In class last Wednesday and Friday, there was much interesting debate concerning Linda and the choices that she made in her life. I personally think that we're all being much too hard on her and are viewing her action's with too modern an eye. Throughout all of her decisions, Linda was forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. She was constantly put in a position of hardship and uncertainty, and all she could do was hope that she had picked the "lesser evil". I think many readers would try to find fault in any decision that she was forced to make.
For example, Linda loves her children immensely and wants for them what she never had: freedom. In order to give them this, she had to take a risk. Both of her options are far from ideal: either she stays with her children on young Flint's plantation (and who knows how long she'd actually be able to keep her children) or she runs away, taking the risk that her family may be harmed as pay back.
All I know is that I'd never want to have to make a decision such as this.
Thanks, Anna, for this. I also think that realizing that this is a true story helps me accept what seem to be Linda's less-than-perfect choices. I know that when I am faced with a difficult decision, there's a pretty good chance that I'll ponder and hope and pray and think and STILL do what turns out to be the wrong thing. That's just life, right?
ReplyDeleteI agree Anne. I do believe that society is so far removed from slavery it is hard to separate today's ideology and those of yester years.
ReplyDelete