Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiographical piece of literature narrating the personal experiences of Harriet Jacobs as a slave in 19th century North Carolina. With its first edition printed in 1861, there were subsequent editions in later years which unlike their predecessor were much better received by critics. With its subject matter being that of enslavement and accompanying brutalities of an inhumane nature, Jacobs’ account deviates from the more common male perspective of the journey from slavery to freedom. From a woman’s perspective, the author tells of the tribulations of enslaved women with her account and central project in Incidents having a powerful and long-lasting ripple effect.
- How does Harriet Jacobs trouble them?
In Incidents, there is evident propagation of resistance conveyed through the actions of Harriet Jacobs who despite being looked down upon not only as a woman but also a slave never gave up fighting for her dignity and freedom. She was perceived as a troublemaker to the white man for refusing his repeated sexual advances illustrated through her disdain for Dr. Flint claiming “…I was made for his use, made to obey his command in everything… (Jacobs & Child, 1861, p. 29)”. Through such actions and the subsequent publication, Jacobs troubles them and the dominance of the patriarchy by displaying resistance through self-determination in sexuality, instigating a sense of political action against oppression, and attempting to elevate the position of women in a patriarchal society. Through her actions of the opposition and eventual escape, Jacobs is seen as an inciter of disobedience and resistance to the status quo where women and even much so slaves are expected to be submissive to the white man. Essentially, Jacobs disregards taboos and cultural beliefs to showcase the fundamentals of kinship, self-determination, and motherhood as potent tools of resistance.
- How do you make sense of her project in “Incidents in the life of a slave girl”?
As the first-ever African American female slave to author her own story, her published narrative was monumental in the fight towards the abolition of slavery and oppression. Seemingly, Jacobs’ greater project in Incidents in the life of a slave girl is driven towards the elements of freedom and self-display. Her project while based on her challenges of self-expression while in the south is aimed at her Northern audience that she perceives as thinking of slavery as being perpetual with no hopes of an end. Her project aims to challenge the thinking of Northerners and in particular, women who might not deem themselves worthy of the dignity and respect they so rightly deserve as human beings. Jacobs tells of how in the South, they are given false accounts of the miserable lives of escaped slaves in the North which according to the white man is the result of “…running away from a kind master.” (Jacobs & Child, 1861, p. 67). With her eyes wide open to the lies of the white man and the perils of slavery, Jacobs’ project aimed to educate Northern women on the joys of liberty especially for those who might not deem it necessary to “exchange slavery for such a hard kind of freedom.” (Jacobs & Child, 1861, p. 67). Essentially, Jacobs’ project aims to give insight that would help her listeners understand that “liberty is more valuable than life.” (Jacobs & Child, 1861, p. 67) To Jacobs, this is the fundamental way of thinking she believed would free slaves from mental and subsequently physical bondage.
