— Onima Shah
Linda being hurt by Mrs. Hobbs words is an important scene, as she is free but still experiences the effects of slavery in the North, a place that should have been free. She got the freedom, but it was not exactly what she was expecting. Although Ellen was really not a slave anymore, Ellen was still in a way under slavery with Mrs. Hobbs, which probably not what Linda wanted for her or her children. I found it interesting reading about Linda’s experiences after being freed, which is not something I read or hear about all the time. Especially after having her freedom bought, it must be heartbreaking to still be degraded even after she was supposed to be free. It is so demeaning to only be free after a white woman bought it for her. It is honestly awful that their lives are being determined by white people, even when they are supposed to be free and be able to make their own choices. Even escaping slavery, many freed slaves were still not completely free, still enduring some forms of slavery in the North and forced to work jobs as servants. However, one good part of this was Linda finding a friend in Mrs. Bruce. Mrs. Bruce helped Linda realize that she was worthy and enough, and helped her find her freedom. Linda’s comparison to England to America was quite interesting, stating how in America, people would be stripped away of their freedom while in England their freedoms were protected.
