Two questions for you on chapters V-VI: 1) Was Linda raped by Dr. Flint? 2) Was it considered okay for white men to sleep with and have children with their slave? Cite passages from the chapter(s) to back up your opinion.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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1)The main character Linda didn't exactly say that she was raped by her owner,Dr.Flints. However in the book she gave little indication by mentioning,"I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature(pg.37)". I assumed that the most sacred commandments of nature was Linda's virginity which was lost by her owner, Dr.Flints.
ReplyDelete2)In the book on the chapter 6, it stated "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it(pg.45)". I think the more white men slept with their slaves and had black children, the richer they became since they considered them as their possessions rather than as their offspring.It also gave indication that the society actually accepted the idea of white men having slave children.
1) Was Linda raped by Dr. Flint?
ReplyDeleteShe never specifically said that Dr.Flint raped her, but it was defiantly implied that he did at the very least he sexually assault her.
2) Was it considered okay for white men to sleep with and have children with their slave? Cite passages from the chapter(s) to back up your opinion.
"Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation; and it is seldom that they do not make them aware of this by passing them into the slave-trader's hands as soon as possible, and thus getting them out of their sight(Ch. VI)".
It was considered a good thing for white men to have children with the slaves because it gave them more "property" which made them richer. They don't consider the children as there own, the consider them to be pigs, the more you have the more you sell, the more money you make. At the time slaves were the thing to have, the number of slaves that you had equaled the amount of money you had. They were a symbol of status, it was the norm.
1. Linda did not really say that she was reped by Dr. Flint. But there were sentances that made me think that she was raped. When she said "I longed for some one to confide in. I would have given the world to have laid my head on my grandmother's faithful bosom, and told her all my troubles. But Dr. Flint swore he would kill me, if I was not as silent as the grave." this sentance made me think about if someone is raped wouldnt they want someone to talk to. Also I also asked myself why would Dr. Flint want Linda to hide something. I thought that there was only one reason why, and that was because he raped her.
ReplyDelete2. I think it was alright for the white men to sleep and have children with the slaves because when the white men had slaves they would be seen as rich. Also I think that to become richer the white man can use the slave children as slaves for himself or he can sell them to become more rich. From the passage it said that "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation; and it is seldom that they do not make them aware of this by passing them into the slave-trader's hands as soon as possible." When a white men had a lot of slaves it showed that he was really rich. So the more slave children the white men had, he became more rich or he seemed to be more rich.
~ashley Seki
1) The main character Linda didn't exactly say that her owner, Dr. Flint, raped her. However in the book she hinted at that notion, by mentioning,” I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature (pg.37)". It can be assumed through this quote that the most sacred commandments of nature mentioned, is Linda's virginity, which was lost by her owner, Dr. Flint. 2) I think that white men sleeping with their slave women, was an accepted action in the society in which the book is based. This can be seen as, in the book, chapter 6 states, "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it (pg.45)". Quantity of slaves determined how rich a man was, so the more slaves there were, the richer the man seemed, therefore by having slave children, you increased your wealth. The slave owners who had fathered children, did not consider the children as their own, they considered the children to be sort of like livestock. The more you have, the more you sell, the more money you make. Slaves were considered property rather than people, so the more slaves you had the wealthier you were, so it seems that slave owners fathering children with their women slaves were the norm, and a widely accepted action in this society.
ReplyDelete1. Yes, Linda did get raped by Dr. Flint. Cause in the book it says, "Where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature."(pg. 37)
ReplyDeleteTelling us that she had lost her virginity. As it goes on into Ch. VI, it tells us how Mr. Flint's wife is jealous of the affection he is showing to the slave girl.
2. I suppose it was okay for white men to do so in this society. The book says that, "He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things."(pg.37)
1. It does not state that she gets raped, but it says that she was sexually assaulted because in the book she says "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature(pg.37)". It seems as the other people around them is being bothered by it more than the girl and Mr. Flint, because it states Mr. Flints wife was jealous because of his affection to her.
ReplyDeleteLiana Ang
Period 7
2. I think is was okay in that society for white men to sleep with their slaves and have babies because it didn't seem to bother them as much according to the text ""Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it (pg.45)".
1. Linda hasn't really mentioned that she was raped, but it did have some sentences in this chapter, that could have made a reader think she was.
ReplyDelete2. In Chapter 6, it mentions a quote, "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation; and it is seldom that they do not make them aware of this by passing them into the slave-traders hands as soon as possible, and thus getting them out of their sight." This explains how it was considered okay for the white men to sleep and have children with their slaves. In the book, it says that if this happens, it makes the white men look "rich," which is a good thing.
