Harriet+A.+Jacobs

=Harriet A. Jacobs= = (February 11, 1813 - March 7, 1897) =

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Harriet Jacobs was born in 1813 in Edenton, North Carolina. She was born into slavery and remained a slave for twenty-seven years. Jacob's grandmother was a former slave that had been emancipated and owned her own home. Her father was also a slave and worked as a carpenter. Jacob's mother died when she was six years old, where she was then sent to the house of Margaret Horniblow, a mistress who taught her how to spell, read, and sew until she was twelve years old. Harriet Jacobs endured a life of suffering and fighting for her freedom. Finally, in 1852 her freedom was purchased by her employer, Mrs. Nathaniel Parker Willis. Jacobs is recognized for writing the autobiographical slave narrative, //[|Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl]//, published in 1861. The famous narrative is one of the very first female slave narratives ever written. Harriet Jacob's only published work tells a story of sexual abuse, the separation of mothers from their children, and the horrors of bondage. The narrative stands out because slave narratives were predominantly written by males and as a female she brought to attention not only the struggles of all slaves, but the unique struggles of female slaves as well. Jacobs fought for the rights of African Americans throughout the Civil War, becoming an abolitionist speaker and reformer. Harriet Jacobs died in 1897.======

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Harriet Jacob's single, autobiographical slave narrative displays a [|sentimental fiction] style of writing. The narrative offers ideals of sensibility and virtue. Jacobs explains the complexity of her experiences as a slave woman in a very detailed account. Her style of writing appeals to all five senses. Female slave exploitation is a focus of the narrative. She makes sure to include bible verses throughout the narrative, which shows her Christian beliefs. Jacob's purpose was meant to arouse the women in the North to recognize the millions of women in the South that were suffering and still in bondage. The theme of the slave narrative is most of all, the equality of women, white and black. She wanted to show the connection and similarities the white free women had to those of black enslaved women. The entire narrative is based upon a search for freedom. Jacobs wanted the opportunity to create a real home for herself and her children, in other words, she wanted domestication. In order for her to be considered equal to all women she first had to obtain her freedom.======

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The expansion to the West in search of money, to therefore become successful and gain power, to then build a home with an "ideal family" is a start towards the meaning of the archetypal ideology of the American Dream. It is based upon an individual's perception of what they believe success is measured by. The American Dream, a rags to riches story. It is about embodying the act of patriotism. The opportunity to create something better than what previously had been conquered. And the freedom to do so.======

**__  The __****__A__****__merican Dream in connection to //Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl://__**

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For Harriet Jacobs the American Dream was about providing a better life for her children, by someday hoping to provide them with a home of their own. She wanted the freedom to be able to expand her horizons, to get out of slavery and the suffering that came with it. The sexual abuse and bondage by her master, Dr. Flint made her achieving freedom for the American Dream impossible. There was less hope for a rags to riches story. Jacobs wealth was having her family together and safe under one roof, like the ideal family. She wanted to get out of her rags, which was bondage and reach her riches, which was a home for her family. No power was needed to achieve this goal, but once it was achieved she thought of herself as successful. Freedom was the ultimate wealth, rich, power, and success for Jacobs.======

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For the white men in the narrative their American Dream was achievable through the slaves, like Harriet Jacobs. Jacobs was seen as the tool to get them their money and be prosperous, making the slaves do the hard work and they benefit from it. Jacobs served her master, Dr. Flint, to please him and get beaten in return or sexually abused. The white men had power and craved more power through the purchase and abuse of the slaves. Jacobs was overpowered by Dr. Flint and his control he had over her. He took away her family and forbid her to get married to another slave she fell in love with. The cruelty and cold-hearted slave owners showed the negative side of the American Dream, the sacrifices and suffering that was endured.======

From this slave narrative, written by Harriet Jacobs, it is evident that the American Dream was not solely about happiness. In fact, through this narrative the American Dream inflicted more unhappiness and deprivation of slaves like Harriet Jacobs. It was viewed as a goal they could not reach without their freedom that was kept from them by the white men, their masters. Freedom in this narrative is the central ideal of the American Dream, those that had it and those that did not, which determined the outcome.

[|Harriet A. Jacobs (Harriet Ann)] [|Harriet Jacobs]
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By: Sabrina Jarvis