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.
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.
· 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.
· 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.
· 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.
· 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.
· 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.
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.
“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."
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."
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