Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

In the book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the author Harriet Jacobs (also the main character in book), paints a very powerful, and emotion picture of what the institution of Slavery was like for the slave and master in America, and the toll that it took on the human soul. Before reading this book, I was given a list of questions to ponder on while reading. These questions ranged from, compare and contrast survival techniques used by two characters in the book, to was this work difficult to read and understand? After reading the book, I feel that I have a good grasp on the answer to the different questions, and will answer them now. The two characters that I will compare and contrast their survival techniques are Harriet Jacobs, also known as Linda in the book, and her Uncle Benjamin. Linda once said that Benjamin had “a spirit too bold and daring for a slave” (p. 18). This is very evident in the technique Benjamin uses to survive while being a slave. During one event in the book, Benjamin’s master called for him, and he did not obey his master’s order quickly enough. When Benjamin finally came, “his master was angry, and began to punish him by whipping him” (p. 19). Benjamin and his master fought and Benjamin threw his master to the ground. At this time in our country it was illegal for a slave to put his hands on his master, and “that in court his word would not be taken against any white man’s” (p. 93). Benjamin did not care about any laws, because he felt like he should have the benefits of what a free man had during this time. Benjamin felt that he had every right to hit his master, because his master hit him first, and Benjamin was just trying to defend his self. Even if that meant he could be punished by death, Benjamin did not care, because he had too much pride, and also he wanted his freedom. This is where Linda and her Uncle differ. I am not saying, that Linda did not want her freedom, she did. Linda did not understand why she