DETAILS
Please answer the question below in 2-3 complete, typed, double-spaced pages. The essay should be written in paragraph form. If you come in under or go over in length, there will be a deduction. Please use MLA for inter-textual citations (i.e. when you quote). Harriet Jacobs talks about slavery being harder for women than for men. Her ability to cope, and succeed in her desire for freedom happens with the help of women, both black and white. Discuss the influence of the community of women in Jacobs’ ability to win freedom by using examples of both white and black women in the South and North. Use a total of four examples. You must include two white and two black women and of these four, two women must be from the South and two from the North. *Do not use Aunt Marthy.
things to keep in mind
Let’s pay attention to the following as we wrap-up:
– In earlier conversations, I mentioned that slavery is often termed a “peculiar institution.” After reading the narrative, what makes the institution so “peculiar”? Be sure to root the discussion in the relationship the Flint family has with Aunt Nancy.
– Let’s return to the theme of the “culture of silence” and talk specifically about Aunt Marthy. Using the reading for this week answer the following questions: What are some things that she learns that she never knew? How would you describe the impact of the “culture of silence”? In this case, how can you see both its helpfulness and harmfulness?
-What does Jacobs mean when she writes that the “north aped the customs of slavery”? (Jacobs 185)
– Who are the Durhams and what role do they play?
– Let’s return again to Truth’s desire for an interracial alliance. Do we see evidence of it while Linda is in the North? Provide evidence for your claim.
– At the end of it all, what do you think of Emily Flint, Dr. Flint, and Mr. Sands? What motivated their behaviors?
more things to think about:
-In the first thirteen chapters, Harriet Jacobs covered a lot of ground. We learn about how Linda’s atypical life helped foster her resiliency; as a result of her upbringing, Jacobs had to work extra hard to make the case that slavery was a deplorable institution. We talked about the ways she establishes credibility as a reliable author that could talk about the happenings of the time –i.e., Nat Turner resurrection, the lives of slaves at neighboring plantations, etc. I also introduced the following themes:
culture of silence
the nature of the promise
coping mechanisms (faith, death over slavery, voice–often intertwined with action)
the expectations of white masculinity
Please refresh your memory by reviewing the aforementioned themes:
– How do you see these words being played out when you consider Dr. Flint’s behavior towards Linda: “Dr. Flint loved money, but he loved power more” (Jacobs 88).
– What adjectives would you use to describe Linda? What concrete examples from the text would support your interpretations?
-Continue to examine the relationship between Linda and her grandmother. Think about her response to Linda’s pregnancy, and her initial plans to escape as well as the ways she ultimately chooses to protect her granddaughter.
– Let’s return to Truth’s hope of interracial alliance. What examples do we have in the reading for this week that might show the possibility of her vision?
– Do you know these characters and their significance: Peter, Jenny and Betty
How would you describe Linda’s type of mothering?