breeonna Reed

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs

Characters & Characterization: Protagonist & Antagonist
Protagonist: Linda Brent
Linda Brent is a young slave girl who reveals herself as clever and determined. Throughout her teen years Linda is faced with many decisions to make towards her journey to freedom however; she does what she thinks is right. Linda ultimately wants to know how it feels to be free. When Linda became a mother it gave her more urge to want to escape for the sake of her children. Linda doesn’t want her children to grow up in a corrupt environment like she did. That is why she is willing to do whatever it takes to save her children and herself.

Antagonist: Dr. Flint
Dr. Flint is a corrupt, old slaveholder who enjoys having control over others. He tries multiple times to force Linda to submit completely to him. Dr. Flint gives Linda special treatment by not punishing her or allowing others to punish her, which is all a part of his manipulative game. Flint is hot tempered and jealous when it comes to Linda being in love with someone. His possessiveness with Linda keeps pushing her farther away until she reaches her breaking point. Dr. Flint is the only person standing in Linda’s way of freedom and he loves the thought of it. Dr. Flint will always want Linda in his power because he is pleasured when she is miserable.

Setting:
Time- Early1800s to the late 1800s
Place- a southern plantation and the Free states up North
At the start of the 1800s slavery was being practiced everywhere in the south. Any Caucasian person particularly men who had money owned slaves. The southern plantations were homes to many slaves who worked long hard hours without pay. The south represented suffering, dehumanization, and lost hope. The north represented a chance to be free and treated with dignity and respect. Reaching those Free states without getting caught was the ultimate dream of the slaves.

Vocabulary
· Malice- A desire to harm others or to see others suffer
· Obliterated- to have removed or destroyed all traces of
· Reprobate- an unprincipled or totally bad person.
· Irascible- easily provoked to anger
· Spectre- a ghostly appearing figure

Plot of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl focuses on the events of one woman's sufferings due to slavery. Throughout the narrative Linda hides the true identity of herself and those she had an encounter with by using fictitious names. Her story begins with her happy childhood, which comes to an end due to the deaths of her mother, father and a kind first mistress. As a result she is bequeathed to Dr. Flint’s daughter. While living with the Flints Linda was harassed multiple times in order to have relations with Dr. Flint. Linda spent seven years in hiding in her grandmother’s attic, with almost no air or light. The glimpse of her children was the only thing that sustained her courage.

Exposition
· When Linda Brent’s mother died she was left to live with her mother’s mistress, when her mother’s mistress died she was bequeathed to Dr. Flint’s daughter.
· Linda’s friend died and then her father died suddenly.
· Linda’s grandmother became a free woman with the help of her deceased mistress’s sister.

Rising Action
· Dr. Flint made advances towards Linda such as: whispering fouls words into her ear, passing her notes after he found out she could read and write. He also tells her she can only marry one of his slaves that way he can keep an eye on her.
· Linda got pregnant by Mr. Sands twice and gives birth to a boy (Benny) and girl (Ellen).
· Dr. Flint gives Linda an offer: if she doesn’t have any communication with Mr. Sands she can live in a secluded cottage with her children and have her freedom.
· Linda didn’t accept Flint’s offer so she was sent to work on Dr. Flint’s son in law’s plantation.

Climax
· Linda decided to run away for the sake of her children. If Linda isn’t in the Flint’s power they will sell the children giving Mr. Sands a chance to buy their freedom.
· Linda hid in her friend’s mistress’s old storage room
· Linda’s brother William, her children, and her aunt Nancy were put into jail so that they might reveal Linda’s hiding place to Dr. Flint.
· Dr. Flint went to New York in search of Linda posting a $300 reward for her capture.

Falling Action
· Dr. Flint sold William, Benny, and Ellen to Mr. Sand’s speculator for $1,900.
· Linda left the storage room to hide in her grandmother’s attic.
· Linda wrote letters to Dr. Flint postmarked from New York so that he would think she left the South already.
· Linda and her friend Fanny sailed on a vessel for ten days to Philadelphia.

Resolution
· Linda and friend Fanny take a train to New York. There she worked as a nurse for Mr. and Mrs. Bruce.
· Linda, Ben, and Ellen were finally reunited in Boston when Dr. Flint was on the search for Linda in New York again.
· Linda found out that Dr. Flint died.
· Uncle Philip and Aunt Martha both passed away.
· Mrs. Bruce bought Linda for $300 and gave her her freedom.

Quotes
“If he is a puppy, I am a puppy, for we are both of the Negro race. It is right and honorable for us to love each other. The man you call a puppy never insulted me, sir; and he would not love me if he did not believe me to be a virtuous woman” (40).
When Linda said this to Dr. Flint I was shocked. Flint is jealous of Linda’s lover because Linda loves him and wants to be with him and possibly give herself to him. Dr. Flint wants Linda to want him and to submit to him, however that will never happen. I agree with this quote because Linda has the right to stand up for the one she loves and what she thinks. Linda’s lover loves her for who she is and treats her with respect. Linda feels that because she and her lover are of the same race it is always going to be okay for them to love one another. Flint knows that he and Linda could never be together and that is what makes him so angry and obsessive towards her.

“...he told me that I was made for his use, made to obey his command in everything; that I was nothing but a slave, whose will must and should surrender to his...”(15).
This quote means, that slaves are supposed to do whatever they’re told when they’re told to do something. The masters have complete control over the slaves in all aspects of their lives. Linda knew of these expectations as a slave; however she stayed true to her beliefs. Linda realizes that she will never be able to bear slavery passively because that is not her character, it’s not who she is. I don’t agree with this quote because no one should have the right to own a human being. No one should ever have to feel like a prisoner living in a free country due to the color of their skin.

Conflict
The conflict in this slave narrative is man vs. man; Linda vs. Dr. Flint. There is a constant struggle between Linda and Dr. Flint because of Linda’s strong will. Linda wants her freedom while Dr. Flint wants her to submit to him. Being a virtuous woman is important and special to Linda because it is the only thing that makes her feel powerful over Flint. Linda ultimately has the power to resist Flint’s advances; however Flint has the authority to sell Linda if he wants. Flint doesn’t want to sell Linda to another slaveholder because he knows how much she wants that to happen. Dr. Flint is just being spiteful towards Linda because she won’t give herself to him. Linda is comfortable with who she is and is willing to put up a long hard fight for her freedom.

