Unrelenting_Determination_of_a_Mother_in_Incidents_in_the_Life_of_a_Slave_Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a narrative, written by Harriet Jacobs, which chronicles the humiliating experience of the author as a slave. Unlike the majority of slave narratives which document escapes, the author tried to tell the story from a feminist perspective. As far as I am concerned, the woman’s determination and choice are the essential part of the story. I will demonstrate my point from the aspect of rhetorical strategies used, comparison between enslaved man and woman, woman’s determination and the impressive female characters in the story. The author tries to picture a scene from a feminist’s perspective by using rhetorical strategies. First, the narrative uses contrast to illuminate the extreme disparity between free man and slave. In chapter 3, Linda contrasts the slaves’ New Year’s Day with whites’, especially from the perspective of motherhood. “But to the slave mother New Year's day comes laden with peculiar sorrows. She sits on her cold cabin floor, watching the children who may all be torn from her the next morning; and often does she wish that she and they might die before the day dawns” (Jacobs Page 17). New Year’s Day for slaves is like when criminals hear their sentencing. Instead of enjoying the festival like free men, slaves suffer the most terrible day of the year. Also in chapter 3, the author uses the second person form of speech to express her sadness. “O, you happy free women, contrast your New Year's day with that of the poor bond-woman! With you it is a pleasant season, and the light of the day is blessed. Friendly wishes meet you every where, and gifts are showered upon you” (Jacobs Page 16). It draws the readers’ attention to the contrasts of free women and slaves. It creates a nightmarish image of slavery in my mind. Comparisons are also made to argue the inhumanity of the slaveholders. For example, in chapter 9, Linda compares the methods the neighbor slaveholders use to instill fear in the mind of their slaves in order to stop them from running away. From a feminist point of view, Linda compares the enslaved men and women. In the chapter 14, when Linda is told the new-born baby is a girl, she says: “Slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women” (Jacobs Page 66). I think there are three reasons for that. First, in terms of economics of slavery, in order to increase masters’ stock, females are valued for their offspring which means forced to bear children. For both men and women, they are torn from family and forced to work. Both were suffered from mental and physical illness. Besides that, women suffer sexual violation. In the law, their children are treated as property. Second, enslaved girls are usually sold because of the jealousy of the mistress. In the story, the mistress of Linda, Mrs. Flint, turns her anger and jealousy on Linda, though she knows that Linda is also a victim of her husband’s lust. That puts Linda in a very dangerous place. Also, enslave girls face both physical and mental violation. Like an enslaved boy, the slaved girl is reared in an atmosphere of fear. Linda says “When she is fourteen or fifteen, her owner, or his sons, or the overseer, or perhaps all of them, begin to bribe her with presents. If these fail to accomplish their purpose, she is whipped or starved into submission to their will” (Jacobs Page 45). Slave girls are just like prey, hunted by various predators. The author set several examples of why women should have their choices. In my view, the whole story is about the choices. First of all, the heroine of the story, Linda, is the epitome of the slave woman who deals with all kinds of disparity. When she was 15, she was pursued by Dr. Flint. After being threatened with violence or promised of favorable treatment, Linda did not submit to his will. Instead, she chose a free black man who she really loved. Even though she was unable to build relationship with this gentleman, she clearly knew about Dr. Flint’s blandishments and denied him. She exhibited extraordinary spiritual strength that enabled her to maintain her dignity during the days in Dr. Flint’s home. Also, she willingly assumed responsibility for the choices she made. She did not try to rationalize her decision even when she was in the intolerable circumstances. Apparently, she knew what she was doing and claimed accountability for her choice, even when she was threatened to be killed. Despite Dr. Flint’s protests, Linda bore children and determined to let them be baptized. However, her life became challenging because Dr. Flint began to control her by using her children. Unlike the majority of slaves, she had her own plan and decided to escape. I think this was the most important choice in her lifetime. There are several extraordinary women in the story. Indeed, Linda was an ordinary enslaved girl in the plantation; her unrelenting determination made her unique and extraordinary. After that she spent seven years in her grandmother’s attic, which means that she had exceptional psychological strength, and without that, it would have been hard for her to maintain her sanity. All the wise choices she made gave her freedom eventually, and made her a stronger, more independent and extraordinary woman. Another impressive female in the book is Linda’s grandmother, Aunt Martha. When she thought that her granddaughter was given to the doctor, she kicked her out of the house. She treated dignity as the supreme issue in the life, even worth to risking one’s life for. She was an imposing woman whom many whites afraid of, because she once chased a white man with a gun for insulting her children. Her determination to free Linda was just as strong as, if not stronger than, Linda’s will. She risked her life to hide Linda and protect her children. Her calmness and creativity enabled Linda to escape. With her influence, Linda learned how to be an independent and strong-willed woman. Both these two extraordinary women in the book obtained freedom for the whole family. That is quite unusual in the history of slavery. The author, Harriet Jacobs, convinces the world of the inhuman impact on enslaved women by documenting the horrific experience of her and her family. The author wants to show the determination and strong will of women throughout the story. Her story encourages women to have their own choices, so they can control their destiny.