Abstract
This paper describes the life story of a slave girl, as told in Harriet Jacob's autobiographical narrative. The paper looks at how Jacob's book touches upon the female experience of slavery, an aspect often missing from other slave narratives, and the way blacks had to contend with the scourge of racial inequality, even in the free states and after the Emancipation Proclamation.

From the Paper
"Harriet Jacob's autobiographical narrative, published as Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is a poignant account of one woman's experiences living in bondage. Linda Brent (Jacob's pseudonym) was born as a household slave to a relatively kind mistress who taught her how to read and write by the time she was twelve. When her mistress died, however, she did not grant Linda her freedom: As a result, Linda was sent to Dr. Flint's home, where she suffered the immeasurable brutality described in the bulk of the book. Written to alert a mostly Northern audience to the plight of slaves, the narrative effectively illustrates the horrors not only of slavery as an evil institution but also of the traumas endured on a daily basis by enslaved men and women. Moreover, what makes Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl so unique and historically significant is that it offers special insight into the experiences of female slaves, who encounter such gender-based traumas as sexual assault and the pain of being separated from their children. Jacobs peppers her account with details but changes person and place names to protect them and herself, for she eventually escaped and fled to the North."

Tags:north, flint, linda, brent, master, benjamin, love, bondage, jealous, religion, white, man

Abstract
This paper focuses on the way that Jacobs combines apologies, instructions and narratives. It discusses how Harriet Jacob's slave narrative is often addressed directly to the reader, appealing to them, apologizing to them and trusting them to read her experiences and share her outrage. Her unique style draws the reader into the narrative, making them feel almost as if they were experiencing the indignation she experienced as a southern slave before the Civil War. The writer explains that today, it is difficult to believe people had to live in these kinds of situations, and yet they did, and it is one of the periods in history that shame and diminish America.

From the Paper
"Harriet Jacobs, or Linda Brent, was born a slave, and she opens her book with this simple statement, "I was born and reared in Slavery; and I remained in a Slave State twenty-seven years" (Jacobs 459). When she set about to write her experiences as a slave, she used a unique style which spoke to the reader throughout the narrative, as if she was sitting and speaking with whoever was reading her book. Sometimes she apologizes to the reader for what she is about to relate, sometimes she rages at the reader for allowing slavery to continue, and sometimes she simply states what her life was like as a being owned by another. In fact, she opens her narrative with an apology to the reader. "I wish I were more competent to the task I have undertaken. But I trust my readers will excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances" (Jacobs 459). Her personal story is sometimes difficult to read because of the cruelties and inhumanity shown to the slaves, however, it cannot help but stir emotion in the reader, and her very personal comments directed at the reader add pathos and drama to her writing."

Tags:civil, war, slavery, african, american

Abstract
This paper reports on several chapters from the book "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs, telling of her life as a slave to Dr. Flint, who wants her body and soul but whom she hates more and more as time passes. The paper explains how the book shows the nature of slave life, especially for women, and the inability of the slave to have any control over her own life.

From the Paper
"Harriet Jacobs in her book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl states that she was born a slave and had a happy childhood until she learned that she was a slave at six years of age. Her father was a carpenter allowed to work at his trade, and though he wanted to purchase his children, he was never able to do so. She had a younger brother. She discusses the travails of members of her family and notes how all were treated as property and little more by their masters."

Tags:slave, history, chapters

Abstract
This paper explores the reasons why Harriet Jacobs, a slave who escaped to the North, wrote her slave narrative and discusses who her audience was. The paper looks at what may have motivated Jacobs to write her narrative and how she attempted to appeal to the audience of her narrative.

From the Paper
"According to Gates Jr between and one hundred book-length slave narratives had been written by slaves or former slaves while six thousand and six ex-slaves had related their tales to others through interviews essays and books In fact as Gates Jr further points out this is the only time in history where those who were held in bondage as slaves were able to write about their experiences and so create new genre of literature the slave narrative He also contends that scholars have shown the link

Tags:Harriet Jacobs, slavery

Abstract
The paper discusses Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" and asserts that it remains one of the most captivating and compelling autobiographical slave narratives. The paper looks at the major themes explored, including the different types of slavery, the Fugitive Slave Law, religion and spiritual salvation and the fight for freedom. The paper opines that Harriet Jacobs' book is interesting, historically relevant and easy to read.

From the Paper
"Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiographical narrative recounting the author's journey to freedom and the impact she made on the abolitionist movement. She has no formal credentials for writing the narrative and in fact was assisted in compiling it by the abolitionist activist Lydia Maria Child. However, her personal experiences are all Jacobs needs to bring her story to the world: a heart-wrenching series of anecdotes that illustrate the horrors of slavery. Her credibility lies mainly in there having been accurate records of her life, and the entire book is comprised of her stories and personal reflection on them."

Tags:Fugitive, Slave, Law, religion, salvation, freedom, abolitionists

Abstract
Examines how Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" contributes to the genre of Slave Narratives as the first direct appeal to the women of the North.

Tags:Literature., America, History., Slave, Narratives.

Abstract
This paper explains that, in recent decades, Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl", published in 1861, is being interpreted as a narrative not only about a slave but also about a woman, a victim of a sexual abuser and a mother who sacrifices her chances for freedom to protect her children. The Christianity of the slaves in the story, the author relates, is demonstrated by the ways they use their Christian faith as a tool in the lives of slave and the master and mistress. The paper concludes that Jacob's narrative still holds relevance in the need for Christians to fight racism, sexism and discrimination.

From the Paper
"This is designed to offend the reader's Christian sense of honor and decent behavior. One is reminded of the old maid, buying the old female slave in order to release her, and this compares unfavorably with it. It is also made clear that Dr Flint takes sexual advantage of the women under his power, and several have his babies, although Mrs. Flint is callous to their suffering. ...
"As we are told that the baby is 'nearly white', the presumption that Dr Flint is the husband, as he is of other children."

Tags:baby, sexual abuse, christianity wife discrimination

Abstract
The paper offers an analysis of how Harriet Jacobs, in "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," likens slavery and oppression to the situation of patriarchal control of white men over their wives as well as their slaves. The paper quotes Jacobs' comparison to William W. Brown's "A Fugitive Slave."

From the Paper
"Throughout history women of all colors have traditionally been limited by rigid roles and norms of behavior imposed by patriarchy. Marriage basically represented ownership of the wife by the husband often positing women to a position no freer than that of cattle. Women were limited in exercising freedom of expression, were dependent upon their husbands for income and often remained vulnerable to the moods of their husband."

Tags:chattel, gender, marriage, control, roles, body, freedom, human rights

Abstract
This paper focuses on the most prominent theme in Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" that is the unique and severe hardships that women faced under slavery. The paper details the sexual threats female slaves faced from both male slaves and slave owners alike, how slavery affected the relationship of slave mothers and their children, and the severe psychological torment slave women suffered.

From the Paper
"When Harriet Jacobs states that, "the condition of a slave confuses all principles of morality and in fact renders the practice of them impossible", she intends to portray the fundamental sin of slavery through the horrific burden it places on a slave's soul and psyche. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a based on real life testament of the debilitating effects of this institution on a woman who is enslaved in her earliest years and whose story ends with her still working for a white woman. Jacobs' story, told through the character of Linda, makes a case for the greater difficulty of slavery on women through the psychological torment she endures, and the relationships she has with her children, grandmother, and male owners Dr. Flint and Mr. Sands."

Tags:sexual, abuse, freedom, suffering, fear, captivity

Abstract
This paper explores Harriet Jacobs' book "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" as a means of exploring the sexual use of slaves and the negative impact this practice had upon society.