Themes
Resistance
In the beginning of the narrative we see that Linda will not submit to Dr. Flint. Linda doesn’t fall for any of Flint’s tricks or promises because she is on a dangerous mission to get freedom for her children and herself. Linda was determined to do whatever it took to free her family from the reigns of the Flints. Even when her friends and relatives told her she should return to Mr. Flint and beg forgiveness she wasn’t influenced. Her motto was “Give me liberty, or give me death.” Linda knew that she was putting her family into threatening life or death situations; however she couldn’t stop herself from pressing her way towards freedom.

Survival
Survival is a relevant theme in this narrative because Linda has to protect her children and herself from the evils of Dr. Flint. Flint has the power to do whatever he wants to do with Linda because she is his property, and as a result Linda comes up with a plan. Linda decides to run away to the Free states so that her children would be sold and Mr. Sands might buy them and give them their freedom. Linda knew that running away was a dangerous decision especially if she got caught however; she did what any loving mother would do for the sake of her children. Linda would risk her life just so her children wouldn’t have to suffer like she did.

Literary Elements
Symbolism:
“She clasped a gold chain round my baby's neck. I thanked her for this kindness; but I did not like the emblem. I wanted no chain to be fastened on my daughter, not even if its links were of gold. How earnestly I prayed that she might never feel the weight of slavery's chain, whose iron entereth into the soul!” (87).
Ellen’s gold chain represents the bondage of slavery. When slaves were brought over to America they were chained up by their feet, hands, and necks that way they couldn’t escape. These chains were to send a message to the slaves that they were animals who had to be controlled and told what to do because they were not civilized. The chains were not only heavy physically but they psychologically weakened the slaves’ souls and spirits. As a result many slaves thought they were inferior to the white race because they had no credibility in society.

Irony:
“Obey your old master and your young master--your old mistress and your young mistress. If you disobey your earthly master, you offend your heavenly Master. You must obey God's commandments” (76).
The sermons preached in the Southern Church were ironic because they were telling the slaves the opposite of what God’s will is. God said that all men are created equal. Those preachers who were also slave owners were preaching about the rules of slavery not of religious belief. The preachers wanted the slaves to be obedient towards their masters not God. In church you are supposed to receive spiritual guidance not dictation of what to do. Just because the slaves obey their slave masters doesn’t mean they will get an automatic ticket into heaven and vice versa.

Characterization:
The second Mrs. Bruce “She was a person of excellent principles and a noble heart. To me, from that hour to the present, she has been a true and sympathizing friend” (214).
Mrs. Bruce is a kind hearted woman who befriends Linda despite her race. She does everything in her power to help Linda even though she is risking her family’s safety. Mrs. Bruce is a good woman who in the end buys Linda her freedom. Linda is lucky to have Mrs. Bruce in her life because she can always depend and get support from her. There is no secret that Linda can’t tell Mrs. Bruce that she won’t understand.

Annotated Bibliography:
Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl. New York: Signet Classic, 2000

Harriet Jacobs’s Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl allows Harriet Jacobs, speaking through the narrator, Linda Brent, to reveal her reasons for making public her personal story of enslavement, degradation, and sexual exploitation. Although originally ignored by critics, who often dismissed Jacobs' story as a fictional account of slavery, today it is reported as the first novel narrative by an ex-slave that reveals the unique brutalities inflicted on enslaved women. Wayne Lionel Aponte of “Nation” said that "The book is a major work in the list of writing by Afro-American women. Jacobs's book reaches across the border separating black women from white, slave from free, poor from rich, 'bad' women from 'good'. It represents an early attempt to establish an American sisterhood."

Tim O'Brien's "Ambush"

Objective: Preparing for the ELA Regents Session One Part A. Today you will listen to an account by Tim O'Brien and take notes using the 5Ws+H.

Aim: What are the effects of war on the protagonist in Tim O'Brien's "Ambush"?

Questions:
Who are the characters?
Characters include Tim O'Brien, Kathleen, Kiowa, and a twenty year old man.
When did this take place?
This took place from 1959 to April 30, 1975 in My Khe, Vietnam.
What is the conflict?
The conflict is man vs. self, trying to cope with his emotions that came from killing someone.
What literary elements did you identify?
Characterization, setting, imagery, simile, first person point of view, man vs. self, tone, and flashbacks.
Who is the narrator?
The narrator is Tim O'Brien.
What are the effects that war has upon the individual?
The effects of war include guilt, denial, flashbacks, visions, and a different relationship between family and friends.
How is this an anti-war story?
This is an anti-war story because the narrator explains what terrible things he thinks about and goes through even after leaving war. The narrator lets people know when you leave war you won't be the same person that you were when you entered.

Opinions and Judgements

Objectives:
E3.Students will articulate personal opinions to clarify stated positions, persuade or influence groups.
E3.Students will present reasons, examples, and details from text to defend opinions and judgments.
E4.Students will Speak informally with peers and in group settings
E4.Respect the age, gender, social position, and cultural traditions of peers

Background for understanding: Students would have read Chapters 11 to 15.
Aim: How can we present reasons, examples, and details from the text to defend opinions and judgments?
Do Now:(ties to the Critical Lens of ELA Regents) Read the following quote and state if you agree or disagree with the quote and why “To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else.”
—Bernadette Devlin
The Price of My Soul, 1969
I agree with this quote if you want something really bad you will do whatever it takes to get it. It is worth the risk to lose what you have because in the end you will gain something more valuable.
Share out!

Cooperative Learning: Form groups of 3-4 and each group will be responsible for responding to one selected chapter in 15 minutes and present to class on chart paper. Groups must also cite sources and “direct quotes”. The audience will take notes on each presentation.

