Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Annotated Edition)

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is the story of Harriet Jacobs, who, for her safety, called herself Linda Brent in the narrative. Harriet begins by discussing her childhood. She does not know she is a slave until after her mother dies when she is six. Her earliest years were not unpleasant, but she is soon given to the daughter of Dr. Flint and his wife Mrs. Flint. Dr. Flint was wealthy and cruel, and Harriet and her brother William found solace only in the kindness of their elderly grandmother Aunt Marthy. This grandmother was a favorite in the southern town where the events of the story take place, and another elderly woman purchased her freedom for her when Harriet was still a child.Harriet writes of the horrors of slavery, dwelling on the theme of mothers being divided from their children and any sense of individuality or humanity in a slave being routed out by avaricious slaveholders. Her uncle Benjamin refuses to stand for the cruel treatment he receives, and eventually runs away to the north. Harriet's grandmother helps free her son Phillip as well, purchasing his freedom.As Harriet grows older, she begins to experience the lascivious persecutions of Dr. Flint. He was intoxicated by her and haunted her every step. She could not escape him and used all of her faculties to dissuade him from raping her. She could not count on Mrs. Flint for any help, however, for the mistresses of slaveholders were often jealous of the young female slaves their husbands lusted for and found their presence intolerable.Harriet finally decides that she will give herself to a white man named Mr. Sands. She had developed feelings for him and he always treated her kindly. She also knows that bearing another man's child would stave off the attentions of Dr. Flint. Harriet's plan works to some degree, but the Dr. is viciously cruel to her and tries to force her to tell him the identity of the child's father. Harriet refuses.