'Incidents In The Life of a Slave Girl'

Paper Summary:

This paper critically examines Harriet Jacobs' 'Incidents In The Life of a Slave Girl'. The paper argues that one of the narrator's critical strategies for escaping her master's designs include gaining some limited control over her sexuality.

Overview:
Analysis of Text
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Jacobs focuses on many other themes tied in with this including highlighting her role as a mother and as a family member. Linda's role as mother serves to enhance her sexual agency and further inspires aggression and frustration from her would be perpetrator, Dr. Flint. However her motherhood also protects her in some ways from Dr. Flint's advances and affords her greater strength and purpose to carry on despite her harsh circumstances. Linda's narratives in the work include many themes that are evidenced in other slave narratives including stories and tales of survival and freedom, however the work is most well noted for its focus on sexuality and themes of motherhood (UNC, 2004). Jacobs focuses on the "cruel realities that plagued black women in the nineteenth century" (Gates, 2001; UNC, 2004). These realities are evidenced in Brent's inner thoughts and deeds including her decision to become a mother out of wedlock. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gates, H.L. & McKay, N.E. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature, 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
• Jacobs, H. (1861). "Incidents in the life of a slave girl.", ed. By Child, L.M.F. (2003). Available: http://docsouth.unc.edu/jacobs/jacobs.html
• UNC. (2004). "Summary of incidents in the life of a slave girl." University Library, University of North Carolina. 14, Feb. 2006: http://docsouth.unc.edu/jacobs/summary.html

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