Introduction
The main idea that runs through the entire work of Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is the idea of the incommensurable suffering of men and women in slavery. In her opinion, a slave woman is not only subjected to all the trials that fall to a lot of the stronger sex, such as overwork, hunger, flogging, and more. She also becomes a victim of even greater torment, reserved especially for her by the enslavers. By this, the author means coercion to sexual slavery, which the slaves were forced to endure. Even if their whole nature opposed it, in one way or another, their masters forced them to come to terms with this side of life in the South. Even though slave owners had an advantage over the law, the decisiveness of slaves, especially those with families, could be a major advantage in the struggle for freedom.
Women in Slavery
Often, women are denied the right to start their own families because they must serve the host family and not be distracted by anything else. However, even if they managed to get permission to start their own family, this became more of a new test because the husband could not protect his wife from the encroachments of the owner. At the same time, all children acquired the mother’s social status; that is, they also became enslaved (Jacobs, 1861). White masters, who often also fathered the children of female slaves, did not hesitate to use them as property, sell them at auctions and separate them from their mothers. The heroine says, “one of my friends, named Fanny, had been sold to one master, and her four little girls to another master, far distant” (Jacobs, 1861, 226). Separation from children became the most terrible blow for the slaves because, despite the owners’ attempts to destroy everything human in them, mothers’ feelings for their children were much stronger. Faced with these daily trials, the slave woman either completely degraded and put up with all the conditions or looked for some way out.
Determination to Escape
The owner, Dr. Flint, tried in every possible way to suppress Linda’s morality and humanity of Linda. He persuaded her with the promise of gifts, followed her every step, whispered obscenities when she resisted, and threatened her with punishment and death (Jacobs, 1861). He forbade her to think about marriage with the man she loved, threatening to destroy them both. Although Dr. Flint allowed Linda to choose any of his slaves as husbands, he knew that they would not be able to resist his desire to have a girl.
However, after the owner came up with a new plan to settle her in another house away from her loved ones, where she could not hide from him, the girl decided to resist. It was thoughts about children and concern for them that pushed her to the decision to fight for freedom. After all, if she remained a slave, she would have no rights to children, and the owner could do whatever he wanted. It becomes the impetus that makes Linda hide from the owner (Jacobs, 1861). She and her children have to run away, and they manage to live together as one family, which fills Linda’s heart with unprecedented joy (Jacobs, 1861). In general, the heroine needed freedom only to be able to be a mother and lead a life worthy of respect.
Conclusion
Slavery deprived women of the simple joys of motherhood and the opportunity to lead a decent life. Slavery was associated with the most difficult trials, but it could not deprive her of the last and main consolation, the consolation in her family. Maternal love, supported by a strong character, becomes the main weapon of the girl in the fight against the owner. Thus, in her work, Harriet Jacobs makes the family, kinship, and motherhood the main tools in the fight against slavery, the source from which a woman draws strength to endure everything and fight to the victorious.
Reference List
Jacobs, H.A. (1861) Incidents in the life of a slave girl. Boston Public Library.