Women have fought a long way to get to where they are now. Through many trials and tribulations, women became one of the most influential people in the world. For example, Harriet Jacobs was an outstanding African woman writer back in the 1800s. She paved the path for others to become a successful writer, despite all the challenges she had to face. Her stories continue to influence many as her stories get passed down from generation to generation. One of her most famous works, Incidents In the Life of a Slave Girl, gained fame as it spoke transparently about her struggles as a slave. Despite her influence to the world, many believed that the actions she took in her book were “ not women like ” and she was shamed across different communities of women. Barbara Welter, the writer of “The Cult of True Womanhood”, brought up four cardinal virtues that woman should hold and practice throughout their entire lives. The 4 virtues consist of piety, submissiveness, purity and domesticity. These four virtues were very evident in Jacob’s “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl”, but not in a way where she satisfied each one. Jacob, taking on Linda Brent as her character, replaces, undermines, fails to fulfill, and critiques the four virtues of womanhood. In “ Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl”, Linda Brent critiques domesticity in the story.
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As she moves in with her new master, Dr. Flint, she can no longer undergo the sexual harassment that he stresses on her. She assesses her current state and decides to run away from her master, hoping that she would eventually be free. Brent knew that her master was never going to stop and understood that she was powerless due to her title as “Slave”. As a slave, it was very risky to run away from your master because if you were caught and returned, the punishments could range from beatings up to death. Her analysis led to her rebellion, which shows her also undermining the virtue of domesticity because she finds a way where she satisfies herself over her master. Brent also had the help of slaves and other free women close to Dr. Flint. She was able to hide in multiple places such as the closet, storage room, and attic. The other women also critique domesticity by helping Brent feel safe from Dr. Flint. Women were supposed to make the home a relaxing place where men were able to escape the world. However, the women aided Brent 's escape causing Dr.Flint 's to scramble to find his slave. Linda Brent replaced her key virtue of submissiveness with her disobedience. Rather than allowing Flint to treat her as a slave, she becomes passive aggressive towards him and takes the matter into her own hands. One example of this in the story, was when Dr.Flint attempted to isolate Brent in a cottage for his own sexual pleasure and to also evade his suspicious wife. Even though there is a slave-owner relationship, Linda disobeys her master. Linda Brent replaces obeying the man and tending to his needs, by rebelling. She rebels because she’s not a submissive person. Brent doesn’t allow herself to be stomped over by someone else nor being limited by gender expectation. Instead of submitting, she grew to be very disobedient to her master’s command. She freely challenges her master as she pleases because of she not afraid of punishments or beatings. Knowing Dr.Flint’s obsession with her, she utilizes her control in the situation and uses his obsession to her advantage. “You obstinate girl! I could grind your bones to powder! You have thrown yourself away to some rascal…. ” said Flint. With all these threats, Brent isn’t impressed. “I command you, to tell me whether the father of your child is black or white. Answer me this instant!” said Dr. Flint. “I am thankful that I do not despise him,” said Brent. In this scene, Linda doesn’t show signs of submissiveness by telling the truth. She shows fearlessness by speaking about how she felt, which angered Dr.Flint, because her answer didn’t side with him. She brings out herself through her feelings, something that women practicing the four virtues, were not supposed to do. Born as
As she moves in with her new master, Dr. Flint, she can no longer undergo the sexual harassment that he stresses on her. She assesses her current state and decides to run away from her master, hoping that she would eventually be free. Brent knew that her master was never going to stop and understood that she was powerless due to her title as “Slave”. As a slave, it was very risky to run away from your master because if you were caught and returned, the punishments could range from beatings up to death. Her analysis led to her rebellion, which shows her also undermining the virtue of domesticity because she finds a way where she satisfies herself over her master. Brent also had the help of slaves and other free women close to Dr. Flint. She was able to hide in multiple places such as the closet, storage room, and attic. The other women also critique domesticity by helping Brent feel safe from Dr. Flint. Women were supposed to make the home a relaxing place where men were able to escape the world. However, the women aided Brent 's escape causing Dr.Flint 's to scramble to find his slave. Linda Brent replaced her key virtue of submissiveness with her disobedience. Rather than allowing Flint to treat her as a slave, she becomes passive aggressive towards him and takes the matter into her own hands. One example of this in the story, was when Dr.Flint attempted to isolate Brent in a cottage for his own sexual pleasure and to also evade his suspicious wife. Even though there is a slave-owner relationship, Linda disobeys her master. Linda Brent replaces obeying the man and tending to his needs, by rebelling. She rebels because she’s not a submissive person. Brent doesn’t allow herself to be stomped over by someone else nor being limited by gender expectation. Instead of submitting, she grew to be very disobedient to her master’s command. She freely challenges her master as she pleases because of she not afraid of punishments or beatings. Knowing Dr.Flint’s obsession with her, she utilizes her control in the situation and uses his obsession to her advantage. “You obstinate girl! I could grind your bones to powder! You have thrown yourself away to some rascal…. ” said Flint. With all these threats, Brent isn’t impressed. “I command you, to tell me whether the father of your child is black or white. Answer me this instant!” said Dr. Flint. “I am thankful that I do not despise him,” said Brent. In this scene, Linda doesn’t show signs of submissiveness by telling the truth. She shows fearlessness by speaking about how she felt, which angered Dr.Flint, because her answer didn’t side with him. She brings out herself through her feelings, something that women practicing the four virtues, were not supposed to do. Born as