Blog #6 Gender Roles Take Hold

In Harriet Jacobs’s story, Incidents in the life of A Slave Girl, there is definite and clear characters that represent how the slavery system affected society. The characters I wish to explore are Dr. Flint, Aunt Martha, and Linda Brent. Dr. Flint is represented as the real life master of Linda Brent (aka Harriet Jacobs). He depicts the cruel, hypocritical, and conniving character who never feels guilt, self-doubt, or sympathy for his actions. He is given absolute power by the slave system and shows his lust for power, brutality, and moral corruption caused by the system. I feel as though Jacobs is displaying Dr. Flint in a way that makes men/masters seem like monsters and almost demons. She reflects on how slavery destroys mortality, and even the nicest of men can fall victim to this corruption. Mr. Sands, for example, has intention at the beginning to free Linda’s children, but once he becomes financially in trouble he betrays her and declines his promise. This once again reinforces the concept of feminism and how women are suppressed and depend on the patriarchal figure to support them. On the other hand, Aunt Martha represents the religious, domestic, and patient women Jacobs looked up to for support in her life. Aunt Martha represents the ideals of womanhood, femininity, and lives for her home and keeping the family together. She shows how women can be strong on their own and not resort to the male figure for guidance and support. However, I feel that Linda’s dream of creating a real home for her and her children are not possible because of this battle of the sexes. Women back then we considered to be housewives by nature, but black women couldn’t even live with their children. Not only do we see issues with gender, but also race and class. Another way that the male figure dominates over the female is that of stripping the woman of her humanity. Slaves were sometimes forced to sleep with their masters and were torn apart from their families. They were denied basic human rights and protection. Linda was stripped mostly psychologically as she was forced to live in an attic for years to be “free.” Even in this “safe” place she was falling victim to physical and mental issues. She was slowly losing her ability to walk, but she created this “freedom” in her head that was this attic. I feel like this shows how powerful the male/master was at this time. To make a woman hide out in an attic for so many years displays tons of influence and oppression.