XI “The New Tie to Life”
Comprehension Check:
Linda’s first child was a boy, and his name was Benjamin. He was named after Linda's uncle Benjamin.
Interpret:
What is Dr. Flint suggesting to Linda when he said “he is a physician [who] could save [her] from exposure?”.
Flint is suggesting that he can give Linda an abortion so she won't have to carry out her whole pregnancy in shame.
Explain what Linda is inferring when she said “I did not feel as proud as I had done. My strongest weapon with him was gone”?
When Linda says this she means that she is no longer powerful because she lost her purity to Mr. Sands. Linda's purity was the only thing she held onto that couldn't be taken away. She had full control over Flint, but now its gone.
Linda made choices with deliberate calculation. How did her plan backfire?
Linda's plan backfired because Flint didn't sell her and her child to another owner.
Vocabulary:
Avowal- acknowledgment or admission
Obstinate- not easily controlled or overcome
Insolence- rude behavior or speech
Solace- to console; to soothe

XII “Fear of Insurrection”
Comprehension Check:
What historical insurrection is Brent referring to in this chapter? What is an insurrection?
Linda is referring to the insurrection of Nat Turner. An insurrection is a civil revolt or rebellion.
Analyze and Interpret:
In this chapter Linda points out that some whites can’t read. However, why were they looking for written correspondence among the slaves?
The whites were looking for written correspondence among the slaves because the letters could have a connection to the insurrection of Nat Turner.
Vocabulary:
Marauders- to raid and destroy and strip of its possession
Consternation- a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion

XIII “The Church and Slavery”
Teacher will read the following excerpt from Graduate Thesis. Students will analyze and discuss.
How does Christianity masks some of slavery’s atrocities in Jacobs’ narrative?
Christianity masks slavery's atrocities because the slaveholders thought that it would be a good idea to give the slaves religious instruction. The slaveholders thought they were doing the slaves a favor by allowing them to fellowship together. Christianity is a religion that brings people together and this was the main reason the slaveholders wanted to force their religion on the slaves. Christianity was supposed to blindside the slaves and make them feel more hopeful, but the reality was that they were always going to be slaves.

Jacobs also exposes the Christian hypocrisy when Reverend Mr. Pike calls for “Servants, [to] be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in the singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. If you disobey your earthly master, you offend your heavenly Master” (70). Rather than denounce slavery, he enforces a dogma that obedience to white masters will lead to spiritual liberation. Slaves are therefore brainwashed believing there is a direct correlation between Christ and their white slave masters. Furthermore, they must be submissive to their masters. This hypocrisy is seen when a Northern clergyman visits a southern slave master’s home and is exposed to a dinner table “loaded with luxuries,” lush gardens, spiritual talks, and the “comfortable huts of the favored household slaves,” who [slaves] tell him that they do not want to be free for fear of their lives (76). He returns to the North publicizing that he has seen “slavery for himself; that it is a beautiful “patriarchal institution” and the terrible acts of slavery are exaggerations of abolitionists. However, Jacobs exposes slave masters’ totalitarianism and the ignorance and trickery of the clergyman stating: does he know of the half-starved wretches toiling from dawn till dark on the plantations? of mothers shrieking for their children, torn from their arms by slave traders? of young girls dragged down into moral filth? of pools of blood around the whipping post? of hounds trained to tear human flesh? of men screwed into cotton gins to die? (76).
Furthermore, Jacobs was “much surprised [when Dr. Flint, her oppressive slave master had joined the Episcopal church, and thought] that religion has a purifying effect on the character of men; but the worst persecutions [she] endured from him were after he was a communicant” (70, 77). Flint announces that he joined the church because he is aging and his social position in the community requires it. It would also end the gossip of his transgressions on his plantation.
Another well-known Christian hypocrisy is the forbidding of slaves from reading the Bible. Jacobs tells of Uncle Fred whom she taught to read the Bible in concealment because it was “contrary to the law; and that slaves were whipped and imprisoned for teaching each other to read” (74). Here, her audience are compelled to reflect on their own ethos and scruples about God’s laws and man made laws that prohibits the inferior slave like Uncle Fred (who only wanted to better serve God) from reading the Bible. She boldly attacks both institution of Church and Slavery and illustrates how they unite in the oppression of slaves: There are thousands, who, like good uncle Fred, are thirsting for the water of life; but the law forbids it, and the churches withhold it. They send the Bible to heathen abroad, and neglect the heathen at home. I am glad that missionaries go out to the dark corners of the earth; but I ask them not to overlook the dark corners at home. Talk to American slaveholders and you talk to savages in Africa. Tell them it is wrong to traffic men, [women and children]. Tell them it is sinful to sell their own children, and atrocious to violate their own daughters. Tell them that all men are brethren, and that man has no right to shut out the light of knowledge from his brother. Tell them they are answerable to God for sealing up the Fountain of Life from souls that are thirsting for it (75-76). Jacobs illustrates race superiority and moral contradictions in church teachings. Furthermore, slave masters; intentionally use them to deny slaves their freedom.

XIV “Another Link to Life”
Comprehension Check:
How old is Linda in this chapter?
Linda is nineteen years old.
What was Linda’s near death experience?
Dr. Flint threw Linda down the stairs.
Analyze and Interpret:
According to Linda Brent “the slave child shall follow the condition of the mother, not the father; thus taking care that licentiousness shall not interfere with avarice.” Explain.
Women and Children were treated and thought of as the same, even if the father was a free man the children had to stay with the mother. The children of slaves would be slaves for the rest of their lives if their freedom wasn't bought. This idea keeps the cycle going for the slaveholders to make more money. The more children a women has equals more profit for their masters.
What heinous act did Mr. Flint bestowed on Linda when he learned that she was pregnant with another child?
Flint cut all her hair off.
Why was Linda highly concerned that her second born was a girl?
Linda was concerned that her second born was a girl because she knows that her daughter is going to have to go through the same things she went through when she grows up. She was going to have "sufferings and mortifications of her own." (pg 85)
Literary analysis:
Identify device “he was like a restless spirit from the pit”.
simile
Linda refers to her daughter’s gift of the gold chain as an emblem. What literary device is this?
symbolism
Vocabulary:
Forbearance- refraining from something
Reprobate- a person rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation
Descanting- the highest part sung in part music
Lacerated- to tear roughly; to distress or torture mentally or emotionally
Vituperations- verbal abuse
Skeins- a length of thread or yarn wound in a loose long coil
Genealogies- a record or account of the ancestry and descent of a person
Emblem- a sign, design, or figure that identifies or represents something

XV “Continued Persecution”
Comprehension Check:
How much money was offered to Flint for the purchase of Linda?
Flint was offered $900 then $1200 for the purchase of Linda.
How is child abuse evident in this chapter?
Dr. Flint threw Ben across the room because he was trying to protect Linda.
"He caught him up and hurled him across the room. I thought he was dead, and rushed towards him to take him up. Not yet!" exclaimed the doctor. Let him lie there till he comes to." (pg 89)
How is Flint trying to domesticate Linda in this chapter?
Flint is trying to domesticate Linda by giving her rules to live by if she wants freedom for herself and her children.
"Linda, you desire freedom for yourself and your children, and you can obtain it only through me. If you agree to what I am about to propose, you and they shall be free. There must be no communication of any kind between you and their father. I will procure a cottage, where you and the children can live together. Your labor shall be light, such as sewing for my family. Think what is offered you, Linda--a home and freedom!" (pg 92)
One can say that the constant conflict between Linda and Flint is a power struggle. According to Linda, Dr. Flint loved money, but he loved power more.” Can we find/recall further support for this in the previous chapters?
"He was to begin with nine hundred dollars, and go up to twelve. My master refused his offers. "Sir," said he, "she don't belong to me. She is my daughter's property, and I have no right to sell her." (pg 88 of Continued Persecutions)

