Having refused the mans offer to buy lindas freedom, dr. Harriet jacobs, writer and reformer, was born a slave in edenton. In the stories expressed by harriet jacobs, through the mindset of linda brent, some harsh realities were revealed about slavery. Her father was a mulatto carpenter and slave owned by dr. Her father, elijah knox, was an enslaved biracial house carpenter owned by andrew knox. Harriet ann brent jacobs, better known as simply harriet jacobs, was the author of one of the most famous american slave narratives, incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself, published in 1861. 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. He offers to build her a house and make her a lady. Moral experience in harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a slave girl sarah way sherman slavery is terrible for men, harriet jacobs wrote in 1861, but it is. Instead, jacobs called herself linda brent and masked the important places. Harriet jacobs lived a brutal and extraordinary life. Incidents in the life of a slave girl characters gradesaver. Incidents in the life of a slave girl by harriet jacobs.
This site by trudy mercer includes a picture, a chronology, bibiographies, an essay, and three letters between harriet ann jacobs and lydia maria child. She was born a slave in 18 in edenton, north carolina, and died free in washington, d. Harriet ann jacobs was born a slave in edenton, north carolina in 18. During a time when it was unusual for slaves to read and write, selfpublishing a firsthand account of slaverys atrocities was extraordinary. Incidents in the life of a slave girl by linda brent. Harriet jacobs, or linda brent in the book, was born in 18 near edenton, north carolina as a slave. Linda brent timeline in incidents in the life of a slave girl. Excerpts from incidents in the life of a slave girl by. As the narrative opens, linda brent recounts the unusually fortunate circumstances of her early childhood before she realized she was a slave.
Given how few slaves were taught to read and write, and how few had the capacity to actually record their experiences, jacobs story is a historical treasure. Harrietts life is all about the hardships of being a female piece of property. Incidents in the life of a slave girl harriet ann jacobs, linda brent on. She learned to sew from her mother, an expert seamstress enslaved in the burwell. But never before have i been introduced to actual events that occurred.
What is the significance of harriet jacobs incidents in. Harriet jacobs, daughter of delilah, the slave of margaret horniblow, and daniel jacobs, the slave of andrew knox, was born in edenton, north carolina, in the fall of 18. Excerpts from incidents in the life of a slave girl by harriet jacobs, under pseudonym linda brent, 1861. The narrator of the work published under the name linda brent, harriet tells the story of her childhood and youth as a slave. Her mother was a mulatto slave owned by john horniblow, a tavern owner. A slave girl like harriet jacobs, aka linda brent brents strength is what enables her to overcome the master slave narrative. Harriet ann jacobs 181897 was an african american writer, who was born into slavery, but managed to gain her freedom. Harriet jacobs wanted to tell her story, but knew she lacked the skills to write the. Harriet ann jacobs february 11, 18 march 7, 1897 was an africanamerican writer who escaped from slavery and was later freed. The character of harriet jacobs linda brent in incidents in the life.
Incidents in the life of a slave girl 1455 words bartleby. The narrative often meditates on the existence of slavery within a society that purports to fulfill christian principles. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. She had learned to read while young and enslaved, but, at the time of her escape to the north in. Harriet jacobs linda brent 18181896 selected bibliography on african american literature. The incidents in the life of a slave girl quotes below are all either spoken by harriet jacobs linda brent or refer to harriet jacobs linda brent. In addition, under the name linda brent, she wrote incidents in the life of a slave girl, one of the first autobiographies about living in slavery. Linda brent in incidents in the life of a slave girl shmoop. Her mother, delilah horniblow, was an enslaved black woman owned by a local tavern owner. In chapter 10, linda resumes her story from chapter 7 about her relationship with the free black carpenter. Linda brent is harriet jacobs, the narrator and protagonist. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself. Today, i want to take a moment and explore a nineteenthcentury text that seeks to counter the view that black women could not live up to the ideals set forth by the.
Harriet jacobs was the first woman to write a slave narrative, incidents in the life of a slave girl 1861. Harriet was born in edenton, north carolina to daniel jacobs and delilah. A significant personal history by an african american woman, harriet jacobs story is as remarkable as the writer who tells it. Get an answer for describe some of the challenges linda brent faced while she lived under flint in incidents in the life of a slave girl. The london daily news wrote in 1862, that linda brent was a true heroine, giving an example of endurance and persistency in the struggle for. In 1861, harriet jacobs published incidents in the life of a slave girl, an account of her experience of enslavement in edenton, north carolina. In desperation, linda decides to enter into a sexual relationship. The book documents jacobs s life as a slave and how she gained freedom for herself and for her children. Shes smart, determined, courageous, selfassured, and, judging from all the friends she seems to acquire, probably a pretty nice person. Harriet jacobs was actually born into slavery, lived in a crawlspace for seven years, and escaped to write a harrowing tale of escape and mostly triumph. Harriet jacobs lighting the way, historic women of the. The digital public library of america brings together the riches of americas libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world.