1) Was Linda raped by Dr. Flint?
ReplyDeleteThe slave girl did not say that she was raped by her owner, Dr. Flint, it only tells about Dr. Flints wife crying over the things he does to the slave girl that is classified as cheating on her. In the 6th chapter it says "She felt that her marriage vows were desecrated," which hints that Dr. Flint had cheated on his wife somehow.
2) Was it considered okay for white men to sleep with and have children with their slave? Cite passages from the chapter(s) to back up your opinion.
It was not considered ok to have kids with their slaves. In chapter 6 it says, "They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation." Slave owners have children with their slaves and they don't care anything about the children but as property and by having more children from their slaves, they have more slaves. The slaves are under the control of their owner and they can't do anything about it if their owner wants to have kids with them, they just have to listen.
There was no mention in the chapter that Linda had been raped by Dr. Flint. But some of the sentences from the chapters are little hints to us that she did in fact get raped. A specific quote from the chapter hints that she was raped by Dr. Flint, "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature". I am guessing that when she says "most sacred commandments of nature" she is talking about her own virginity, what else could it be?
ReplyDeleteI think people did consider that it was okay for white men to sleep with their slaves and to have children. They acted like it was perfectly fine because it was like the children they had were their property and they could tell them to do whatever they want done. Some white women didn't mind if their husbands had relations with their slaves, "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation".
1) Linda did not directly say that she was raped by her owner, Dr. Flint, but some sentences in the chapter suggest that it's possible that she was raped. For example, the book says "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him--where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature." (p. 21) This quote insinuates that she was raped because when she says "most sacred commandments of nature" I think she means abstinence and her virginity.
ReplyDelete2) Yes I think people considered it okay for white men to sleep with a and have children with their slave. Linda says, "My master was, to my knowledge, the father of eleven slaves." (p. 26) This quote is saying that white men do sleep with and have children with their slaves, which creates even more slaves for the owner. Linda also says "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it." (p. 26) This means that many women in the south marry men knowing that they have slept with and have had children with their slave(s), but don't care or consider it to be wrong. And that means that no one really considered it to be wrong and it was kind of normal.
1. I think she was raped because she describes how she has been harassed by Dr. Flint, but has to deal with it because he is her master. "Where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature" (37). In this quote, it makes it sound like Dr. Flint is taking away her virginity and raping her. "The master's age, my exteme youth, and the fear that his conduct would be reported to my grandmother, made him bear this treatment for many months." (37). In the quote, she doesn't want her grandmother to know something that Dr. Flint has done, so it could possibly mean rape. "He peopled my young mind with unclean images, such as only a vile monster could think of." (37). The quote means that he could be going against her innocent ways and showing her things that aren't appropriate for her age. "But Dr. Flint swore he would kill me, if I was not as silent as the grave." (38). Dr. Flint obviously doesn't want anyone to know what has happened to Harriet or to help her through her problems, so he wants to keep it a secret.
ReplyDelete2. I think that a master had the power to sleep with their slaves and have children. Also it was alright for the white men to sleep with them. Linda explains "My master was, to my knowledge, the father of eleven slaves." (26). Her master has slept with other slaves and has 11 children who are also under him. "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it." (26). The women do know that the white men sleep with the other slaves and it seems that it doesn't bother them because they don't think it's wrong or that it's a problem. Also if the white men were to have children with their own slaves, he would have more people under him. Back then, the more slaves a white man had, the more richer he would look.
1. Even though it wasn't specifically said in the story, I believe that Harriet was raped by her master. I think this because of the way she speaks about the way her master treats her. When she speaks of him, she definitely implies that she is being harassed. In chapter five she says, "They knew too well the guilty practices under that roof; and they were aware that to speak of them was an offence that never went unpunished.
ReplyDelete" In this sentence she is talking about the other slaves in the house. This implies that her master has treated all his slaves the same way in the past and that if any of them were to speak up, she would be punished.
2. According to the story, it was okay for white men to have children with their slaves. She says, "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it." In other words, she is saying that is was normal for men to have children from their slaves. Some women actually wanted their man to have children with their slaves because it would mean that they would have more "property." In chapter five she also says, "I once saw two beautiful children playing together. One was a fair white child; the other was her slave, and also her sister." White men often had children with both their wives and slaves but no one thought anything of it because it was common at this time.
