Linda’s mother, a slave. Mother has a lot of trust in her mistress, whom she sees as comparatively benign, and whom she hopes will free her children. However, the mistress leaves Linda to the Flints after her death. This disappointment of Mother’s hopes argues that no relationship between slave and slave owner can be positive or mutually beneficial in any way.
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Mother Character Timeline in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
The timeline below shows where the character Mother appears in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter One: Childhood
Linda is also under the care of her grandmother, a strong and determined woman. The illegitimate daughter of a planter, Linda’s grandmother was freed...
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When Linda is six, her mother dies. Her mother’s mistress – the daughter of Grandmother’s mistress – has always been kind...
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...mistress has been kind enough to free her in her will, in honor of her mother. However, Linda notes, “the memory of a faithful slave does not…save her children from the...
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...of injustice” and remember the mistress’s kind behavior towards her. Along with Linda, several of Grandmother’s children are separated among the mistress’s relatives, despite her long faithfulness.
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Chapter Fourteen: Another Link to Life
Because of Mrs. Flint’s antipathy towards her, Linda is still living in Grandmother’s house. Dr. Flint frequently visits and scolds her for “lowering herself” by her involvement with...
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...of pride. He starts coming to the house every day to hurl insults at her; Grandmother tries to defend her, but only inflames his anger.
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...insulting her until she faints at his feet. He hurries out of the house before Grandmother catches him abusing her. Linda feels that, if not for her children, she would want...
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Grandmother is determined to have the children christened, even though Linda knows Dr. Flint would forbid...
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Chapter Sixteen: Scenes at the Plantation
Linda leaves the next morning, accompanied by Ellen but leaving Benny, who is sick, with Grandmother. At the plantation, she has to leave Ellen with the kitchen slaves and work as...
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The next day, Linda sends Ellen back to Grandmother without asking permission. She doesn’t get in trouble because she’s been such an efficient housekeeper...
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...out at night to visit her children, walking quickly and fearfully back to the town. Grandmother lets her in and the whole family gathers, crying to see her. She looks over...
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...Nicholas’s great aunt visits the plantation. This woman, Miss Fanny, is the one who bought Grandmother at auction and freed her; in subsequent years she’s often visited Grandmother, and the old...
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...any way. She tells Linda that she will never “feel any peace” about her and Grandmother until they are dead and gone to Heaven. Linda tells the old woman to not...
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...bride, and Linda receives permission to spend that Sunday with her family. She goes to Grandmother’s house; the calm day contrasts with her turbulent mind, as she’s wondering if she’ll ever...
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...Linda feels shame that she hasn’t managed to be as pure and virtuous as her mother. But as she passes the slaves’ meeting house, destroyed and decrepit after Nat Turner’s rebellion,...
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...well, so he will sell them to Mr. Sands. Linda is packing her things when Grandmother comes into the room, sees what she’s doing, and scolds her for worrying an old...
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