What is Linda’s experience of the North? Is it what she had hoped for? Think particularly about the train ride.

Linda has heard many positive things about the North. Linda believed that going to the North would allow her to take a better care of her children. She also believed that the quality of life would be much nicer overall. It turns out that for Linda, the North was more than what she expected.

After being stowed away on a boat Mr. Durham tells Linda that they will be taking a train to New York. Linda was extremely happy to be riding in that train with white people around her for once that weren't harming her. After that Mr. Durham told Linda that he couldn't get a hold of first class tickets Linda didn't care at all. For someone that had nothing her entire life being able to travel, to be free and to be surrounded by whites is an extraordinary achievement for Linda. She is now in the North and that is amazing for her. She is a lot happier than before. The South was just horrible for her and for Linda the North is a new life for her.

– Why does William leave Mr. Sands? Do you think his actions were justified or rude?

Mr Sands strongly believes that William left because he wanted his freedom. Mr. Sands told William that he would free him in 5 years anyways. In my opinion William is probably leaving because he doesn't have any trust and confidence in Mr. Sands and doesn't think that he will end up freeing him. This is why he ran away.

Slaves have very difficult lives and sometimes its hard to know what's going through their minds. In this case I don't believe it was rude for William to escape. William might've been scared and he didn't know what to do so he just left. I do think that William should've just stayed the next 5 years with Mr. Sands though. They got along fine and Mr. Sands can be a trusted person. William should've just stayed with Mr. Sands and then he could've gone out into the world (specifically the north) as a free man and everything would've been easier for him. He wouldn't have been caught and beaten! That could've been a better plan.

Interesting Passage

"Slaveholders pride themselves upon being honorable men; but if you were to hear the enormous lies they tell their slaves, you would have small respect for their veracity". (pg.39)

I found this small passage at the start of chapter 8 interesting because it just again shows how badly slaves are treated. The quote also says that slaveholders believe that they are trustworthy and important men but they really are liars and bad people. Most slaveholders treat their slaves poorly to begin with but if they also lie to them I think that that is just horrible.

How does Mr. Sands come to get possession of the children? Why does Linda trust him? Do you feel he’s trustworthy?

Mr. Sands comes to get possession of the children by a trader who buys the children from Dr. Flint. The trader does this while the children are in jail and then he sells them back to Mr. Sands. The trader's offer seemed quite interesting in Dr. Flint's mind and this is why he decided to sell the children. Dr. Flint didn't know though that the trader was going to sell the children to Mr. Sands right after.

Ever since Linda has had a relationship with Mr. Sands he was always nice to her and he promised Linda that he would help her in the future and that he would try and buy the children. The main reason that Mr. Sands didn't buy the children any earlier is because Dr. Flint kept denying it from happening. This is why Linda trusts Mr. Sands. They have always kept a good relationship with each other and all that Mr. Sands wants to do is help. He is the one that got them out of jail after all!

Why does Linda get so upset when her daughter is given a gold necklace to wear? What is she comparing that act to? Do you agree with the comparison?

"When we left the church, my father's old mistress invited me to go home with her. She clasped a gold chain round my baby's neck. I thanked her for this kindness; but I did not like the emblem. I wanted no chain to be fastened on my daughter, not even if its links were of gold. How earnestly I prayed that she might never feel the weight of slavery's chain, whose iron entereth into the soul!" (p.79 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl)

Linda appreciates the fact that her father's mistress offered Linda's daughter a gold chain but she is also frustrated and mad. Linda doesn't want her daughter to be wearing these big chains because it will remind her of the idea of slavery. For Linda, seeing the chains worn by her daughter would definitely remind Linda of her child enslavement. I can completely understand her point here.

The only thing that I believe Linda did wrong here was that she should've simple accepted the gift and stayed polite. This was somewhat rude on her part and in plus this gift was most likely expensive and she could've made good use of it. Linda is just trying very hard to keep slavery out of her family.

What is love like for a slave? How do the restrictions placed upon slaves effect this emotion?

The feeling of love for a slave is quite different than the one's of a "normal" human being. Slaves have so many restrictions put on them, they are basically considered as property and their emotions don't affect anyone. Even if a slave loved someone that love wouldn't matter much because it would be taken away from them very fast. This is exactly what happened to Linda. Linda loved a free slave but he was unfortunately taken from her by her master Mr. Flint. In my opinion this is an extremely sad thing. Slaves had a horribly difficult life to start out with and in plus they couldn't even find true love.

The restrictions placed upon slaves deeply affects this emotion. I believe it makes the emotion stronger in them though because they can't let it out. Although it is extremely depressing for slaves in general, as well as Linda to not be able to make their love come true.

React to the picture of slavery that Jacobs describes. What makes it powerful? How does she present a broad view while still giving us her individu

The first four chapters of this novel talk about a slave named Linda. Linda though, was no ordinary slave, as she was extremely well treated by her master. Linda was treated as a normal human being as a matter of fact. Linda was actually very happy to serve for her master as they had a close and strong relationship between one another. Sadly for Linda everything changed in her life when her master died. Linda was then sold to another master where she unfortunately didn't quite receive the same luxury that she was given with her previous master. In many ways what makes Jacobs writing powerful when describing the picture of slavery is when he explains the horrible things that Linda's new master makes her do. One of these horrible things for example, that Linda's master makes her do is walk bear foot in the snow when she's just bought a new pair of shoes!

Linda is the one who is telling the story therefore putting the reader straight into her mind and emotions throughout the novel. She does a very good job in explaining her life as a slave and how she has to face difficult situations. She also well explains other actions happening in the novel.

In Class Reflection Blog. 09.02.08

I completely agree on the "Level 3" points we discussed in class today. I do strongly believe that money doesn't buy happiness. Many people in this world think that money is everything and that if they have a lot they won't need to worry about a thing. It turns out that that isn't the case and that some very wealthy people aren't happy at all and perhaps even lonely at times. I also agreed on the fact that you can't change the past. Some people spend their whole lives re-living their pasts but what they don't know is that they should be living in the present and looking out for the future. What happens happens and you can't do anything about it. I just thought that these were some small interesting points that were brought up in class that I wanted to reflect on a bit.