Read this excerpt from "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
The excerpt helps readers understand that Harriet
Jacobs felt
anxious and determined
suspicious and confused.
lighthearted and carefree.
helpless and frightened.
Again and again I had traveled] those dreary twelve
miles to and from the town, and all the way, I was
meditating upon some means of escape for myself and
made every effort to [... bring about] our purchase,
but all their plans had [failed]. Dr. Flint was suspicious
and determined not to loosen his grasp upon us. I could
have made my escape alone, but it was more for my
helpless children than for myself that I longed for
freedom. Although [freedom] would have been precious
to me, above all price, I would not have taken it at the
expense of leaving them in slavery. Every trial
endured, every sacrifice I made for their sakes, drew
them closer to my heart, and gave me fresh courage to
beat back the dark waves that rolled and rolled over me
in a seemingly endless night of storms.