"...he told me that I was made for his use, made to obey his command in every thing; that I was nothing but a slave, whose will must and should surrender to his..." (pg 15 of The Slave who dared to feel like a Man)

"I understood his object in making this false representation. It was to show me that I gained nothing by seeking the protection of my mistress; that the power was still all in his own hands." (pg 35 of The Jealous Mistress)
Interpret:
According to Linda Brent “My master had power and law on his side; [and] I had a determined will—How is there might in each?
For Flint there is might because the white man is thought to always be right and is trusted more than a slave. For Linda there is might because she has an iron will for justice and will stand for what she believes is right no matter what anyone says.
Vocabulary:
Paramour- any lover especially of a married person
Indignant- expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, and insulting
Sanctioning-support or encouragement, as from public opinion or established custom
Compulsion- a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act
Facetious- amusing; humorous
Jeers- to abuse vocally
Willfulness- unreasonably stubborn or headstrong

Story Map- Sold by Patricia McCormick

Information Technology High School
Ms. Hyde
English 5/ Period 8
October 23, 2008
Breeonna Reed

Sold, by Patricia McCormick

Characters & Characterization: Protagonist & Antagonist
Protagonist: Lakshmi
Thirteen year old Lakshmi knows nothing about the world beyond her village shack in the Himalayas of Nepal. She lives an ordinary life, going to school and thinking of the boy she wants to marry. She enjoys the simple pleasures of life like playing hopscotch with her best friend from school, raising her goat, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. Lakshmi loves her family deeply, and was willing to help them in any way when the monsoon hit. Throughout the book Lakshmi grew more faithful because she remembered her mother's words: "Simply to endure is to triumph", and gradually formed friendships with the other girls that enabled her to survive in her terrifying new world.

Antagonist: Mumtaz
Mumtaz, the infamous “Auntie” is an old woman who rules the brothel with cruelty. Crooked Mumtaz makes sure that no girl will ever pay off their family’s debt. She is an insensitive person who runs a business just for the money; no emotions involved. Mumtaz has two sides to her; convincing and dictating. When she talks to the parents she seems reliable and responsible so that way the parents feel comfortable sending their child with her. Mumtaz’s dictating side reveals itself at “Happiness House”, she has all the authority and an intimidating personality.

Setting: Setting Time: Present day, Setting Place: Calcutta, India
The setting of this book is Calcutta, India in the present day. This modern day setting grabs the reader’s attention because it brings about awareness to the rest of the world. If more people know about this problem then less children would be sent away to work. Parents might be more cautious and want to do more research about their child’s employer.

Vocabulary

1. Indignant- angered at something unjust or wrong
2. Wanly- pale in color as a result from physical or emotional distress
3. Auspicious- favored by fortune; Marked by success
4. Betel- an East Indian pepper plant
5. Mirthless- amusement or laughter

Plot
In her village in Nepal, Lakshmi's life is more than difficult and requires her to endure hunger, harsh weather and poverty. Even in their poverty-stricken rural home, Lakshmi finds pleasure in the beauty of the Himalayan Mountains, and the cucumbers she lovingly tends, and sells at the market. After a monsoon wipes out the family crops, her stepfather trades Lakshmi for 800 rupees ($16.35 USD) to an “Auntie”. The thought of Lakshmi working as a maid in the city eased the family’s apprehension. Lakshmi is determined to excel, even though she can't imagine her destination. She arrives in a brothel called “Happiness House”, working in guaranteed slavery until she is broken or dies. There in the brothel she is locked up, beaten, starved, drugged, and raped until she submits to the demands of the customer.

The harshness of her life in this new country of India makes her feel torn from all that is familiar, which comes close to crushing her, yet she endures. The little moments of peace, learning the words in books, the friendships and respect that develop provides a safe haven for her even as Lakshmi's strength and capacity for sorrow grow. When it seems like all hope is lost one unusual stranger comes to “Happiness House”, however with a different objective then most. The occasional, unpredictable kindness of a certain stranger keeps Lakshmi's strength of purpose alive so that in the end she is able to make an advance for freedom.

Exposition

1. A Monsoon hits Laksmi’s village causing all their crops to wash away. Their only source of money is gone, which means Lakshmi the oldest child has to find a job to support the family.
2. Lakshmi’s irresponsible stepfather sells and sends her with a stranger to work as a maid in India for 800 rupees.

Rising Action

1. The stranger also known as “Auntie” takes Lakshmi on a long journey through the city.
2. Lakshmi is amazed by what she sees and hears as she goes through the city due to the fact that she lives in a small village.
3. They cross a border, ride the train, bus, and walk.
4. They then arrive at “Happiness House” where Lakshmi’s fate awaits her.

Climax

1. Lakshmi has her first encounter with a man. The man is old and his lips are wet and taste like onion. He lies on top of her and unzips his pants, while pushing himself between her legs and French kissing her. Lakshmi then bites his lip and runs back to her room.

Falling Action

1. Lakshmi found out that the money the customers pay doesn’t go to her family, it goes to Mumtaz. Lakshmi will never pay off what she owes. She will work until she is too sick to make any more money.
2. A strange American man comes to “Happiness House” and asks Lakshmi personal questions.

Conclusion

1. The Americans, who were actually police, come back to “Happiness House” to rescue the underage girls. Mumtaz was finally arrested.

Quotes
“And 500 for the shot the dirty-hands doctor gives us once a month so that we won’t become pregnant. She also warns me: Mumtaz will bury you alive if she sees your little book of figures. I do the calculations. And realize I an already buried alive.” (pg. 147-148)

This quote expresses to me the mindset of all the girls at “Happiness House”. Every time they sleep with a man a piece of their spirit drifts away. Having to do this every day can make a person cold and hard as if they have become numb and immune to the feeling. No one should ever be in a position where they feel like they’re buried alive especially a child who has a whole life ahead of them. These girls are being exposed to deadly diseases and all Mumtaz is worried about is them getting pregnant. That says a lot about how money hungry she is. She is willing to risk the lives of these defenseless girls who have families that believe are working as maids. I disagree with this quote because young girls shouldn’t have to feel like their life is over because they’re never going to get enough money to go home. They should be enjoying life.

