Question

How does the excerpt from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl reflect the theme of self-reliance?

Answer 1

Answer:

In Harriet Jacobs’ slave narrative, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, the protagonist Linda plans to escape her master, Dr. Flint. She is aided in her escape attempt by friends and family who offer her advice and shelter. However, Linda understands that the more people who know about her plan and hiding place, the more likely she is to get caught, which is why she must act alone and rely only on herself.  

I did as I was ordered. But now that I was certain my children were to be put in their power, in order to give them a stronger hold on me, I resolved to leave them that night. I remembered the grief this step would bring upon my dear old grandmother; and nothing less than the freedom of my children would have induced me to disregard her advice.

In this way, it is Linda’s self-reliance that gives her the courage to escape from her master’s house.

Explanation:

plato/ edmentum answer

Answer 2

In the book, Linda(the protagonist) has no one in the world but herself. Literally. Her parents both died when she was younger and she was left to a horrible and sexaully abusive slave owner. She had to learn how to stand up for herself and care for herself from a very young age. When she had a love affair with the neighbor her life became even more chaotic. She then not only had to care for herself, but the two children that came out of the affair. She had to rely on herself and her physical and mental strength to get her and her children freed. In the end no one ended up helping her aside from herself, she had become successful(for a slave) and had her kids in a safe place, both of them getting an education, and she did this all by herself. <span />