Yarborough, richard edt, isbn 0393614565, isbn 9780393614565, brand new, free shipping in the us this norton critical edition includes. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself, autobiographical narrative by harriet jacobs, a former north carolina slave, published in 1861 jacobss narrator and alter ego, linda brent, is a woman of mixed descent owned by sadistic dr. Born in 18, harriet jacobs was unaware of her status as a slave until the deaths of her mother and a benevolent mistress exposed her to a sexually predatory master, dr flint, whilst she was in her teens. Her life completely changed after the death of her mother. Lindas father is a carpenter who because of his extraordinary skills is granted many of the privileges of a free man. Review of incidents in the life of a slave girl by harriet jacobs.
In addition to exposing the vulnerability of female slaves to sexual exploitation, jacobs focuses on her roles as mother, granddaughter, and seekerofhome. About incidents in the life of a slave girl cliffsnotes. Start studying incidents in the life of a slave girl. Incidents in the life of a slave girl opens with an introduction in which the author, harriet jacobs, states her reasons for writing an autobiography. She wanted to confide in someone, but she felt ashamed to tell her grandmother of these impure things. The incidents in the life of a slave girl is a story about a girl named linda brent, who spent her early childhood in a happy home with her father and mother. In terms of narrative authority and incidents in the life of a slave girl, the narrative authority is also gained in the way the book mimics the form of the novel so many 19thcentury readers were familiar withespecially women readers of the period. Incidents in the life of a slave girl literature essay samples. Incidents in the life of a slave girl essay during the antebellum south, many africans, who were forced migrants brought to america, were there to work for whiteowners of tobacco and cotton plantations, manual labor as america expanded west, and as supplemental support of their owners families. Using the pseudonym linda, jacobs recounts the horrors of her life as a slave and a mother. Flint contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. Incidents in the life of a slave girl summary shmoop. Harriet jacobs 181897 incidents in the life of a slave girl is one of the few accounts of southern slavery written by a woman. The dominant social issue of the book incidences in the life of a slave girl is sexual harassment of slaves by their masters.
Even the title of the book tells us that shes more than just an individual person. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself. Incidents in the life of a slave girl offers a critique of slavery rooted in female experience. Scenes at the plantation in harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a slave girl. Incidents in the life of a slave girl chapter sixteen. Incidents in the life of a slave girl norton critical editions 9780393976373 by jacobs, harriet and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Incidents in the life of a slave girl summary and analysis. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself harriet jacobs 18 1897 harriet jacobs autobiography, written under the pseudonym linda brent, details her experiences as a slave in north carolina, her escape to freedom in the north, and her ensuing struggles to free her children. Incidents in the life of a slave girl is probably the most representative slave narrative written by a woman. Although generally ignored by critics, who often dismissed jacobs incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself as a fictionalized account of slavery, the work is heralded today as the first booklength narrative by an ex slave that reveals the unique brutalities inflicted on enslaved women. Incidents in the life of a slave girl by harriet ann jacobs goodreads. Literary influences on harriet jacobss incidents in the life. Not only is incidents in the life of a slave girl the most famous and most analyzed slave narrative by an african american woman, but harriet jacobs is. Also, douglass focuses on his life, but jacobs focuses on incidents in her life.
For linda brent, her life had been a constant fight since she was six years old and looking back on it, she never saw that change over the years. Incidents throughout the life of a slave girl by harriet jacobs 1505 words 7 pages. The feminine ideal in femaledirected works of literature. Harriet jacobs incidents in the life of a slave girl. Although generally ignored by critics, who often dismissed jacobs incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself as a fictionalized account of slavery, the work is heralded today as the first booklength narrative by an exslave that reveals the unique brutalities inflicted on enslaved women. This article focuses on incidents in the life of a slave girl, a book by nineteenth century american author harriet jacobs. The true story of an individuals struggle for selfidentity, selfpreservation, and freedom, incidents in the life of a slave girl remains among the few extant slave narratives written by a woman. Incidents in the life of a slave girl strips the story of personal details and makes the slave girl of the title a symbol for all slave girls, everywhere. In harriet jacobs historically renowned narrative incidents in the life of a slave girl, the story of linda brents struggles as a slave woman help to shed light on the unrealistic standards placed on women during the nineteenth century. In this passage by harriet jacobs, located in the slave narrative incidents in the life of a slave girl, the character linda directs her thoughts to. Incidents in the life of a slave girl analysis shmoop. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. The book documents jacobss life as a slave and how she gained freedom for herself and for her children. Not until the 1980s, when the critic jean fagan yellin discovered a cache of letters from harriet jacobs to lydia maria child, did jacobs again receive credit for her.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl essay questions. Learn all about how the characters in incidents in the life of a slave girl such as linda brent and dr. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, paperback by jacobs, harriet. Incidents in the life of a slave girl quotes and analysis. As the narrative opens, linda brent recounts the unusually fortunate circumstances of her early childhood before she realized she was a slave.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl tells the story of harriet jacobs, a fugitive slave who escaped north with hopes of reuniting with her children. Content distributed via the university of minnesotas digital conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. Harriet jacobs was born in edenton, north carolina, in 18, to slave parents. The next step in servitude and humiliation is for the slave woman is being forced to wean her own baby and nourish the babies of her owners wife with her breastmilk. The mistress cruelly disdains the slave girl, beating her at will. Maria child in 1831, is an autobiography by the author herself which documents jacobs life as a slave and therefore the book starts when jacobs is born as a slave in a city of north carolina and then continues through her. Her story is painful, and she would rather have kept it private, but she feels that making it public may help the antislavery movement. Critical analysis of incidents in the life of a slave girl 2 february 2017 the life of a slave woman is far more complex than that of a slave man, although understandably equal in hardships, the experience for a woman is incredibly different. Not only is incidents in the life of a slave girl the most famous and most analyzed slave narrative by an african american woman, but harriet jacobs is also the only enslaved woman in america who. