The subject of motherhood in Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl is approached in an interesting way. Jacob sees motherhood as a way to escape her current situation of being utterly controlled and watched by her master. Instead of viewing motherhood as a beautiful and joyful experience, she views motherhood as something that one must be cautious of. “The mother of slaves is very watchful. She knows there is no security for her children” (828). Jacob understands that her circumstances are different than the normal free woman and she addresses this understanding to her readers, “But, O, ye happy women, whose purity has been sheltered from childhood, who have been free to choose the objects of your affection, whose homes are protected by law, do not judge the poor desolate slave girl too severely!” (827).
Jacobs understands that her place in society does not allow her to enjoy the virtues of motherhood as other women would. Also, she understands that her children will not be born into a home where she has control over their upbringing. The entire reasoning for her first pregnancy was to escape the impending isolation her master was attempting to force upon her. Jacobs represents the idea that the slave woman must use her body as a means of survival, as a slave she could not relish the idea of having a child with the man she loves, she knows that she must have a child to ultimately save herself.
Jacobs understands that her place in society does not allow her to enjoy the virtues of motherhood as other women would. Also, she understands that her children will not be born into a home where she has control over their upbringing. The entire reasoning for her first pregnancy was to escape the impending isolation her master was attempting to force upon her. Jacobs represents the idea that the slave woman must use her body as a means of survival, as a slave she could not relish the idea of having a child with the man she loves, she knows that she must have a child to ultimately save herself.
Motherhood is a compelling theme in Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl because although Jacobs had her daughter as a means of survival, she loves her children very much. Despite all the despair that Jacobs experiences her daughter gives her a reason to live, “My life was spared, and I was glad for the sake of my little ones. Had it not been for these ties to life, I should have been glad to be released by death, though I lived only nineteen years” (831). Having children propelled Jacobs to want her freedom more than ever. Not implying that she never desired to be free, however, her desire for freedom increased because of her children.
At the end of the narrative Jacobs expresses “I still long for hearthstone of my own, however humble. I wish it for my children’s sake far more than my own” (839). The narrative ends in an affectionate and amiable tone as motherhood has propelled Jacobs to want more out of life for the sake of her children. Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl shows how motherhood has the ability give a person something to live for and how motherhood has the ability to make you desire things that were once perceived to be unattainable, such as freedom.
At the end of the narrative Jacobs expresses “I still long for hearthstone of my own, however humble. I wish it for my children’s sake far more than my own” (839). The narrative ends in an affectionate and amiable tone as motherhood has propelled Jacobs to want more out of life for the sake of her children. Incidents in the life of a Slave Girl shows how motherhood has the ability give a person something to live for and how motherhood has the ability to make you desire things that were once perceived to be unattainable, such as freedom.