Summary of the Life of a Slave Girl

Summary:-

As the narrative opens, Linda Brent recounts the "unusually fortunate circumstances" of her early childhood before she realized she was a slave. Linda's father is a carpenter who — because of his extraordinary skills — is granted many of the privileges of a free man. The chapter introduces Linda's mother, her brother William, and her Uncle Benjamin, who is sold at age ten. Linda also introduces her maternal grandmother (referred to as Aunt Martha by the white community), a strong-willed, resourceful woman who establishes a bakery to earn money to buy her children's freedom. She manages to earn $300, which she loans to her mistress, who never repays her.

When Linda is six years old, her mother dies. When she is 12, her mistress dies, and Linda is sold to the five-year-old daughter of her mistress' sister.

Analysis

Like many other formerly enslaved black men and women who documented their life stories, such as Frederick Douglass and Mary Prince, Brent opens her narrative with the statement, "I was born." This phrase is not followed, as readers might expect, by the date and place of her birth, but by the words "a slave." Consequently, as the Introduction notes, Brent's narrative, supplemented by the obligatory advocacy letters and testimonials, meets one of the primary conventions of the traditional slave narrative.

The connotation of these three words, which may seem imminently appropriate for the beginning of an autobiography, help readers recognize the power of personal narrative: Through their writings, which document their triumphant journeys from bondage to freedom, these men and women were, in fact, recreating themselves by rejecting their status as "property" and — through the process of a metaphorical "rebirth" — viewing themselves as unique human beings with the power to influence their own destinies.

Brent points out that she remained blissfully unaware of her enslaved status until the age of six, when her mother dies. Thus, she establishes within the first few pages of her narrative the powerful bond she shared with her mother. In subsequent chapters, readers discover that this maternal bond extends to the nurturing, supportive relationship she shares with her grandmother. Readers can also surmise that Linda's fierce, protective love for her children stems from the unconditional love she herself experienced as a child.

After establishing that black mothers are just as devoted to their children as their white counterparts, Brent relates the story of her grandmother, who was forced to watch her youngest son, Benjamin, sold at the age of ten. But despite her grandmother's circumstances, Brent does not portray her as a weak woman who passively accepts her fate. Instead, she describes her as a strong-willed woman determined to do everything in her power to keep her family together. Consequently, when she lends her mistress her hard-earned $300 — which she had saved toward the purchase of her children's freedom — readers can identify with her pain and devastation upon realizing that her mistress has betrayed her trust. In short, Brent portrays her grandmother not as a helpless victim, but as a strong, albeit vulnerable, woman who has been exploited and victimized.

After her mother's death, Linda spends the next six years as the slave of her mother's mistress, who treats her well and keeps her promise to Linda's mother to care for her children. But when her mistress dies and Linda becomes the property of a five-year-old, she realizes that she is completely at the mercy of her "masters," and that, regardless of the kind treatment she has received, she is a slave

Character Analysis

 Linda Brent:

As her unrelenting determination to free herself and her children indicates, Linda Brent is the epitome of the "strong black woman" who — against all odds — manages not only to survive but also to transcend seemingly insurmountable barriers. Although she does not exhibit exceptional physical strength, she does exhibit extraordinary psychological and spiritual strength, qualities that enables her to maintain her sanity during the seven years she spends hiding in her grandmother's attic. Linda is an intelligent, clear-thinking woman who willingly assumes responsibility for her choices. She is also extremely creative, as illustrated by her carefully crafted plan to elude Dr. Flint by writing him letters and having her friends mail them from New York and Philadelphia.

Linda's close relationships with her grandmother, brother, and uncles, and her friendships with Fanny and Mrs. Bruce show that she is a loving and compassionate person. Her initial empathy for Mrs. Flint, despite her mistress's jealousy and hatred toward her, illustrates that she is extremely empathetic. Linda is able to see beyond the barriers of race and class, and she recognizes that, as women, they share a common bond and are both the victims of a sexist, patriarchal society.