“Now, if you want to pay off your debt, you must do whatever it takes to make them choose you. Tell the customers you are twelve, she says. Or Mumtaz will beat you senseless. Do whatever the customer asks of you, Shahanna says. Otherwise he will beat you senseless…There is another way to use a shawl, she says…The new girl, the one in your old room, she says. Yesterday morning Mumtaz found her hanging from the rafters.” (Pg.141-143)

This quote makes me feel so sorry for those girls living in that brothel. Not only do they have to perform sexual acts for men, but they get beaten by Mumtaz for not lying about their age. I think any man who pays to get their needs fulfilled by a young girl is mentally disturbed. I also think it’s sad that a girl killed herself because of all the torture she endured at “Happiness House”. The family of that girl who killed herself was probably told that she went somewhere else to work. Maybe Mumtaz didn’t tell the family anything so that they would think that she was still working as a maid. These girls are trained to do whatever the customer asks of them without any complaint and its deplorable. These girls are being exploded and exposed to deadly diseases for someone else’s pleasure. I disagree with this quote because it seems so unfair that these girls are being objectified for perverted men’s pleasure. They suffer for so many months, even years that they can never get back. They are being broken.

Conflict
Man vs. Man
Lakshmi went head on with her “auntie” Mumtaz until she couldn’t fight anymore. Mumtaz was a strong willed woman who knew how to drag whatever she wanted out of people. If Lakshmi refused to be with men she was starved and beaten by Mumtaz. Mumtaz made sure Lakshmi knew that she was going to be staying at “Happiness House” for a while and that she had no choice but to submit. Mumtaz wanted to break her spirits and make her feel totally worthless. Everything that Mumtaz would say towards Lakshmi degraded her. Mumtaz was physically, emotionally, and psychologically abusive towards her and the rest of the girls.

Themes

The Loss of Innocence:

The loss of innocence is a relevant theme in this novel because young girls are being tricked and forced into the dangerous world of the sex trade. These young girls are being forced to grow up faster than what anyone can truly fathom. Their happiness quickly disappears. There is no more playing with dolls, instead they have to worry about the number of customers they see each day and the amount of money they make. Some of the girls can be as young as nine years old and experiencing this is traumatic. Their mind, body, and soul are corrupted. It is precious because once it is lost, it is gone forever. All that remains is a memory.

Perseverance:
While Lakshmi was at the “Happiness House” she met an eight year old boy she called “The David Beckham Boy”. He taught her how to read and pronounce English and Hindu words. Learning how to read kept Lakshmi occupied, however it gave her a sure sense of hope because she knew now that she could be able to communicate with that “stranger”. The same stranger that could and did help set Lakshmi free from the house. As soon as Lakshmi arrived at the house and found out what she was really going to be doing she had a plan to get herself out of there. Her plan took a while to come into effect; however it was still a thought in her mind. No matter what Mumtaz said Lakshmi was determined to get back to her family.

Literary Elements

Irony: “This place is dark as a cave, and it smells of liquor and incense. As my eyes adjust, I see a dozen sleeping girls, some in the corners, some on rope cots. What kind of place is this? Happiness House, he says. Auntie Mumtaz will explain it all to you.” (pg.90)
“Happiness House” was the name of the brothel that Lakshmi lived in. There is nothing happy about giving yourself to older men, possibly getting a disease and becoming pregnant all before the age of fifteen. All the girls in that house were unhappy and mistreated by the person their families trusted.

Foreshadowing: “How old are you…? Are you being kept here against your will...? Do you want to leave here…? I know these Americans. I want to catch a glimpse of his riches, but what he hands me is a small white card.” (pg.205)
When I read this quote I figured out that Lakshmi was going to be rescued soon by the Americans. The Americans probably got a tip to check out the house because word got out. Lakshmi never mentioned the other men nationalities that came to the house. It was specifically highlighted in the book that the “strangers” were American men who seemed to be investigating. The Americans were looking for something, and they found it when they talked to Lakshmi.

Imagery: “The bus has soft benches and it holds a village full of people. It smells of onions, and curry and cigarette smoke, and a baby who has soiled his cloth, and other things I cannot name. The man next to me empties his nose out the window, pinching one side shut and blowing on the other…” (pg.67)
When I read this quote it kind of reminded me of riding on a subway car. The people are probably sitting or standing packed together with various smells suffocating the air. I can imagine the mother of the baby not wanting to change the diaper because if she does she’ll miss the bus and have to walk home. The soiled baby cloth possibly was the most overbearing smell because of that reason. When the man was emptying his nose he was probably making a loud honking noise which made everyone stare at him covertly in disgust. The guy may be rude and obnoxious and does things like that in public.

Annotated Bibliography:

McCormick, Patricia. Sold. New York: Hyperion, 2006.

Patricia McCormick’s Sold explores the challenges and injustices that many young people, especially women face in third world countries. Told in poetic vignettes, this novel exposes the living conditions of a 13-year-old Nepali girl sold into sexual slavery.

During her writing for this book, McCormick conducted extensive research in Nepal and India, passing down the road these women travel into slavery and hearing their stories firsthand, writing the book to honor their stories and to bring attention to this awful practice. The importance of this mission, combined with the author's sensitive, emotional writing and compassion for Lakshmi, makes the novel a compelling read on countless levels said The School Library Journal.

Cardinal Virtues of a "True Woman"

Objectives:
E2-Students will understand how multiple levels of meaning are conveyed in Jacobs' Incidents.
Students will use inference and deduction to understand the text.
Students will evaluate literary merit based on an understanding of the genre, the literary period and tradition.
E4-Students will express their thoughts and views clearly with attention to the perspectives and voiced concerns their peers and teacher.