Elizabeth keckly was born into slavery in 1818 near petersburg, virginia. Her story is appalling, sad, fascinating and inspiring all at once. She wrote pseudonymously, calling herself linda brent and using fictitious names for. In her autobiography incidents in the life of a slave girl, harriet jacobs describes the youth of her alterego, linda brent, as a slave in the american south. Character analysis linda brent as her unrelenting determination to free herself and her children indicates, linda brent is the epitome of the strong black woman who against all odds manages not only to survive but also to transcend seemingly insurmountable barriers. The story of her life, incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself, was published under the pseudonym linda brent in 1861. She was the daughter of two slaves owned by different masters. Jacobs uses the pseudonym linda brent to narrate her firstperson account. Harriet jacobs february 11, 18 march 7, 1897 was an africanamerican writer who escaped from slavery and was later freed. Flint adopts a new tactic to try to win lindas submission.
Aunt martha is molly horniblow, lindas maternal grandmother. Linda is sent off to her mothers mistress, who is nice and all but still, you know, a slave owner. Jacobs called herself linda brent and masked the important places and persons in her narrative in the manner of a novelist, renaming norcom dr. The harriet jacobs page at the africans in america site includes pictures, letters, and. As her unrelenting determination to free herself and her children indicates, linda brent is the epitome of the strong black woman who against all odds manages not only to survive but also to transcend seemingly insurmountable barriers. Harriet ann jacobs, writer, abolitionist and reformer, was born a slave in edenton, north carolina in 18.
In incidents in the life of a slave girl, harriet jacobs gives a detailed account of the life story of linda brent which is the pseudo name for herself, outlining the events which primarily focuses on her escape from her slave master, dr. Harriet jacobs 18 or 1815 march 7, 1897 was an africanamerican writer. In her account jacobs details the sexual harassment and abuse she suffered as a female slave in edenton, nc and her eventual escape. As its protagonist, she takes on the name linda brent in order to avoid recognition after its publication. Analysis of the book harriet jacobs 778 words 4 pages.
Harriet jacobs, incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by herself 1861 harriet jacobs wrote this autobiography under the pseudonym of linda brent, and she also used pseudonyms for the others who appear in her story. Harriet jacobs biography list of works, study guides. Harriet ann jacobs, usually wrote under the name harriet jacobs but also used the pseudonym linda brent. Jacobs wrote an autobiography, incidents in the life of a slave girl, first serialized in a newspaper and published as a book in 1861 under the pseudonym linda brent. The harriet jacobs page at the africans in america site includes pictures, letters, and the full text of the handbill offering a reward for her capture. Flint, a pious churchgoer who repeatedly beats and rapes linda and also sells her children. Her story became one of the first open discussions about sexual harassment and abuse endured by slave women. The significance of harriet jacobs memoir of her 27 years as a slave, written under her penname linda brent, is selfevident. In class, we talk about the ways in which jacobss linda brent addresses her audience in chapter 10, and the ways in which, as a writer reflecting on her longago girlhood, she makes mature judgments about her life. She writes intentionally in a womens voice, highlighting gender issues. The character of harriet jacobs linda brent in incidents. Harriet jacobs linda brent incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by harriet jacobs 181897 using the pseudonym pen name linda brent, is the most widely read female slave narrative in american history. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading incidents in the life of a slave girl.
The purpose that linda wanted to right the story was. Ive always known slavery existed and that it was a very immoral act. Linda brent, is caught between the brutal, exploitative bonds of slavery and the idealized, altruistic bonds of. Jacobs wrestled with the difficulty of exposing her past, later deciding to publish the book under a pseudonym linda brent and giving fictitious names to people in the narrative. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Harriet ann jacobs author of incidents in the life of a. When north carolina slave harriet jacobs penned those words in incidents in the life of a slave girl, a book she selfpublished in 1861, she became the first black woman to write a slave narrative. An extended version of this piece can be found on the unlikely stories website. And whats incredible is that she actually is real, or at least mostly. Harriet jacobs was born into slavery in edenton, north carolina, in 18. Jacobs used the pseudonym linda brent and changed all of names in the book to protect the identity and safety of her family. Linda brent in incidents in the life of a slave girl. A teachers guide to the signet classics edition of harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a slave girl introduction incidents in the life of a slave girl, written by harriet jacobs 181897 using the pseudonym linda brent, is the most widely read female slave narrative in american.