The Diary of a young girl...

I  can not help thinking of Anne Frank, maybe it is the cramped space, the fugitive status or a young girl leading by example. I think you as a reader forget that Linda is still quite young when everything happens. Linda assumes the role of lover, mother and struggling slave too fast. (For my opinion).

As Joey was saying in his post the ideas of what childhood should be; never existed until decades later. Even in 1942, Anne Frank was forced to assume an adult role at the young age of thirteen. All memorable stories, fiction or non-fiction are shaped by historical conflict and usually race, gender, religion or political power is the driving for outrageous inequality.

The ideology of the culture of the time is discarded like yesterday's trash and the survival instincts we all posses take over. It is sad to think a person can look their innocence due to the color of their skin. Society may be evolving but is the transformation happening fast enough, when today children are robbed of their childhood.

Aunt Martha: the Uncle Tom who Struggles

"The God-breathing machines are no more, in the sight of their masters, than the cotton they plant, or the horses they tend" (11). I feel this sentence sums up this entire book. Despite that slaves "breathe God," they are still just property to their masters, no better than a plant or a horse. Perhaps the breath of God is what renders them to the low state they're in. Does a slave's loyalty to God further enable the system of Slavery? Well, we all saw what happened to Uncle Tom.

Aunt Martha is a product of Slavery, and she reminds me so much of Uncle Tom as a result. She is God-fearing and believes utmost in virtue. She was loyal to her mistress and is now living quietly among Slavery as a free slave. She has earned respect, but why does she not refute the system that continues to enslave her grandchild and great grandchildren? She refutes not at all, then a little, and then a lot.

When Linda's father dies, Aunt Martha consoles her as most do: "'Who knows the ways of God?' said she. 'Perhaps they have been kindly taken from the evil days to come'" (12). Does Aunt Martha assume that evil days on earth are inevitable? That the only way out is through death, the path to God? Linda doesn't seem to think so, and neither does Benjamin.

When Benjamin was in jail for disobeying his master having tried to run away, her advice was: "Put your trust in God. Be humble, my child, and your master will forgive you" (22). Should a person beg the forgiveness of another who treats them as a dog, as property? I don't think so, and I'm not sure Aunt Martha really thinks so, either. Why else would she cop an attitude with Dr. Flint in later chapters and in chapter 12 say to a white soldier going through her possessions: "You may be sure we didn't pilfer 'em from your houses," (57) insulting him with the implication that he could never afford, "all dis sheet an' table clarf" (57)?

And then, as we all know, she houses Linda in her attic. This refutes Slavery to the fullest. She could be killed for this, but for some reason or another, her loyalty to God which beckons her loyalty to Slavery is shaking. She is seeing another way.

Maybe Aunt Martha's love and loyalty to God is a facade she created to fool the white men around her. She does seem clever enough to do this, but I'm still not so sure. Instead, I think she may just be realizing there's a way out, and it's not God's way at all.

letters in a chess match

I’m told that chess, like most games of strategy, are as much about manipulating your opponent’s psychology as they are about planning for contingencies-- protecting your most valuable pieces, controlling the center of the board, etc. When Linda Brent sends the letters ostensibly from New York and Boston to Dr. Flint, she adds another level to the game of wills the two have been playing. She’s become a kind of general with a network of people and resources in a war on the mind of Dr. Flint. Even with the downgrade in her standard of living, her active mind and daring allows us to see her becoming more of the free individual she wants to be. 
The letters I think are an interesting opening move. I could see Linda overplaying her hand here, not because I think Dr. Flint will find out of his own accord that the letters are false-- I think she knows how his arrogance leads him to underestimate her-- but because I don’t know how well she takes into account the pressure this puts on her troops, particularly her commanding officer-- Aunt Martha. Aunt Martha who has long been a member of the “accept what you get and hope for the best” school is now on the front lines in this scenario-- having to field the animosity of Dr. Flint’s inquiries and process the anxiety of Linda’s captivity in her home. Linda can’t share the burden in that way any longer, and I wonder if she has the presence of mind to notice when Aunt Martha reaches the breaking point, and to stop it before her collapse jeopardizes everything they’ve both worked for?

Possible Change of Heart

As I mentioned in class, I was very upset with Linda for not taking advantage of some of Dr. Flint's offers; specifically his offer to free Linda's children. I understand Linda had zero reason to trust Dr. Flint, but something about turning down his offers so easily kind of irked me. I at least felt she should have explored the options as much as possible, or at least seriously try and find a way to lock Flint into his offer.

But after putting myself into the time period, I think I've had a change of heart. (Caution: this will be super cynical)

Although I'm sure Linda really did love her children, the attitude people had towards their children in the 19th century is much, MUCH different than the attitude of today. Children were seen much more (somewhat) as a necessity than they do today. There wasn't much of an idea of adolescence, and children were a means of help for the family. So after considering a lot of points like that, I think I can understand better why it was easier for Linda to make the decisions she did. Children weren't seen as fragile as are they today, and I think Linda really did view them as being able to hold their own, so to speak.

Or maybe I'm just crazy. I don't know.

Conservation

I'm having trouble putting my thoughts together with this book, so my post this week is not going to be specifically directed toward Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. It is focused on the class in general, I suppose. I found a poem, and I wanted to share it with everyone.

I'm taking the Appalachian Culture class this semester, and one of the books we're reading is called Selu. It is a collection of Native American stories, poems, and folklore, and a lot of it can be applied to modern day events. When I came across this poem, I knew I had to share it. It's called Conservation.

An irreverent man

looks at earth

as he looks at woman.

"Feed me," he says.

"Receive my seed

and recreate me.

Soothe me

with cool waters.

Shelter me

then let me soar

as I will."

Earth says,

"Look again."

Woman says,

"I too have wings."

I feel like this relates to many of the novels we have read this semester. Men demand so much, and some women give in while others do not. Hooray for defying the patriarchy! :)

Event on Monday! Please read

Hey everyone! I forgot to say this in class, but I wanted to invite you all to an event this coming Monday. A student from Penn State will be here to talk to Shepherd students about women's issues and feminism in West Virginia. It's for a project she is doing. We will be meeting on Monday at 5pm in the Blue Gray Room (2nd floor of Student Center). If you're interested, please join us! And if you know anyone else who might be interested, please let them know. Thanks! Have a lovely day, and Happy Easter!

-Amy

It Takes Two

Oh, Aunt Martha. I am so upset for Linda when her grandmother tells her to, “Go away!” (48). Aunt Martha, don’t you think the poor girl has gone through enough! Aunt Martha seems a little judgmental and concerned with reputation (here is the same theme, again). Linda is so scared to tell her grandmother about the pregnancy. She is sees it as a “confession” (48). Perhaps, Linda doesn’t want disgrace to come to her family. In another example, when Linda wants to run away, Aunt Martha’s response is, “Nobody respects a mother who forsakes her children” (75). Among other reasons, Aunt Martha doesn’t want people talking poorly about her granddaughter. I am glad when Aunt Martha becomes the “good grandmother” again (49).

It interesting to note that, even today and especially with the “older generation,” pregnancy out of wedlock comes with a lot of judgment. To some people, it doesn’t matter what the girl’s circumstances are. If she is pregnant, she is a sinner. What irks me even more is that many people who judge unwed mothers only place fault on the woman! We constantly hear things like, “There SHE goes, getting HERself knocked up again.” Rarely, does anyone say negative things about a man having a baby before marriage. The same rings true in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Aunt Martha’s first reaction is not anger toward the father. Instead, she directs all her judgment onto Linda, with phrases like, “You are a disgrace…” (48).