1) Linda did not exactly say that she was raped by Dr. Flint, but there are some sentences in the chapter that suggest she may have been raped. For one example, the book states on page 21, "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him--where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature." The quote suggests that she was raped because when it states, "violating the most sacred commandments of nature." Right there when the first word is "violating" you have a feeling he could have possibly touched her in places where she didn't want to be touched.
ReplyDelete2) I do think that people did considered for it to be okay for white men to sleep with their slaves and to also have children. They made it seem like it was perfectly fine because it was like the children they had were their property. "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation". Some white women didn't mind if their husbands had relations with their slaves.
1. There was no specific words saying that Linda was raped by Dr. Flint. But there was a certain quote from the chapter that kind of gave a hint that she was raped. She says, "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature". The key word "violating" kind of gives away that she was raped.
ReplyDelete2. I think people considered that it was okay for white men to sleep with their slaves and to have children. The slaves were their property and they could order them to do whatever they wanted. Also, "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation". This quote basically says that the owners could do whatever they wanted to their slaves and no one cared about what they did to them.
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ReplyDelete1. I believe that she was raped. the reading says "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature," which tells me she had to live with a man who was much older than her and this man has assaulted something very important to her which is her virginity.
ReplyDelete2.I believe that people thought that it was considered good to sleep with their slaves and have children with them. The reading says "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation," this means that women could careless about the slaves that the men sleep with because they are considered nothing to them and are only there to sell.
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ReplyDelete1. In the chapters, Linda doesn't say anything about being raped by Dr. Flint, but it is implied that Dr. Flint took advantage of her. Linda talks about countless events where she is alone with Dr. Flint who is usually reminding her that she is his property. Although Linda is not the slave of Dr. Flint, but of his 4 year old daughter, Dr. Flint sets up situations where Linda alone stays with him.
ReplyDelete2. I think that it was okay for white men to sleep and have children with their slaves, because Linda states, "Southern woman often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it." But in Linda and Dr. Flint's case, I think that these white men and slaves choose to hide their relationships because to the free people, slaves were considered low people. In chapter 6 Linda states that she knows that her master, Dr. Flint, is the father of eleven slave children, she also states that her mistress, Dr. Flint's wife, doesn't know about the children. Also the mothers of the slave children do not dare to tell anyone about the father of their children.
1. In the book, it doesn't specifically say that she got raped. But I think that she did because in the book it said, "I was compelled to live under the same roof with him-where i saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature." This tells me that Dr.Flint went over what is suppose to be done meaning that Dr.Flint forced her to do what she didnt want.
ReplyDelete2."Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation...."(Pg.45) In the book, it was considered okay to sleep with and have children with the slaves because they dont trouble themselves about it. It has been states above in quotes that its okay for white men to sleep with the slaves.
The slave girl mentioned the sex assaults from her master, but she never did specify that she was raped. Although it talks about the innocence of the girl, it could be possible that she was raped and most likely too.
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence of chapter six explains how african americans are of lower class back in those times and so they weren't allowed to have relationships with their master or white people in general. It wasn't considered a good thing.
1. Linda has not been raped by her master yet but she states, "My master met me at every turn, reminding me that I belonged to
ReplyDeletehim, and swearing by heaven and earth that he would compel me to submit to
him."
2. it was not deemed okay to have a relationship with your slave. Linda writes, "My
master was, to my knowledge, the father of eleven slaves. But did the
mothers dare to tell who was the father of their children?...No indeed." This tells me that if anyone found out about these relationships with the master, they would be punished because it is frowned down upon in society. it could ruin the master's ego and he doesn't want to ruin his good reputation.
1.) Even though Linda does not outright proclaim that she was raped by Dr. Flint, she does imply that he, in some form, sexually harasses her. Being brought into a life of slavery as a house-based slave, Linda is fairly comfortable living in the surroundings that she does. In Linda’s case, as she soon finds out in time, there is more to being a slave than doing chores around the house and obeying orders given by people in charge or her master. As time goes Dr. Flint gets more impatient and angry. He often gets violently enraged, especially when Linda refers to her grandmother for protection. If Linda were to make a complaint to her grandmother, Dr. Flint “threatened me with death, and worse than death” (23). Daily the violence grew worse and worse. Therefore, I think Dr. Flint eventually did take his anger to an extreme and caused pain on Linda by raping her.
