Slave Narrative

Slave narratives were generally written between 1830 and 1860. They are autobiographical accounts of a slave's life, and generally their escape, which are/were part of the abolitionist movement.

Jacobs’ work received little attention before 1981 due to disputes about authorship that were laid to rest by a study of her letters. The authenticity of her writings and the events were established in 1987.

Characteristics of Female Slave Narrative (and male as well)

• Female slave narrative asks whether sexual oppression is worth than “merely” physical oppression and abuse. Women, unlike men, cannot respond via physical dominance, a staple of the male slave narrative.
  
• Female slaves engage in a war of words/wits rather than strength
  
  • Lewd notes used to oppress Jacobs; harassment through letters; literacy taken for granted
    
  • Male overpowering of master/oppressor generally a turning point in their journey to freedom
    
  • Examines community and personal relations in contrast to the solitary male experience; communal effort at escape and salvation

• Mother’s relation to children holds her to the spot, compels escape
  
• Female slave narrative does not emphasize empowerment of becoming literate as does male slave narrative; literacy is of primacy in attaining freedom and identify in male slave narrative.
  
• Does not end with hero/protagonist reaching north, but shows how long arm of slavery reaches further, thanks to Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
  
• Genre concerns: Generally a sentimental novel of seduction and domestic novels with regard to female slave seeking to retain her virtue
  
  • Introduces twist of sexual harassment
    
  • Story does not end with marriage as would a sentimental/domestic novel
    
  • Confronts sexual advances of a man/men of questionable morals, superior power, position and means
    
  • Illicit sex versus well being (got in way of Jacob’s book being read as a slave narrative rather than standard domestic/seduction novel)
    
  • Sentimental techniques deemed inappropriate and inadequate for a slave narrative

• Emphasizes disparity between writer and reader
  
• Undermines female purity by taking own lover

More on the slave narrative from Donna Campbell at Washington State University.