During the historical period of slavery in America, authors were able to create the nations first truly indigenous genres of writing literature. These works surrounding individual accounts and stories of enslavement give us a glimpse into the life of a slave. There are numerous examples of such work; however, authors Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs give readers two of the most eloquent accounts as they describe their lives as slaves. While the authors of Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave and Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl appear analogous due to their shared experience in the clutches of slavery, gender roles sculpt each individual’s story. The differences between