Background for Understanding: (The idea of “The cult of True Womanhood,” or “the cult of domesticity,” sought to assert that womanly virtue resided in piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity- The attributes of True Womanhood, by which a woman judged herself and was judged by her husband, her neighbors, and her society could be divided into four cardinal virtues - piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity... Without them.... all was ashes. With them she was promised happiness and power.).
True Women were to hold the four Cardinal virtues:
1.Piety- believed to be more religious and spiritual than men
2.Purity- pure in heart, mind, and body
3.Submission- held in "perpetual childhood" where men dictated all actions and decisions
4.Domesticity- a division between work and home, encouraged by the Industrial Revolution; men went out in the world to earn a living, home became the woman's domain where a wife created a "haven in a heartless world" for her husband and children.

Aim: How is Linda Brent portrayed as an unconventional heroine who portrayal as slave challenges the cult of true womanhood while struggling to reclaim her status as a woman, and reconstructing the ideals of women in nineteenth century America?

Do Now: Write a sentence in your notebook starting with I believe that of the four virtues___ still holds true in today’s society because….
I believe that of the four virtues Domesticity still holds true in today's society because there are many stay at home soccer moms that feel it is their duty to care for the kids and be that homemaker they always dreamed of being.

Comprehension Check: “Sketches of Neighboring Slaveholders”
What dehumanization/degradation do we see in Mr. Conant, Mrs. Wade’s
Mr. Conant was stripped of his clothes, except his shirt, whipped, and tied to a large tree in front of the house. He wasn't brought down from the tree until three hours later in which he died. (pg.49)
Mrs. Wade would lash the slaves in her barn with the might of a man. When Mrs.Wade died she was punched in the face by one of her slaves' who had nursed her children saying "the devil is got you now" (pg.50)
What happened to James the slave?
James was lashed hundreds of times and placed into a cotton gin where he was found dead because he escaped from his master.
According to Linda Brent, what value do women hold?
Women have no value unless they continually increase their owner's stock; give birth to children. They are put on the same equality level as the animals.
What happened to the “kind mistress/orphan woman” who took inherited a woman and her six children?
She passed away peacefully.
Explain: “The poor worm shall prove her contest vain. Life’s little day shall pass, and she is gone!
I think this means that the slave women's struggle for purity/equality/freedom is unsuccessful, and trying to achieve that may take a lifetime.
Explain: According to Linda Brent, “slavery is a curse to the whites as well as to the blacks.”
Slavery is a curse to the whites as well as to the blacks because it makes white fathers cruel and sensual; the sons violent and lustful; it contaminates the daughters,and makes the wives angry and bitter. The blacks suffer from dehumanization/degradation.

Comprehension Check: “A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girl’s Life”
What was Dr. Flint’s new plan for Brent?
Dr. Flint's new plan for Linda was to live in a small secluded house four miles away from town that he was going to build.
How old is Linda in this chapter?
Linda is fifteen years old in this chapter.

Literary Analysis:
Characterize Mr. Sands
Caucasian, sympathetic, educated, eloquent, not married, generous

Interpretive:
What did Linda Brent do “with deliberate calculation?"
Linda had sex and got pregnant by Mr. Sands.
Identify Brent’s use of rhetoric in “Perilous Passage”
"And now, reader, I come to a period in my unhappy life, which I would gladly forget if I could. The remembrance fills me with sorrow and shame." (pg.57)
"The months passed on. I had many unhappy hours. I secretly mourned over the sorrow I was bringing on my grandmother, who had so tried to shield me from harm." (pg.60)
In her rhetoric, Brent addresses her readers as “O virtuous reader…” why?
Linda addresses her readers as "O virtuous reader" because she wants us to know that her actions were an attempt to free herself from Flint.
Where do we see hypocrisy of the church?
When the slaves attended church services the sermon being preached to them was about being sinners and good servants to their slave masters. An example of this would be "Your hearts are filled with all manner of evil. 'Tis the devil who tempts you. God is angry with you, and will surely punish you, if you don't forsake your wicked ways." (pg.75) "You must forsake your sinful ways, and be faithful servants. Obey your old master and your young master--your old mistress and your young mistress. If you disobey your earthly master, you offend your heavenly Master." (pg.76) God wanted everyone to love one another and live in peace.
According to Brent, “I feel that the slave woman ought not to be judged by the same standard as others”- Why?
I think Linda said this because she feels that slave women have to do certain things to get themselves out of bad situations, whether it be get pregnant by their master or someone other than their master. The slave women are forced to give themselves to their masters.
Why did Aunt Marty/Linda’s grandmother ostracize Linda and tell her that she would “rather see you dead than to see you as you now are [pregnant]. You are a disgrace to your mother?”
Linda's grandmother told her that she would rather see her dead than to see her as she is now because she taught Linda right from wrong and wouldn't expect her to do something like this.

Critical Thinking: Using the four Cardinal virtues
Which of the four cardinal virtues do you think is the most important and why?
I think purity is the most important because you want to make sure that whoever you connect with is special and on the same level with you, mind, body, and soul.
What does Linda do that challenges the “cult of true womanhood?”
Linda became pregnant out of wedlock.
According to the cardinal virtues that makes the nineteenth century woman a “true woman” is Linda a true woman? Why or Why not?
I think Linda isn't a true woman according to the cardinal virtues because she broke them all, however I don't believe that those virtues make a "true woman". Those virtues are just ways to keep the woman in her place and not have a say about the way she thinks or feels.

Cooperative Learning: Form your Groups and write in your notebooks the following as a header:
Slavery was terrible for both men and women, but one can say that it was far more terrible for women.
Then say if you agree or disagree with this quote and why.
Finally, cite your sources using citations from the text and page numbers.
I agree with this quote because the women always had to watch out for their slave masters. The slave women would get physically, sexually, mentally, and emotionally abused. The women were expected to submit fully to their masters. The women were property and were heavily reminded of that. They were on the same equality level as the animals. For example Flint tried to get Linda to submit to him many times. "He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things." (pg.27) "I would cherish you. I would make a lady of you." (pg.36)
Share out!

Vocabulary Words to know:
Chapter IX:
Depredations- the act of preying upon
Inducement- to lead or move by persuasion or influence
Interred- to place in a grave or tomb; bury
Divested- to strip or deprive of property or rights
Cessation- a temporary or complete stopping
Manumit- to release from slavery or servitude
Inculcated- to teach or instill through repetition
Licentiousness- Lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct.
Chapter X:
Abyss- a bottomless gulf or pit
Eloquent - Having the power of expressing strong emotions
Sophistry- misleading argument

What Slaves are taught to think of the North

Objectives: Students will evaluate literary merit based on an understanding of the genre, and the literary period and tradition. Students will make connections to world, and self.