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, the first fulllength narrative written by a former slave woman in america, is a record of events and experiences of slavery seen through the eyes of the young harriet during the years she lived in captivity in edenton, through her escape, when she becomes a fugitive in the. Incidents in the life of a slave girl essays are academic essays for citation. She grew up prematurely knowing evil things and was subject to the grossest violations of her mind and body. Incidents in the life of a slave girl writing barn.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Contexts includes contemporary responses to incidents, selections from jacobss other published writings, and extracts from her correspondence. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself is an autobiography by harriet jacobs, a mother and fugitive slave, published in 1861 by l. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Incidents in the life of a slave girlthree public statements by harriet jacobs, william c. Jacobs, went through in her life story in incidents in the life of a slave girl prove that the difficulties for slave women were more than significant in many different cases. Lindas struggles are no different than any other girl s struggles. Critical analysis of incidents in the life of a slave girl.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl written by harriet jacobs and published by l. Incidents in the life of a slave girl harriet ann jacobs. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Incidents in the life of a slave girl norton critical. Harriet jacobss narrative bears rare witness to the female experience of slavery, highlighting the threat of sexual exploitation and appealing. Shes a happy kid, living with her mom and dad, both of whom are skilled, educated, and lightskinned slaves. Coming as it did, however, so close to the beginning of the civil war, incidents in the life of a slave girl published under the pseudonym linda brent did not win the enormous popularity that other slave narratives had previously enjoyed, such as frederick douglasss narrative 1845. No one in todays society can even come close to the heartache, torment, anguish, and complete misery suffered by women in slavery. Like other slave narratives, incidents in the life of a slave girl provides only sketchy details of its protagonists actual escape and refrains from naming many of her accomplices. Incidents in the life of a slave girl critical essays. It tells the story of harriet jacobss early life as a slave in north carolina. Incidents in the life of a slave girl feminism essays. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl essay bartleby. Incidents in the life of a slave girl authoritative text. Shannon gibney writes on incidents in the life of a slave girl, a classic slave narrative newly republished by the givens foundation. Harriets master stalked her and made her wary, frightened, and hunted. Explanation of the famous quotes in incidents in the life of a slave girl, including all important speeches, comments, quotations, and monologues. Lindas struggles are no different than any other girls struggles. Incidents in the life of a slave girl is the first fulllength narrative written by a former woman slave in america. Detailed analysis of characters in harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a slave girl.
See a complete list of the characters in incidents in the life of a slave girl and in depth analyses of linda brent, dr. Books similar to incidents in the life of a slave girl. Although generally ignored by critics, who often dismissed jacobs incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself as a fictionalized account of slavery, the. The six year old linda was sent to live with her mothers mistress, who treated her very well, taught her to read and write.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl character analysis. Because she refers to herself as a slave girl, she implies and later states explicitly that she is speaking not only for herself, but also for her sisters still in bondage. Challenges of womanhood in incidents in the life of a slave girl. Incidents in the life of a slave girl is an autobiography by harriet jacobs that was first published in 1861. This biography was the first fulllength narrative written by a former woman slave in america. In addition to exposing the vulnerability of female slaves to sexual exploitation, jacobs focuses on. Americas early literary discussions on race found their place mainly through the slave narrative, most recognizably narrative of the life of frederick douglass, but, over time, gems like harriet jacobs 1861 incidents in the life of a slave girl have fallen through the cracks, too radical and political of a narrative for much mainstream. Critics who have studied this work find it to be a very. Of these female slave narratives, harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a slave girl. The book was published in 1861 through the efforts of maria child, an abolitionist who edited the book and wrote an introduction to it.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl critical evaluation. The womens powerlessness is displaced as anger and jealousy towards the slave girl. Literary influences on harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a. Literary analysis of incidents in the life of a slave girl. A recounting of her life as a slave in north carolina and of her final escape and emancipation, harriet jacobss narrative, written between 1853 and 1858 and published pseudonymously in 1861, tells firsthand of the horrors inflicted on slaves.
Critics who have studied this work find it to be a very valuable text in the tradition of african american literature. Incidents in the life of a slave girl is an extraordinary document not, as some skeptics have charged, in the sense of the incredible read. Incidents in the life of a slave girl is the first fulllength narrative written by a former woman slave in america the text is that of the 1861 first edition. Flint, a pious churchgoer who repeatedly beats and rapes linda and also sells her children. Incidents in the life of a slave girl study guide contains a biography of harriet jacobs, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and anal. Manifesting a command of rhetorical devices and narrative strategies rivaled only by that of frederick douglass, jacobss autobiography is one of the. Richard yarborough harriet jacobss 1861 autobiography was the first written narrative by a female slave in america.