Essay - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl in Harriet...

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

In Harriet Jacobs' novel, Incidents ***** the ***** of a Sl*****ve *****, the narrator takes several steps to assert her status as a person and ***** make a case against the dehumanization inherent in slavery. The ***** of Jacobs' and other slaves ***** the novel is clearly shown through the sexual exploitation that they face, and the separation ***** women and their children. Jacob's continually fights ***** th***** degradation, and asserts herself as a person. She refuses the advances of Mr. Flint, chooses ano*****r man with which to have an affair, and ultimately goes to the extremes of hiding in a cramped garret to assert her *****dependence. Ultimately, Jacobs' is successful in obta*****ing her freedom, but she only obtains freedom through an extraordinary persever*****ce ***** force of will.

***** account ***** a cle*****r description of ***** degradation that ***** slaves face through sexual exploitation and the separation of mot*****s from ***** children. While *****'s early childhood was relatively sheltered, the remainder ***** her life would be characterized by sexual exploitation and her separation ***** ***** children. There are numerous instances throughout ***** novel where slave mothers are cruelly separated from their *****. Jacobs describes how dehumanizing the experience is when some of her relatives are sold: "And now came the trying hour for ***** drove of human beings, driven away like cattle, ***** be ***** ***** knew not *****. Husbands were torn ***** wives, parents from children, never to look upon each other again this side the grave. There was wringing of hands and cries ***** despair."

Harriet Jacobs, speaking through the ***** Linda Brent, asserts her status as a person ***** refusing ***** advances of her master. She ***** first pursued by her *****, Mr. *****, ***** she was merely fifteen years ***** age. She continually refused his advances, ***** avoided contact ***** him at all costs. In the simple act of refusing ***** sexual ***** of ***** master, Harriet Jacobs was clearly asserting her worth as a human *****ing. As a slave, it w***** common pr*****ice for female slaves to be involved in ***** rel*****ionships *****ith their *****s. Harriet herself was born out ***** her mother's relationship with her white master.

Harriet also asserts her status not only by ***** the advances of Mr. Flint, but by deliberately choosing to have a relationship ***** a local, unmarried white man. Her relationship with *****. Sands is a *****ing one, *****nd she has children with him (Ellen and Benny). ********** sees Sands as a form of protection *****st the *****dvances of Mr. Flint. Mr. Flint becomes angered by Jacob's resistance, and continues to refuse to sell her, and pursues Jacobs even more vigorously. Dr. ***** eventually purchases the *****, ***** does not give them their *****.

While Harriet's affair with Dr. Sands is certainly a way for her to assert ***** freedom of choice, ***** is still terribly constrained ***** her ***** as a slave. ***** life and the lives of her