The Trials Of Girlhood By Harriet Jacobs

Harriet Jacobs was born a slave in Edenton, North Carolina but died a free woman and abolitionist (HJ XXI). She was unaware of her status as a slave until she was about six years old while living with close relations to her mother, father, brother, and grandmother (HJ 5). Throughout Jacobs’ life, the struggle with religion was apparent in her novel, constantly torn between the belief and doubt in a good higher power. Harriet Jacob’s views of religion wavers throughout her lifetime. Jacob’s would attempt to live by the book, in a way pleasing to God, but at times it was not possible for a slave. Jacob’s grandmother was a driving force in her internal mind-frame to stay within Christian limitations and was a constant reminder of what was right …show more content…
in the chapter The Trials of Girlhood, Jacob’s mentions “if God has bestowed beauty upon her, it will prove her greatest curse” (HJ34). This references Jacob’s current acceptance of the existence of God. As mentioned in the chapter The Church and Slavery, Dr. Flint tells Jacobs’ that he has joined the episcopal church, which coincides more with Jacobs’ personal beliefs regarding the treatment of slaves. Dr. Flint goes on to recommend to Jacobs’ that she join the church, saying that it would do her well, and she replies that there are more than enough sinners in the church without her presence. Jacobs’ ability to read and write allows her to respond to Dr. Flint saying that she will do as he requires with a “the Bible didn’t say so” (HJ 96-97). This scene in the book reiterates Jacobs’ recognition that she herself is a sinner, along with many others, but also reprimands the white slaveholders that attend church without a virtuous character and the treatment of slaves. Later in the narrative, Jacobs’ has children with a lawyer in town, Mr. Sands. Before meeting Mr. Sands, Jacobs’ felt “forsaken by God and man” regarding Dr. Flint and Dr. Flint’s wife. Like many slaves, Jacobs’ knew there was nothing she could currently do about her situation as a slave and having no more rights than any other piece of …show more content…
This chapter references the presence of the slaves within the church, especially after Nat Turner’s insurrection, out of fear of separate parties resulting in insurrection. As stated in the narrative, it was a difficult task deciding where the slaves should worship, due to the supposed worthlessness of the slaves and the high value of the church. While in church, the slaves were taught to obey their masters with sections of the bible such as Ephesians 6:5 stating, “servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.” This particular line of scripture was used as a way to convince the slaves of the church that the order of slavery was natural and should be obeyed, as it was written in the holy book. This line of scripture was also used to create a sense of righteousness within the slaveholders, stating that the slave property they owned was the correct way to go about everyday life and did not devalue them in the eyes of God. During the chapter The Church and Slavery, Mr. Pike, the reverend, continues on to mention that slaves are all rebellious sinners and that God is watching. The slaves are tempted by the devil and that their current, devious, ways of living were being seen by God. This tactic was most likely used to ensue fear, more so than