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1022
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English
Date
Nov 24, 2024
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Pages
7
Uploaded by DoctorKudu1046
Nguyen 1
Tee Nguyen
ENG1022N10 English Composition II:CO2 (Nancy Fromhart) FA23
Proposal
9/5/2023
Nguyen 2
Fast write
Harriet Jacobs's narrative, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," is a powerful firsthand
account of the life of a young black woman during the 19th century. It sheds light on the sexual
exploitation and abuse she endured from her master, Dr. Flint, and the psychological and
emotional trauma she experienced during her captivity. The source offers a deeply personal
perspective on the horrors of slavery, the degradation of human dignity, and resilience of human
spirit.
One of the ethical questions that immediately arises from this source is the profound
injustice of slavery itself. Jacobs vividly describes the sexual exploitation and abuse she endured
from her slave owner, Dr. Flint, who relentlessly pursued her, disregarding her age and humanity.
The act raises ethical questions about the inherent cruelty and immorality of a system that
allowed such abuses to persist. How could a society tolerate and perpetuate such cruelty for
generations?
The second ethical question immediately comes to mind is the issue of consent in slavery.
How can consent exist in a relationship characterized by extreme power imbalances, where one
person is considered property and the other an owner? Harriet Jacobs expresses her revulsion and
resistance to her master's advances, but her status as a slave renders her voiceless in the face of
his abuse.
Another ethical question revolves around the role of society in perpetuating or
challenging the institution of slavery. Jacobs mentions that the secrets of slavery were concealed,
and even though some in the neighborhood were aware of her situation, few took action to help
her. She acknowledges complexities of her romantic relationship with white man, despite societal
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taboos and risks. What responsibilities did the wider community have in perpetrating and
addressing the suffering of enslaved individuals like Harriet Jacobs?
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List of Questions
1.
How did Harriet Jacobs perceive her agency within the constraints of slavery?
2.
What ethical dilemmas did Jacobs face when interacting with her master and mistress?
3.
What motivations may have led white women like Mrs. Flint to perpetuate the system of
slavery and mistreat enslaved women?
4.
What role did religion and spirituality play in Jacobs's life, and how did they influence
her ethical decisions?
5.
How did Jacobs maintain her sense of self-worth in the dehumanizing institution of
slavery?
6.
What was the moral responsibility of those who witnessed or knew about Jacobs's
suffering?
7.
How did Jacobs view the concept of freedom, and how did it shape her ethical choices?
8.
How did the institution of slavery devalue and exploit the bodies and lives of enslaved
women?
9.
What were the consequences of Jacobs's resistance to her master's advances, personally
and for those around her?
10. How did Jacobs's relationships with other enslaved individuals impact her ethical
decisions?
11. What were the societal norms and attitudes allowed slavery to persist, and what ethical
questions did they raise?
12. What ethical considerations were involved in Jacobs's decision to involve a white
unmarried gentleman in her escape plans?
13. How did Jacobs's understanding of family and motherhood influence her ethical choices?
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14. What does Jacobs's narrative reveal about the complicity of individuals and institutions in
perpetuating the horrors of slavery?
15. What role did community support and solidarity play in Jacobs's ethical decisions?
16. How did Jacobs's narrative challenge or reinforce prevailing notions of gender and race in
the 19th century?
17. What impact did her experiences have on her sense of self and identity?
18. How did Jacobs navigate the tension between personal survival and broader resistance to
slavery?
19. What does the text suggest about the limits of individual agency and the constraints of
systemic oppression?
20. How did Jacobs view the concept of purity, and how did it shape her ethical decisions?
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Research Question and Tentative Thesis
Research Question: What complex ethical and moral dilemmas did women face during 19 the
slavery in the United States?
Tentative Thesis: Women in slavery confronted profound ethical and moral quandaries in their
desperate struggle for survival, grappling with issues of agency, dignity, and the erosion of
societal norms while enduring sexual exploitation and navigating relationships that offered a
semblance of freedom and protection.
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Bibliography
Melo, G. C. V. de. (2019). Slave Trade Ads in the 19th Century: Textual Trajectory,
Entextualization and Indexical Orders Mobilized on Contemporary Ads.
Revista
Brasileira de Linguística Aplicada
,
19
(4), 871–900.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-6398201914845
Mogea, T. (2023). The Struggle of Afro American Women as Revealed in Walker’s The Color
Purple.
Student Scientific Creativity Journal
,
1
(1), 162–186.
https://doi.org/10.55606/sscj-amik.v1i1.1088
Ole Skovsmose. (2023). Democracy and Erosions.
Springer EBooks
, 33–45.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26242-5_3