Having suffered numerous betrayals, Linda finds it difficult to trust people, but her distrust is gradually tempered by positive relationships, although she retains a cautious, guarded approach to life and an awareness that enables her to continue to elude her captors, even when she is finally "free."As her unrelenting determination to free herself and her children indicates, Linda Brent is the epitome of the "strong black woman" who — against all odds — manages not only to survive but also to transcend seemingly insurmountable barriers. Although she does not exhibit exceptional physical strength, she does exhibit extraordinary psychological and spiritual strength, qualities that enables her to maintain her sanity during the seven years she spends hiding in her grandmother's attic. Linda is an intelligent, clear-thinking woman who willingly assumes responsibility for her choices. She is also extremely creative, as illustrated by her carefully crafted plan to elude Dr. Flint by writing him letters and having her friends mail them from New York and Philadelphia.

Linda's close relationships with her grandmother, brother, and uncles, and her friendships with Fanny and Mrs. Bruce show that she is a loving and compassionate person. Her initial empathy for Mrs. Flint, despite her mistress's jealousy and hatred toward her, illustrates that she is extremely empathetic. Linda is able to see beyond the barriers of race and class, and she recognizes that, as women, they share a common bond and are both the victims of a sexist, patriarchal society.

Having suffered numerous betrayals, Linda finds it difficult to trust people, but her distrust is gradually tempered by positive relationships, although she retains a cautious, guarded approach to life and an awareness that enables her to continue to elude her captors, even when she is finally "free."

Aunt Martha:-

Aunt Martha is the stabilizing force in Linda's life. She also models many of the qualities that enable Linda to escape her bondage. A free woman and entrepreneur, Aunt Martha starts a bakery to earn money to buy her children's freedom. As a devout Christian with strong religious principles of right and wrong grounded in the Bible, Aunt Martha finds it difficult to forgive Linda for her sexual liaison with Mr. Sands, although she eventually relents, offering kindness and compassion, if not forgiveness.

Readers can presume that Aunt Martha is an imposing woman, because Dr. Flint is afraid of her because she once chased a white man with a gun for insulting one of her daughters. Aunt Martha provides a nurturing, loving home for Linda. She encourages her to stand by her children and risks her own life to protect Linda and her children. Conversely, she also discourages Linda's initial plans for escape. Her continuous struggle to keep her family together suggests that she is torn between wanting to see her children free and wanting to keep them safe at home.

William:-

William does everything in his power to help Linda and her children. He is always there to support and comfort her. It is William who watches over Ben and Ellen when they are thrown into jail, and it is William who encourages Linda to escape. After William escapes from Mr. Sands, he remains in contact with Linda to let her know that he is safe, and when she herself escapes, he is there to look out for her and her family. When he is disappointed in his entrepreneurial venture to open a bookstore and reading room, William rebounds and continues his work with the abolitionists. Like his grandmother, he refuses to succumb to the negative elements of his environment.

Dr. Flint:-

Dr. Flint is a manipulative, amoral old man who enjoys wielding control over others. He has complete control over Linda, who is 40 years younger than he is, but this is not enough for him. He tries to force Linda to surrender mentally and emotionally to his domination. Although he does not beat or rape Linda, he constantly threatens her with violence and, as evidenced by his treatment of his other slaves, he has no qualms about inflicting vicious, brutal punishments. Having identified Linda as an "intelligent negro" who can read and spell, he singles her out for special treatment and derives more pleasure from abusing her mentally and emotionally than physically or sexually.

Having already fathered 11 slave children, he appears to have no regard for his wife, whom he manipulates as well as Linda. Although professing to be a Christian, his only concern is projecting a positive image in his community.