Aim: What are slaves taught to think of the North, and why are they depicted as inferior?
Do Now: Write about a time when you were either deceived/lead to think about something that was not true. I recall a time when… I was decieved by my older sister. She told me that when my mom was pregnant with me everyone thought I was going to be a boy including the doctor. When I went to ask my mom about it she stopped me from doing so with an excuse. My sister said that if I were to ask my mom she would get upset, and by me being only seven years old I believed her for a long time.

Comprehension Check:
What do slaveholders pride themselves on?
Slaveholders pride themselves on being honorable men.
How does Jacobs’ literacy prove valuable to herself and community?
Jacobs' literacy proves valuable to herself and to the community because she is able to tell the other slaves the truth when the slaveholders tell them lies and important things that go on.

Interpretive/Explain:
Why does Jacobs say that liberty “is more valuable than life”?
Jacobs says that liberty is more valuable than life because trying to reclaim your freedom is worth the risk than staying captive.
Why has northerners proved to be “apt scholars?”
Northerners have proved to be apt scholars because they learn that life can be easy if they buy slaves for themselves and become the hardest master in comparison to the Southerners.
Why does Linda Brent say that she admits that the “black man is inferior?”
Linda admits that the black men are inferior because they "will sneak out of the way to give their masters free access to their wives and daughters." (pg.46)

Connect/Recall:Recall any moment in history where the “non-anglo” male is considered or treated as inferior: World War II Internment of the Japanese or 29 Mar 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA --- US National Guard troops block off Beale Street as Civil Rights marchers pass by on March 29, 1968. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS See mshyde.net for images.

Critical Thinking:
Do you think non-anglo males and females are treated unfairly or as inferior in today’s society?
I think non-anglo males and females are treated unfairly in today's society because people make ignorant assumptions about someone without even knowing them and then decide that they don't like them.

Cooperative Learning:
Cite from the text at least five instances where the characters suffers further dehumanization and degradation in chapters "The Lover" and “What slaves are taught to think of the North”
"I supposed you thought more of yourself; that you felt above the insults of such puppies." (pg.40)

"He sprang upon me like a tiger, and gave me a stunning blow. It was the first time he had ever struck me." (pg.40)

"Some poor creatures have been so brutalized by the lash that they will sneak out of the way to give their masters free access to their wives and daughters." (pg.46)

"But while the Free States sustain a law which hurls fugitives back into slavery." (pg.46)

"They seem to satisfy their consciences with the doctrine that God created the Africans to be slaves." (pg.47)

Share out!

Connect to World by writing in your notebooks: Where in today’s society are we witnesses to “liberty more valuable than life”? Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not?
In today's society we are witnesses to "liberty more valuable than life" when people want to cross the border into America from other countries risking everything they have and possibly their life to get a taste of freedom. Their situation in their home country might be bad, so they rather try to succeed than to suffer.

The Lover

Objective:
Students will read aloud with expression, conveying the meaning and mood of a work.
Students will use inference and deduction to understand the text.
Students will evaluate literary merit based on an understanding of the genre, the literary elements, and the literary period and tradition
Aim: How does the protagonist suffers further dehumanization and degradation in Chapter VII "The Lover?"

de·hu·man·ize- to deprive of human qualities, as pity, kindness, individuality, or creativity; make inhuman or machinelike
Degrade:
1.To reduce in grade, rank, or status; demote.
2.To lower in dignity; dishonor or disgrace: a scandal that degraded the participants.
3.To lower in moral or intellectual character; debase.
4.To reduce in worth or value: degrade a currency.
5.To impair in physical structure or function.

Do Now: Start writing in your notebook I have experienced/witnessed/felt dehumanization or/and degraded....
I have experienced/witnessed/felt dehumanization or/and degraded when I watch certain music videos that portray women in a negative way and call them out of their names.

Comprehension Check:
Who is Linda in love with? (36)
Linda is in love with a young free man from the neighborhood.
What is her lover's profession in the neighborhood? (36)
Her lover is a carpenter.
Who did Linda confide in about her lover?
Linda confided in about her lover was her grandmother.
Who did she ask for help to talk to Dr. Flint?
Linda asked a friend of Dr. Flint's who visited the house often to talk to him.
What was Dr. Flint's response to Linda's proposal of marrying her lover?
Dr. Flint told her "If you must have a husband, you may take up with one of my slaves." (pg.40) Meaning the only way she would get married is if she was to marry one of his slaves so he could still have ownership of her.
How are they acquainted?
They had known each other since childhood.

Literary analysis:
How is slavery metaphorically illustrated in the text? (look at the first paragraph of "The Lover")
Slavery is metaphorically illustrated in the text as something that is dark and gloomy and can take your happiness and soul away.

Close/Interpretive/Infer:
How are men further emasculated in this literary work?
Men are further emasculated because they are being treated like dogs; if someone was to call them then they have to go to that person first no matter what. They are further stripped of their pride and dignity.
Why does Dr. Flint tells Linda to take up with one of his slaves instead of granting her permission to marry her lover?
Dr. Flint tells Linda to marry one of his slaves so that she can still be his property. If Linda was to marry her lover then he could buy her since he was a free man and Flint could do nothing about it.
In what way is Dr. Flint acting like a jealous lover himself?
Dr. Flint is acting like a jealous lover himself because he always follows her to make sure she isn't with her lover. He wants her all to himself. " If I ever know of you speaking to him, I will cowhide you both; and if I catch him lurking about my premises, I will shoot him as soon as I would a dog." (pg.41)
What really triggers Dr. Flint to physically abuse Linda and why?
When Linda told Flint that because they are both of the same race it is acceptable for them to love each other and be with each other.
Explain Linda's response "Do you know....that I can kill you, if I please? You have tried to kill me, and I wish you had; but you have no right to do as you like with me" (39). Linda was telling Flint that she'd rather die then give herself to him and just because she was a slave didn't mean she wasn't a human who had rights.
What does it mean to have "high notions?" (39).
To think highly of yourself no matter what people may say.
Why does Dr. Flint tell Linda that she "[has] been the plague of [his] life" (39)?
Dr. Flint tells Linda she has been the plague of his life because he has this desire to be her first, however Linda won't entertain the thought.

