Inspired by her hardships and trial during slavery, Mrs. Jacobs wrote this autobiography, recounting her experiences as a slave in the deep south and her eventual escape in the hopes of “[convincing] the people of the Free States what Slavery really is” (Jacobs 6). In this inspiring novel, Mrs. Jacobs gives us real insight into this ‘peculiar institution’, the means used to justify it, as well as the attitudes of Northerners and Southerners toward the subject. While it is mainly directed to Northern women in the hopes of increasing awareness and arousing sympathy from dissenters who would otherwise stay silent about the matter, SOMETHING.
Slaves during Harriet’s time were treated fairly poorly, especially in the Deep South. To varying extents, …show more content…
Their biggest source of courage came from their faith. Mrs. Jacobs constantly refers to her grandmother as her role-model, who relying heavily on her faith insisting that God will eventually set them free. Their hope and apparent faith in God and the eventual emancipation of slavery, at least from what I can gather, give many of them strength to keeping going or even actively pursue their freedom. Many slaves, in an attempt to attain freedom, fled from their masters to escape to the North. Unfortunately, whether the slaves were freed by legal means (written in will, bought out, etc.) or not, “struggle to get beyond the reach of the bloodhounds” known as slave hunters (Jacob 37). The vast majority were recaptured and resold. Despite all of their setbacks, slaves still fought back, even from their current positons. Many defied their masters in various ways, disobeying orders, speaking out, and arming themselves with the skills needed to free themselves (like read and write). Mrs. Jacobs herself learned to read and write at an early age, allowing her to share her experiences with a wider audience through literature. Education was often denied to slaves SOMETHING. Although being able to read and write was “privilege, which so rarely falls to the lot of a slave,” and making ‘Negros’ literate was largely considered a threat to the institution, Harriet was fortunate enough that “nature endowed her with quick perceptions” and her “mistress… taught her to read and spell” (Jacobs 78,9). In the “Introduction By The Editor,” the editor explains Harriet’s favorable circumstances as “it will naturally excite surprise that a woman reared in Slavery should be able to write so well” (Jacobs 9). While she does briefly mention the two facts I mentioned about, she chooses to focus on her living situation in the North, where she was presented with various
Slaves during Harriet’s time were treated fairly poorly, especially in the Deep South. To varying extents, …show more content…
Their biggest source of courage came from their faith. Mrs. Jacobs constantly refers to her grandmother as her role-model, who relying heavily on her faith insisting that God will eventually set them free. Their hope and apparent faith in God and the eventual emancipation of slavery, at least from what I can gather, give many of them strength to keeping going or even actively pursue their freedom. Many slaves, in an attempt to attain freedom, fled from their masters to escape to the North. Unfortunately, whether the slaves were freed by legal means (written in will, bought out, etc.) or not, “struggle to get beyond the reach of the bloodhounds” known as slave hunters (Jacob 37). The vast majority were recaptured and resold. Despite all of their setbacks, slaves still fought back, even from their current positons. Many defied their masters in various ways, disobeying orders, speaking out, and arming themselves with the skills needed to free themselves (like read and write). Mrs. Jacobs herself learned to read and write at an early age, allowing her to share her experiences with a wider audience through literature. Education was often denied to slaves SOMETHING. Although being able to read and write was “privilege, which so rarely falls to the lot of a slave,” and making ‘Negros’ literate was largely considered a threat to the institution, Harriet was fortunate enough that “nature endowed her with quick perceptions” and her “mistress… taught her to read and spell” (Jacobs 78,9). In the “Introduction By The Editor,” the editor explains Harriet’s favorable circumstances as “it will naturally excite surprise that a woman reared in Slavery should be able to write so well” (Jacobs 9). While she does briefly mention the two facts I mentioned about, she chooses to focus on her living situation in the North, where she was presented with various