Mrs. Flint:-

Mrs. Flint, Dr. Flint's second wife, is much younger than her husband. She is naïve and insecure, and she lacks the emotional maturity to deal with her husband's lascivious behavior. Even though she realizes that Linda is a victim of her husband's lust, she turns her wrath on Linda rather than confront her husband, fearing that her pride and dignity are at stake. If she fully acknowledges the situation, she would have to be indignant at the idea of her husband desiring the sexual favors of a slave, when he has her to meet his needs. If she convinces herself that Linda is to blame, she can ignore her husband's behavior. Conversely, Mrs. Flint, a product of 19th century Victorian prudery, probably subscribes to the perception of white women as pure and virtuous, in contrast to black women, who are perceived as amoral creatures all too willing to indulge their masters' lust. Being unable to express her fear, Mrs. Flint seeks relief by venting her hatred and jealousy on Linda.

Uncle Benjamin:-

Because of their closeness in age, Linda thinks of Uncle Benjamin as more of a brother than an uncle. Therefore, his experiences touch her deeply, and Uncle Benjamin holds a special place in her heart, as illustrated by the fact that she names her son Ben.

Having been sold at age ten for $720, Benjamin also holds a special place in his mother's heart and she struggles diligently but unsuccessfully to buy her youngest son's freedom. In his 20s, Benjamin runs away, only to be captured, imprisoned, and eventually sold for $300. Determined to be free, he runs away again and, because of his light skin, is able to pass for white, although as a result of choosing this avenue of escape, he is lost to his family forever.

Benjamin's plight illustrates the soul-destroying experiences of a man forced to live as a slave. Linda's son also survives by passing as white, until his coworkers discover his true identity. Despite young Ben's family's struggles and sacrifices, his position in society is probably the same as that of his great uncle.

Mr. Sands:-

Compared to Dr. Flint, Mr. Sands appears to be a man who truly cares for Linda and does his best to protect her and her children. Although Linda offers no details concerning their liaison, the text implies that Mr. Sands is kind to her and that he protects her from Dr. Flint. When Aunt Martha confronts him concerning his relationship with Linda, Mr. Sands promises to take care of her and her children. And when Dr. Flint imprisons Linda's children and her brother William, Mr. Sands arranges for their sale and for their safe return to Aunt Martha's. But although he promises Linda that he will free her children, he fails to keep his word. And even though he knows Linda is hiding in her grandmother's attic, subjected to the most horrendous living conditions, he does nothing to help her.

Unlike Dr. Flint, who shows little compassion for his wife, Mr. Sands shows some remorse for his behavior and tries to protect his wife from his sordid past. But although he has some redeeming qualities, Mr. Sands is part of the patriarchal system that perpetuates the enslavement of blacks and the sexual exploitation of black women. In short, although he does not abuse his slaves, he fits comfortably into his role as slavemaster. Consequently, the characteristics that link the two men are stronger than those that set them apart.

The First Mrs. Bruce:-

Linda's friendship with the first Mrs. Bruce, an Englishwoman who abhors slavery, enables her to make the difficult adjustment to her new life in New York. Through her role as nurse to Mrs. Bruce's daughter, Mary, Linda begins to trust again and experiences a new kind of relationship with a white woman who, like herself, values her role as a mother and finds her freedom limited because of her gender.

Mrs. Bruce is also indirectly responsible for expanding Linda's horizons. After Mrs. Bruce's death, Linda travels to England with Mr. Bruce serving as Mary's nurse. This trip enables Linda to see the differences between the lifestyles of England's poor, who are rich in terms of friends and family, and America's slaves, who are denied even the right to maintain their families and care for their children.

The Second Mrs. Bruce:-

Linda's friendship with the second Mrs. Bruce is just as strong as, if not stronger than, her relationship with the first Mrs. Bruce. The second Mrs. Bruce is an American woman who, like her predecessor, abhors slavery, and she does everything she can to help Linda maintain her freedom from Dr. Flint. Even after Linda confesses that she is a fugitive, Mrs. Bruce risks her own safety and the safety of her infant daughter to help her. Ultimately, Mrs. Bruce purchases Linda's freedom, demonstrating not only her unconditional commitment to Linda's welfare, but also her dedication to the principle of freedom.

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