Unrelenting Determination of a Mother in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
- Submitted by: qiwilliam
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- Category: Politics: Moral Issues
- Date Submitted: 11/12/2011 11:58 PM
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Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a narrative, written by Harriet Jacobs, which chronicles the humiliating experience of the author as a slave. Unlike the majority of slave narratives which document escapes, the author tried to tell the story from a feminist perspective. As far as I am concerned, the woman’s determination and choice are the essential part of the story. I will demonstrate my point from the aspect of rhetorical strategies used, comparison between enslaved man and woman, woman’s determination and the impressive female characters in the story.
The author tries to picture a scene from a feminist’s perspective by using rhetorical strategies. First, the narrative uses contrast to illuminate the extreme disparity between free man and slave. In chapter 3, Linda contrasts the slaves’ New Year’s Day with whites’, especially from the perspective of motherhood. “But to the slave mother New Year's day comes laden with peculiar sorrows. She sits on her cold cabin floor, watching the children who may all be torn from her the next morning; and often does she wish that she and they might die before the day dawns” (Jacobs Page 17). New Year’s Day for slaves is like when criminals hear their sentencing. Instead of enjoying the festival like free men, slaves suffer the most terrible day of the year. Also in chapter 3, the author uses the second person form of speech to express her sadness. “O, you happy free women, contrast your New Year's day with that of the poor bond-woman! With you it is a pleasant season, and the light of the day is blessed. Friendly wishes meet you every where, and gifts are showered upon you” (Jacobs Page 16). It draws the readers’ attention to the contrasts of free women and slaves. It creates a nightmarish image of slavery in my mind. Comparisons are also made to argue the inhumanity of the slaveholders. For example, in chapter 9, Linda compares the methods the neighbor slaveholders use to instill fear in the mind of their slaves in...
The author tries to picture a scene from a feminist’s perspective by using rhetorical strategies. First, the narrative uses contrast to illuminate the extreme disparity between free man and slave. In chapter 3, Linda contrasts the slaves’ New Year’s Day with whites’, especially from the perspective of motherhood. “But to the slave mother New Year's day comes laden with peculiar sorrows. She sits on her cold cabin floor, watching the children who may all be torn from her the next morning; and often does she wish that she and they might die before the day dawns” (Jacobs Page 17). New Year’s Day for slaves is like when criminals hear their sentencing. Instead of enjoying the festival like free men, slaves suffer the most terrible day of the year. Also in chapter 3, the author uses the second person form of speech to express her sadness. “O, you happy free women, contrast your New Year's day with that of the poor bond-woman! With you it is a pleasant season, and the light of the day is blessed. Friendly wishes meet you every where, and gifts are showered upon you” (Jacobs Page 16). It draws the readers’ attention to the contrasts of free women and slaves. It creates a nightmarish image of slavery in my mind. Comparisons are also made to argue the inhumanity of the slaveholders. For example, in chapter 9, Linda compares the methods the neighbor slaveholders use to instill fear in the mind of their slaves in...