Harriet Jacobs Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl

Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl focuses on subject matter that is undoubtedly controversial for the period. Jacobs not only argues vehemently for the immorality of slavery amidst heated nationwide debate between abolitionist and pro-slavery lobbyists, she also accentuates the sexual oppression and abuse ingrained in slavery. Prevalent in Jacobs' account is the idea that slavery induces “widespread moral ruin,”1 which effects both masters and slaves. Throughout her autobiography Jacobs struggles with morality, an issue which connects to those of slavery and sexuality necessarily in that all three spheres of knowledge were predominantly informed by the Church.2 Jacobs' narrative provides important insights as to how beliefs of morality, sexuality and slavery intersected in the …show more content…
In Genesis when Noah condemns the progeny of Ham, his son, to slavery after Ham witnesses his nudity, the Bible portrays sexuality as punishable, and slavery as a suitable punishment for such moral transgressions.9 In addition to the Church's morally and sexually prescriptive influence, Jacobs was burdened by religious doctrines on slavery. Jacobs notes the Church's expectations of slaves are contradictory: the Bible claims that slaves cannot be good, virtuous Christians,10 yet religious authorities, like Mr. Pike, command of them purity, honesty, integrity and, above all else, to submission to their masters in order to please God.11 The resulting notion of morality is confusing and inconsistent, as slaves attempt to accept the Christian values of their white masters, values which intrinsically justify their sexual oppression, abuse and confinement. It is problematic to use Christian values to judge slaves and to excuse supposed moral corruption among the slaves