Harriet Jacobs set sail to England after the death of her dear companion Mrs. Bruce. Harriet had heard stories about Europe, which painted a exciting picture of a better society for people of color in her head. This made her very eager and excited to experience life in Europe first hand. Harriet sailed to Liverpool on a 12-day voyage with Mr. Jacobs and Mary. During this important moment in Harriet’s life she could not help but compare and contrast the characteristics of the black American experience and the black European experience. When Harriet finally touched down in Liverpool she made a profound remark that must be brought up. Harriet expressed an observation of difference, “For the first time in my life I was in a place of my
…show more content…
She really began to compare and contrast the differences between American slave and European slave when they visited a town called Steventon, in Berkshire; People here lived a very simple life, wages were miniscule, men worked for 6-7 shillings a week and women even less. Their clothes were made of cheap fabric and their homes were small but the conditions were much than anything in the United States. Harriet had heard so much about the oppression of poor people in Europe and is now able to see and observe it with her own eyes. When she peaked into the lives of the poorest of the poorest of England she could not help but compare it to the conditions in the United States. When she was welcomed into the homes of these people she felt that even the worst conditions that she observed in Steventon was far better than the conditions of the most prized US slaves. England’s worst was better than the United States best conditions for slaves. The labor force was different, and the harshness was less which meant the quality of life for the poor was better even though it was still very meager. She comments on the difference of working hours,“They labored hard; but they were not ordered out to toil while the stars were in the sky, and driven and slashed by an overseer, through heat and cold, till the stars shone again.” Harriet would notice that after a day of hard labor a slave would be able to walk home to his family and hold them in their arms. If only she was granted such privilege in the United States so much pain and sadness would leave her heart. No slave patrols could come in the middle of night and beat the slaves for their own pleasure, it was not nearly as cruel as it was in the States. No master could come in and take his wife or daughter and rape them or even murder them. The laborers of england even though they were being exploited at a rate,
She really began to compare and contrast the differences between American slave and European slave when they visited a town called Steventon, in Berkshire; People here lived a very simple life, wages were miniscule, men worked for 6-7 shillings a week and women even less. Their clothes were made of cheap fabric and their homes were small but the conditions were much than anything in the United States. Harriet had heard so much about the oppression of poor people in Europe and is now able to see and observe it with her own eyes. When she peaked into the lives of the poorest of the poorest of England she could not help but compare it to the conditions in the United States. When she was welcomed into the homes of these people she felt that even the worst conditions that she observed in Steventon was far better than the conditions of the most prized US slaves. England’s worst was better than the United States best conditions for slaves. The labor force was different, and the harshness was less which meant the quality of life for the poor was better even though it was still very meager. She comments on the difference of working hours,“They labored hard; but they were not ordered out to toil while the stars were in the sky, and driven and slashed by an overseer, through heat and cold, till the stars shone again.” Harriet would notice that after a day of hard labor a slave would be able to walk home to his family and hold them in their arms. If only she was granted such privilege in the United States so much pain and sadness would leave her heart. No slave patrols could come in the middle of night and beat the slaves for their own pleasure, it was not nearly as cruel as it was in the States. No master could come in and take his wife or daughter and rape them or even murder them. The laborers of england even though they were being exploited at a rate,