1. Who do you think Jacobs envisions as the audience for her autobiography? How can you tell?
2. What does Jacobs add to the understanding of the experience of slavery we gleaned from Frederick Douglass?
3. How does Jacobs attempt to control her own destiny?
4. What is “the loophole of retreat?”
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1. Who do you think Jacobs envisions as the audience for her autobiography? How can you tell?
In the preface to Harriet Ann Jacobs’ narrative, she promises to her readers that all she writes hereafter is true. I imagine she believes her audience to be abolitionists; for any slaveholder would neither approve of her literacy nor “excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances.” Furthermore, she regards her audience as not being “blighted by slavery,” writing that they had a pure childhood and freewill.
In addition, I believe Jacobs sees her audience as white females. She clearly states that she “also, could have married the man of my choice,” insinuating that her 19th century audience is able to marry any man she pleases. The deduction of her audience being white comes from the fact that black women, freed or not, did not have the legal standing at the time to marry whomever she pleases since interracial marriage in the United States was federally illegal until 1967.
The following passages selected from her work tells of a woman desperate to connect with her family, particularly her two young children. This despair she experiences most likely resonated with all mothers.
Who do you think Jacobs envisions as the audience for her autobiography? How can you tell?
“But, O, ye happy women, whose purity has been sheltered from childhood, who have been free to choose the objects of your affection, whose homes are protected by law, do not judge the poor desolate slave girl too severely!” from this quote alone, it is clear that she is talking to white people, in particular white women.
How does Jacobs attempt to control her own destiny?
Harriet Jacobs wanted to make her own destiny by falling love with white man. Female slaves been rape by their masters. They treat female slaves differently than male slaves. the white man treated her with love and respect. she wanted him because she want to free her future kids from slavery.
3. How does Jacobs attempt to control her own destiny?
Harriet Jacobs attempted to control her own destiny by falling love with an unmarried white man. Jacobs born in a slave family in North Carolina. After the first master died, she was sold to a white slave owner. The slave owner tried to force sexual relations with her and she struggled to resist. Some masters rape slaves and their children also become slaves. She does not want her life to be so bad. So she chose a white woman who loved her. And her children can also grow up in an equal environment.
3. How does Jacobs attempt to control her own destiny?
Jacobs knew Dr.Flints intention towards her due to his aggressive behavior and sexual desires. In attempt to control her destiny, she began relations with Mr.Sands hoping that would turn him away. However, this only worsened that conflict. Jacobs had two kids by Mr.Sands which made Dr.Flint angry. Dr.Flint sent Jacobs away to work in a field and threatened to have her young children out to work as well. This shows that slaves were not in charge of their own destiny and if they attempted to be in charge they would be punished.
Who do you think Jacobs envisions as the audience for her autobiography? How can you tell?
Jacobs envisions white Southern females and white female slave owners as her audience. This type of audience is implied in the way Jacobs constantly asks and remarks that her audience not judge her. She remarks and inquires throughout the narrative that these women don’t understand what it’s like to be in her position, that they’ve never experienced the things that she experienced, or feared the things she feared. This makes it obvious that she’s not talking to her fellow slave women, but women who would never have to experience slavery aka white women.