ReplyDelete2.) It was considered okay for white men to sleep with and have children with their slaves. Considering the wives of the white men who sleep with their slaves will become jealous and enraged of their husbands’ actions, they have no choice but to stay quiet and accept the way life turns out. The husband that the wife dedicates all her happiness to is likely to have many little babies with his slave. The babies that are produced from a slave and her master are regarded as “property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation; and it is seldom that they do not make them aware of this by passing them into the slave-trader’s hands as soon as possible” (26). This means that the children of a slave and her master are not looked upon as precious gifts from God, but rather, products that are so numerous and identical that they do not deserve the attention of parents or people to love them. Knowing that this situation happens regularly, I can conclude from the readings that it was accepted and not completely looked down upon for a white man to sleep with and have children with his slave.
Courtney Seki (Period 7)
1. In the book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, it does not necessarily say that Linda was raped by Mr. Flint. Although the author does not physically say that Linda was raped, from the passages we can suggest that there was sexual harassment going on in the household.Linda does say that she is sexually harassed, but she does not go into detail about the memories and the tragedies, as she describes it, that she had to face.
ReplyDelete2. For white men to sleep with their slaves was considered okay and often times good. In the book we recognize and read that Mr. Flint's wife was jealous of the Linda. Slaves were "property, marketable as pigs on the plantation; and it is seldom that they do not make them aware of this by passing them into slave- trader's hands as soon as possible." (26). Slaves were considered property and the owner could do whatever he may want to with his "property".
Cassie Castillo (Period 7)
1) Even though it is not directly stated, Linda was raped by Dr. Flint. It is evident in her account where she says, “He peopled my young mind with unclean images.” This shows how she was deeply scarred from the event that she could not get it out of her head. She also writes, “I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature,” implying the actions of the master, which is rape. It must have been a rape because when she says, “My soul revolted against the mean tyranny,” it clearly shows how she did not want it to happen.
ReplyDelete2) Linda’s writing suggests that the idea of white men sleeping with their slave and having children was widely accepted by other people. In chapter five of her book, it is stated, “In either case, there is no shadow of law to protect her from insult, from violence, or even from death.” These words show that the law did not protect the slaves from any violence, including rape. Also in chapter 6, it is said, “Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves.” This sentence shows that it was not extraordinary or rare, which then shows how it was considered okay by many people.
1. It doesn't directly state that Dr. Flint raped Linda. But as you read the story it does state some things that made Linda feel uncomfortable and that he was doing something wrong. She does state that she is being sexually harassed and from parts of the reading you can suggest that sexual harassment was going on. Linda doesn't really go into detail about the sexual harassment.
ReplyDelete2. Yes it was accepted that white men could have children with their slaves. In one passage it states, "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it." Women who are married to men that have children with their slaves do not think of it as a bad thing or look down upon it because it gives the man more property.But as you read the book you notice that Mr. Flin's wife was jealous of Linda.
1)
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 5 Linda never actually came out and said Dr. Flint forcibly had sex with her. Although there were hints that he actually did "-where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature. He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things. My soul revolted against the mean tyranny"(V. The Trials Of Girlhood). And how I interpret 'violating the most sacred commandments' is that he took away her virginity, therefore raping her.
2)
It seemed that masters having children with their slaves happened often enough to not be considered a big scandal but some women didn't like that and other didn't seem to care. Many women were jealous that their husbands would have children with slaves "Children of every shade of complexion play with her own fair babies, and too well she knows that they are born unto him of his own household. Jealousy and hatred enter the flowery home, and it is ravaged of its loveliness" (VI. The Jealous Mistress). Other women didn't care and actually saw those children as profitable "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation" (VI. The Jealous Mistress).
-Rachel Stollenmaier
Pd: 7
1. I don't believe Linda got rape by Dr. Flint because it didn't really mention a lot of supporting details although it may have sounded like she got rape but she really didn't. Although it had mentioned in the story it states, "violating the most sacred commandments of nature." Linda was probably violated in areas she didn't feel comfortable with others touching.
ReplyDelete2. According to the white men, it was okay for them to sleep with their slaves and have children. The more children would just consider more slaves for him and the more money he would get. It mentioned in the story "Southern women often marry a man knowing that he is the father of many little slaves. They do not trouble themselves about it. They regard such children as property, as marketable as the pigs on the plantation". This quote talks about how the white women didn't really have a problem with their husbands having a relationship with their slaves. Because once the slave women had children, they treated them just the same as their property. In the story it basically shows that they had no feelings to it, the white women were perfectly fine.
Katelynn Barsano Pd. 7