When Jacobs was transferred to the Norcoms, the reality of slavery suddenly hit the author hard because prior to her being sold to them she enjoyed a relatively happy childhood in a secure home environment. Dr. Norcom frequently made advances on Jacobs and she was forced to find solace in the arms of a white lawyer to help resist Dr. Norcom. She had two children by the lawyer, and was separated from them. Being separated from her parents and then from her children is a poignant dimension of slavery that Jacobs explicates in the narrative. Moreover, Jacobs describes the insidious psychological abuse that many domestic servants endured. Jacobs also explains what might be new information for many readers: the different types of slavery and different ways slavery manifested. Not all slaves were field workers and not all slaves were treated poorly. Some, like her parents at the outset of the novel, were permitted to enjoy their home and family life. Others, like the narrator's grandmother, were emancipated. More importantly to the narrative, however, the Norcom family proves to be the quintessential slave owners: cruel and abusive. Slaves are treated as sub-humans and can suffer from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse without any protection from the law. In fact, Jacobs also explores an important historical corollary to slavery: the Fugitive Slave Law. Under that law, any escaped slaves would be returned to their owners and most likely would suffer severe abuse for their having ran away. Because the law was in place and Jacobs could...
In some ways that period was like imprisonment but her self-imposed confinement was still a taste of freedom.
Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself" by Harriet Jacobs. "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself" "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs seems too horrific to be true. One feels that it is a fictional account rather than an autobiography. Jacobs's life was one of unmentionable cruelty and sorrow. It is also one of great courage and sacrifice. Written under
Though Cartwright's concern and opposition to slavery was evident in his "Autobiography," an important observation that must be noted in studying his text was that his opposition was not mainly based on the detriments that slavery had on the slaves themselves, but only for the white American society. Slavery was a 'moral evil' because it made white Americans more vulnerable to moral degeneration, thereby putting into peril their belief in
Life of a Slave Girl In Harriet Jacobs' novel, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the narrator takes several steps to assert her status as a person and to make a case against the dehumanization inherent in slavery. The dehumanization of Jacobs' and other slaves in the novel is clearly shown through the sexual exploitation that they face, and the separation of women and their children. Jacob's continually
Throughout the story readers are given glimpses of human kindness and human cruelty working side by side, using slaves as the rope in the tug-of-war. The narrative provides heartbreaking stories of children being sold away from their parents and never seeing them again. In today's culture it is hard to imagine such practices taking place and being accepted. One of the most important things that the story does is serve as a
Martha Ballard and Harriet Jacobs When we talk about Martha Ballard and Harriet Jacobs, we have to remember that both were the pathfinders for women in the occupation that they had undertaken. As a nurse, it may be true that Martha Ballard cannot be compared with Florence Nightingale, but at the same time, one has to remember that the social background of Florence Nightingale was totally different from Harriet Bleacher.
Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative and Harriet Jacob's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl During the 18th century, laws ensured that slaves could not legally learn how to read and write, but many did so anyway and, with the help of antislavery activists, managed to publish their poignant accounts of slavery based on their first-hand experience. For modern readers, these narratives continue to provide an eloquent but disturbing description
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