Jacobs's determination was certainly what
kept her going. She wanted to be free and nothing could stand in her way,
besides Dr. Flint. He made Jacob’s life miserable, which only pushed her more
to gain her freedom. Between Flint trying to rape her and his overall abusive
attitude to everyone who served under him, Jacobs saw Flint as the only person
repressing her as well as the only person standing between her and her freedom.
If she could beat him, she could be free; she only had to endure what he tried
to do to her.
In her early years, Jacobs had a good
life, being cared for as though she was a white child, but through a series of
unfortunate events which resulted in her being turned over to Flint, her life
of ease was erased. Instead, she had to put up with constant brutality and him
attempting to rape her. Luckily, she was strong and fought back. Because she
was such a strong woman and simultaneously attacked and defended from him, she
was able to make it through what he threw at her. She endured all the torturous
things he did to her and he eventually gave up.
Her determination as well as endurance allowed
her to develop confidence and become more rebellious. She had always wanted to
be free, and because of everything she had been through, she certainly felt
confident enough to run away. When Flint comes looking for her and is
questioning Mrs. Dodge, she says “I
have heard her say she would go to the ends of the earth, rather than pay any
man or woman for her freedom, because she thinks she has a right to it” (Jacobs
297). Evidently, Jacobs feels as though she truly deserved her freedom and was
not willing to pay anyone for it. She certainly deserved freedom by everything
she went through to attain it.
Harriet Jacobs was forced through a lot
while she was in the hands of Flint, and because she endured everything he
threw at her and she was so determined, she eventually did get her freedom. In
the conclusion of the book, Jacobs exclaims, “Reader, my story ends with
freedom; not in the usual way, with marriage. I and my children are now free!”
(302). Obviously, she is extremely happy with her choices and is in no remorse
of what she has done to attain freedom. With everything she went through to get
there, she certainly deserves it.
Bibliography
Jacobs, Harriet Ann. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Boston: Maria L. Child, 1861. Print.
