LITR 4232:
American Renaissance
University
of Houston-Clear Lake, spring 2002
Student Presentation Summary
Thursday,
14 February: Harriet Ann Jacobs, from Incidents
in the Life of a Slave Girl, 1960-1985.
Reader:
Brenda Upton
Discussion
notes recorder: Ronda C. Dunn
Objective
#3: To use literature as a basis for discussing representative problems
and subjects of
American culture (new historicism), such as equality; race, gender,
class;...emergence
Questions: 1. Is it wrong for a woman to lose all principles of morality
to save herself and her children?
2. Why should the ultimate means of survival be considered disgraceful?
3. Is Linda actually free at last or is she still a slave?
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
I would like to begin by having the class look at Page 1960 para-4 "that
since I have no fear of my name coming before those who I have lived in dread of
I cannot be happy without trying to be useful in some way." What
Harriet is talking about is that she wanted to let the world know how she had
been subjected to unrelenting sexual harassment (her usefulness was letting the
world know about what was actually happening to women of slavery). Harriet was a
strong woman and wanted to have her voice heard. Harriet knew that if she
told the world about what was happening to women of slavery (sexual
exploitation); that she would have to expose her own sexual history and reveal
herself as an unwed mother. So she created an alter-ego Linda Brent who
narrates her history.
Look at page 1970 para 1. "You never know what it is to be a slave;
to be entirely unprotected by law or custom; to have the law reduce you to the
condition of a chattel, entirely subject to the will of another……..")
We can take two words "Morals and Mother." Harriet had morals
and she was a mother. She was not going to let anyone deprive herself of
her morals and she was determined to free her children.
Class Discussion:
Val: Stated that the moral values with Linda was that she was saving her
children.
Liz:
Sacrifice
Val:
This is such a huge moral dilemma
Brenda: Page 1978: description of the room, the sublime-voices of
the children
Val: They had a measure of freedom. She did not have
Dr. White: The Gothic "the attic room." events of classic
gothic, the garret concealed trap door. Romantic and reality; premature
burial as in Poe
Brenda: (Sublime) joy and sadness in the sound of her children's voice
(resembles)
Dr. White: States that Brenda uses Dr. Norcom vs. Dr. Flint. Fiction
vs. nonfiction, page 1979 "My condition……"
Angie: Reality, she felt comfortable in the dark. She chooses who to have
children with, part of her freedom.
Student: Both men were white men. In her shoes, choice between being
raped
and freedom for children.
Val: I could not have kept my mouth shut.
Brenda: Page 1971-Grandmother believed worse. Loss of
heirlooms-cutting ties
Liz: "Surprise by the action of grandmother
Angie: Doesn't the grandmother think the child is Mr. Flints?
Patricia: Everyone fought for Linda, so they felt betrayed (grandmother).
Student: Grandmother is free, faith in God. Wanted Linda to be pure,
easy for her to forget where she came from.
Brenda: Page 1894; Mrs. Bruce brought Linda's freedom papers.
The Bill of Rights; Page 1960 I was robbed of my victory. Question:
Was she free?
Val: Society did not give her freedom, she gained a different kind of
freedom.
Dr. White: Page 1985 freedom The Dream-a home of her own with her
children. Dr. King's dream represents the concepts of the Dream, a vision.