Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41
Themes
All Themes The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Sexual Virtue and Sexual Abuse Motherhood and Family Christianity Women
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent Grandmother Dr. Flint Mother Father First Mistress Mrs. Flint Mr. Sands William Benjamin Phillip Ellen Benny The Boat Captain Peter Mrs. Hobbs Mr. Thorne Mrs. Bruce Young Mrs. Bruce Emily Flint / Mrs. Dodge Nicholas Flint Aunt Nancy The Carpenter
Symbols
All Symbols Houses and Homes
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Ethos Fallacy Foil Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Logos Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Satire Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

by

Harriet Jacobs
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Benny Character Analysis

Linda’s son and first child with Mr. Sands. Benny’s birth gives Linda, exhausted and overwhelmed by years of Dr. Flint’s harassment, a reason to live and a new sense of determination to escape slavery. He grows up to be a stalwart and intelligent boy; for example, although Linda doesn’t tell her children she’s hiding in the crawlspace, he deduces it for himself and keeps watch over the yard so that no one gets too near her refuge. Benny is purchased and freed by Mr. Sands and travels to New York to be reunited with his mother. He apprentices with a shipbuilder, but when his colleagues learn he’s mixed-race, he loses his job and joins a whaling expedition instead.

Benny Quotes in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

The Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl quotes below are all either spoken by Benny or refer to Benny. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 29 Quotes

We knelt down together, with my child pressed to my heart, and my other arm round the faithful, loving old friend I was about to leave forever. On no other occasion has it ever been my lot to listen to so fervent a supplication for mercy and protection. It thrilled through my heart, and inspired me with trust in God.

Related Characters: Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent (speaker), Grandmother, Benny
Related Symbols: Houses and Homes
Motherhood and Family Theme Icon
Christianity Theme Icon
Page Number: 129
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 41 Quotes

Reader, my story ends with freedom; not in the usual way, with marriage….The dream of my life is not yet realized. I do not sit with my children in a home of my own.

Related Characters: Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent (speaker), Ellen, Benny
Related Symbols: Houses and Homes
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
Motherhood and Family Theme Icon
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 164
Explanation and Analysis:
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Benny Quotes in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

The Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl quotes below are all either spoken by Benny or refer to Benny. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 29 Quotes

We knelt down together, with my child pressed to my heart, and my other arm round the faithful, loving old friend I was about to leave forever. On no other occasion has it ever been my lot to listen to so fervent a supplication for mercy and protection. It thrilled through my heart, and inspired me with trust in God.

Related Characters: Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent (speaker), Grandmother, Benny
Related Symbols: Houses and Homes
Motherhood and Family Theme Icon
Christianity Theme Icon
Page Number: 129
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 41 Quotes

Reader, my story ends with freedom; not in the usual way, with marriage….The dream of my life is not yet realized. I do not sit with my children in a home of my own.

Related Characters: Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent (speaker), Ellen, Benny
Related Symbols: Houses and Homes
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
Motherhood and Family Theme Icon
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 164
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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