Critical Thinking:
What is the importance of virtue in this chapter?
Virtue is the only true thing that can't be taken away from Linda and this makes her feel powerful and somewhat in control of Dr. Flint.
In her slave status, why is Linda allowed to "answer back" Dr. Flint?
Linda is allowed to answer back to Dr. Flint because he wants her so badly to submit to him that he'll let her get away with more things.
How is Dr. Flint portrayed as an animal and Linda like prey? (40)
Dr. Flint is portrayed as an animal because he won't stop following Linda's every move.
Why do we not know the lover by his real name or fake name?
We do not know the lover by his real or fake name because he is too special to Linda to just make up a name for him.
Why did Linda have to give up the thought of marrying her lover?
Linda gave up the thought of marrying her lover because she knew it was for the best for both of them. Linda loved him very much and didn't want to risk his life

Connect and write in your notebook: Can you connect to anything in this chapter? Did you ever have a boy/girl/friend that someone did not approve of?

Vocabulary To Know:
Tendrils- plants often growing in spiral form, which attaches itself to grasp an object or a plant for support.
Dehumanize- to deprive of human qualities
Degrade- to deprive of human qualities
Sanction- authoritative permission or approval
Dissipated- to have scattered in various directions
Manifested- To show or demonstrate plainly
Lenient- not to be harsh or strict
Desolate- to forsake or abandon
Defray- To undertake the payment of

The Jealous Mistress

Objective: E2-Students will understand how multiple levels of meaning are conveyed in Jacobs' Incidents: Agency, Abuse
Aim: How does absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Do Now: Start writing a sentence with I have witnessed absolute power...
I have witnessed absolute power in the movie "The last King of Scotland" when the brutal Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin murdered about 300,000 people.

Requirements: Students will take notes in their notebooks on class discussion, peer perspectives etc.
Cite page numbers or chapters to support their perspectives.

Comprehension Check:
Why is Mrs. Flint jealous and who is she jealous of?
Mrs. Flint is jealous because her husband is paying more attention to Linda then to her.
Why does Harriet choose death and hard work than to live with an "unprincipled master and jealous mistress"?
Harriet choses death and hard work than to live with an "unprincipled master and jealous mistress" because she can't be virtuous due to the fact that she has to protect herself at all times.
Why was Dr. Flint slipping notes to Harriet?
Dr. Flint was slipping notes to Harriet because he learned that she could write and wanted to make a pass at her in a concealing way so he wouldn't get caught.
How old is Harriet in this chapter?
In this chapter Harriet is 16 years old.
How does Mrs. Flint mask herself to fool Linda? What does she do?
To fool Linda, Mrs. Flint starts to cry so Linda would feel sympathetic for her. Mrs. Flint then tells Linda that she promises to protect her.
What number wife is Mrs. Flint?
Mrs. Flint is wife number two.
Is Mrs. Flint younger or older than her husband?
Mrs. Flint is younger than her husband.
How many children has he fathered?
Dr. Flint has fathered 11 children.

Interpretive:
Why do you think Dr. Flint wouldn't allow anyone to punish Harriet?
I think Dr. Flint wouldn't allow anyone to punish Harriet because he wanted to make her feel special. I think he was trying to play a mind game with her so she wouldn't think that Flint was so bad due to the fact that no one could punish her.
Is he in love or completely obsessed with her?
I think he is obsessed with her because he loves the chase.
Why do you think Harriet was chosen to sleep with Flint's daughter?
I think Harriet was chosen to sleep with Flint's daughter so that he could possibly get closer to Harriet without his wife knowing.
Why does Mrs. Flint make Harriet swear on the bible?
Mrs. Flint makes Harriet swear on the bible because she wants to know the truth about everything that happened between Dr. Flint and Harriet.

Literary Analysis: Why is it ironic that Mrs. Flint "pitied herself as a martyr"?
It is ironic that Mrs. Flint pitied herself as a martyr because she had no sympathy towards Harriet when she told her what went on between her and Dr. Flint. On page 33 it says " but she was incapable of feeling for the condition of shame and misery in which her unfortunate, helpless slave was placed." All Mrs. Flint thought about was herself.

Synthesize and Explain: "I could not blame her... slaveholder's wives feel as other women would under similar circumstances..." In this quote Harriet is saying that she isn't mad at Mrs. Flint, she understands why Mrs. Flint feels such hatred and jealousy towards her because women who have husbands that cheat on them would feel the same way about that other woman.

Critical Thinking:
Explain "have I ever treated you like a negro"
When Dr. Flint says this to Harriet he means he has always treated her special and like family.
What promises does Flint make to Linda and why?
Flint told Harriet " I will make peace for you with your mistress. I would cherish you. I would make a lady of you." I think Flint made these promises to her because he wanted to make her feel more at ease and not want to be sold to someone else.
Rhetoric: where is rhetoric evident?
" Reader, I draw no imaginary pictures of southern homes. I am telling you the plain truth."
" I would ten thousand times rather that my children should be the half-starved paupers of Ireland than to be the most pampered among the slaves of America."

Cooperative Learning:
"The jealous Mistress"- Identify how absolute power corrupts absolutely, however, how does Harriet Jacobs takes possession of herself and not submit to the will of Mrs. Flint.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely because it throws everything into disarray and turmoil. Harriet takes possession of herself and not submit to the will of Mrs. Flint by realizing that Mrs. Flint is in an unhappy marriage with her husband. Harriet explains this towards the end of the chapter, "The young wife soon learns that the husband in whose hands she has placed her happiness pays no regard to his marriage vows. Jealousy and hatred enter the flowery home, and it is ravaged of its loveliness."(pg36) As a result of her situation Mrs. Flint takes all her anger out on Harriet and the other slaves.
Identify the varying forms of abuse Harriet endured and cite your sources.
Psychological abuse-
"When there, I was obliged to stand and listen to such language as he saw fit to address to me."- pg 31, "
"Did I not take you into the house, and make you the companion of my own children?" he would say. "Have I ever treated you like a negro? I have never allowed you to be punished, not even to please your mistress. And this is the recompense I get, you ungrateful girl!"- pg 36
Physical abuse-
"By managing to keep within sight of people, as much as possible, during the day time, I had hitherto succeeded in eluding my master, though a razor was often held to my throat to force me to change this line of policy."- pg 32
What are the conflicts/ problems facing the white slave mistress?
Some conflicts/problems facing the white slave mistress include marital issues with her husband (man vs.man), jealousy of Harriet (man vs.man), and self worth and pride (man vs.self).
How is Hypocrisy evident in this chapter?
Hypocrisy is evident in this chapter because Dr. and Mrs. Flint have no sense of moral values that they stand for or are accountable for.