Slavery Depicted In Linda Brent's Novel

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Recommended: Literary strategies in slave narratives

The agony and suffering caused through slavery is no common, relatable pain. As individuals who have not been able to actually experience the harsh conditions of slavery, we can not even begin to fathom the terrible racism and prejudice that African Americans were put through during the time of slavery. Linda Brent was only able to portray her experiences through a novel that retold her life through such a medium that we were able to sympathize for her. There is no possible way that we can fit all of the details of Harriet Jacobs’ mind into a book from cover to cover and that is why we only can believe that slavery is way worse than described in the novel and not any better. That is why I believe that Linda should have made a pass as soon as she could to be white in order to escape from the tight bonds of slavery. Through the beginnings of the novel, Linda’s joy and innocence is portrayed through a happy point of view on the world. However, as the chapters progress, her innocent is slowly corrupted by the tortuous Dr. Flint. Her melancholy was expressed as soon as Dr. Flint began abusing her. As the story continues, Linda is very obviously jagged from the hardships that she is forced to endure in the book from hiding in attics to running from mobs to working in miserable conditions. The …show more content…

A whole nation has labeled people with identities and it constructs social boundaries and limitations for certain people. However, if Linda was able to pass as white, she would have broken free from those chains and be able to create herself a new identity. A new, fresh, clean start where your history and past did not matter and you were able to reinvent yourself. Leaving your ancestry might be depressing and you might feel as though you betrayed many people but you are trying to find a sanctuary and a place to call home without being in constant fear for your

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