Literary Analysis: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by H. Jacobs

This essay provides an analysis of Harriet Jacobs' autobiography, 'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,' focusing on themes of slavery, identity, and resistance. It explores Jacob's childhood experiences, her relationships with family, and her interactions with white owners, highlighting the pervasive nature of sexual abuse and the hypocrisy of religious institutions. The essay also examines the influence of the Nat Turner rebellion and the broader implications of slavery on the moral and psychological well-being of enslaved individuals. Ultimately, the analysis reflects on the corrupting power of slavery and the importance of Jacobs' narrative in understanding the historical and emotional impact of this institution. The essay concludes with personal reflections on the lessons learned from the book and its relevance to understanding the complexities of slavery in 19th-century America.

Running head: INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
Name of the student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

1INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
Question 1
It is the story of Harriet Jacobs who for safety has named herself as Linda Brent in
narrative. Harriet Jacobs begins by discussing the childhood wherein she does not have an
idea until her mother dies when she was only six years old. Incidents in the Life of a Slave
Girl Book has opened with the introduction wherein she has stated her reasons for the
autobiography wherein it was seen that her story was painful and she had kept her life
private.
However, in the future she felt that making the entire issue public could help the
movement that is relating to antislavery. The book was significant in nature as it had allowed
the readers in experiencing the travails and traits of the female slave in America and the
readers understood the life of Harriet Jacobs as slave and her childhood was gone in slavery.
Question 2.
Influences of family and friend in the life of Jacob the elements were more bad than
good. Aunt Martha was her grandmother who provided her love and support as well as
spiritual guidance. She was previously a slave but is free now with all her other family
members enslaved. William was Jacob’s brother who like other slaves seeks freedom and
protects his sister all the time. Jacob had two children Ellen and Benny. She had a faithful old
friend Betty who helped her hiding for sometimes. Beside all these family members and
friend, Jacob was much influenced by the ideas of Mrs. Bruce the first who protects Jacob
from Dr. Flint.
Question 3
The relationship of Jacob with the White owners was not positive and it was hateful
kind of relationship between them. Mr. Flint was the master of Linda, Mrs. Flint was mistress
of Linda, and she was Dr. Flint’s wife as well. There was different kind of problems that were

2INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
faced by Jacob due to MR. and Mrs. Flint, as they did not treat her in a proper manner. Mr.
Flint was the enemy and would be lover of Linda and he felt he had the right to do anything
with her and wanted to seduce her wherein Linda rebels and refused to perform such sexual
dealings.
Mr. Flint used to become obsessed and enraged relating to breaking spirit of Linda
and there was no feeling in Mr. Flint that Linda was a human being and he constantly fought
with his wife and identified Linda as women slave (Jacobs). Furthermore, Mrs. Flint treated
Linda viciously and she treated her brutally and was insensitive in nature.
The slavery was harder on females than the males as the female slaves as they were
victims of sexual abuse and this had affected their lives in a huge negative manner. The
female slaves were tortured and abused as per the needs of the white men and they did not
have any such kind of sayings as well.
Question 4
In chapter 10, Jacob refers to her relationship with the black carpenter who wanted to
buy her freedom from Dr. Flint. He refused this offer of the free black who had tried to buy
Jacob’s freedom. Dr. Flint wanted complete submission of his slave therefore he took a new
way to win Jacob’s full submission to him. He strategized and told Jacob that he wanted to
buy her a house as well as made her his lady. Due to this reason, Jacob desperately decided to
make her free from Dr. Flint and entered in a sexual relationship with Mr. Sands (Jacobs p.
85). He was a white Lawyer and had a great affection for Jacob. She assumed that Mr. Sands
would be a gentle man as he wanted to make her his mistress and buy her from Dr. Flint.
Therefore, Jacob consented to his advances and got pregnant by this man. She experienced a
moment of triumph when Dr. Flint approached her and she refused him by saying that she
was impregnated by another man.

3INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
Question 5
Jacob in chapters 12 and 13 has described the influence of Nat Turner rebellion that
denounced the moral struggle between what the Christianity teaches them and their own
experiences as the slaves. Here Jacob has addressed the broader issues of the black
community as slaves. As an effect of Nat Turner insurrection, the lawless whites, used to
ransack the slave cabins which was supported by the slave owners of the south. They
terrorized black men, women even children because they started to perceive them as possible
rebels. In addition to this, the hypocrisy of the Christian church has been also included in her
account (Jacobs pp. 97-116). As religion morality and spirituality granted to be important
themes in the black literature, religious powers also exploited the slaves through sermons or
spirituals. In other words, the suppressors used religion and beliefs to be efficient tools to
manage the slaves as inferior beings.
Question 6
This book is all about the life and incidents of a slave girl Linda. This book
revolves round her painful experience as a slave woman who has no permission to even
breath without the permission from her owners. This story defines the corrupting power of
slavery and domesticity as the paradise as well as prison. All the characters round her are
actually inhuman who have no sympathy for the slaves and exploit limitlessly. They betray
their slaves when profitable. The concept of slavery had distorted the most rudimentary
emotional instincts such as the affection of the parents for their child. The slave systems had
a far reaching effect on the moral development of the slaves. As the author states that they
had no reason to be moral because they were forced to endure the beatings and lynching on
them. Their mental as well as spiritual anguish led to the psychological abuses of slavery.

4INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
Question 7
The most important aspect that has been learnt was relating to the condition wherein
others own the individuals and they work under the other individuals. In the book, it has been
seen that Harriet Jacob has experienced lot of evils such as sexual abuse and other issues in
her lifetime. It was seen that Harriet Jacobs was under constant supervision wherein she did
not have knowledge regarding the words she spoke can be dangerous and this can affect her
life. The important aspect was relating to the intense hopelessness and lack of security in the
family.
The other issue of slavery that was understood from the respective book was relating
to the powerlessness in deciding where the children will stay and their protection was under
big question as well. The parents were not capable for protecting their children in an effective
manner and this has caused increased resentment towards their masters as well. It fostered
hatred towards the white men in general that has affected their lives in a negative manner.
The book was interesting and it has helped me in understanding the different forms of
slavery and their negative effects on the individuals. I had gained knowledge relating to the
problems faced by them after the death of their mother and father during the Jacob’s youth. It
has helped me in understanding the slavery activities that took place in the year 1850s and the
explosive issues that has created effects in all over United States. I would recommend this
book to others as this is an inspiring story of Harriet Jacob who fought against slavery and
how she led her life in the future in a peaceful manner.

5INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL
References:
Jacobs, Harriet. The Life of a Slave Girl. BookRix, 2017.