Death as a means to freedom
Jacobs writes in detail the intricate and very dynamic complexities of slavery as synonymous to death – to everyone involved in its workings including the slave. She refers to the den of a slave”full of dead men’s bones, and all uncleanness. (p59)” This is the reality of slavery that she has lived, one of no moral code, and of which she often refers to as “the beast.”
The death of Jacobs parents and her mistress are important because it unveils the insidious character of slavery when Jacob becomes subjected under Dr.Flint as a young slave. The dichotic meaning of death throughout Jacobs narrative is interesting for me to look at because to the enslaved people it offers hope on many layers. To risk life in order to seek freedom. Uncle Benjamin’s story is especially indicative of this circumstance and seems to affect Linda (Harriet) in a way that gives her strength in later chapters of The Incident. Chapter 4 is dedicated to Benjamin, who attempts to run away to New York after a physical altercation with his master. “No, I will not stay. Let them bring me back. We don’t die but once (p.34),” he tells Linda before running off. She lays off of begging him to stay, and believes him to be right. The want for death through out The Incidence sheds a taboo that would otherwise remain a secrecy in the Christian faith. Linda prays for her death after her mistress forces her to walk in the snow with bare feet, and she prays often for the death of her children because watching slavery break their spirit as it has done to her and many others would serve a better option, it would serve as a form of freedom.
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