Friday, March 26, 2010

Le Sage, Slavery



The first exchange of power that has to be mentioned is that of Dr. Flint and Linda in Harriet Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.” Particularly because the obsession to recapture ‘property’ makes a clear and easy target for questions of slavery’s impact on the oppressor, writing about the master’s pursuit seems like a fine start. This point can draw some to use the words ‘slave’ in describing Dr. Flint: slave to property, pride, etc. It’s a mistake to really label an oppressor a slave when the word ‘dependant’ should be used. The difference is massive, with ‘slave’ implying an inability to relieve an obsession, a fascination and dependence implying a need for it. Here is a slave owner’s morality, absent and pathetic, and dependent on the feeling (as mentioned in class) of superiority.
There is a constant shift between the dominance and subjection between men and women, even today. Sex, affection, companionship, parenting, and responsibility place one gender over another, having one role in a relationship constantly working to attain a product, a compensation. In this sense we’re still being whipped.

1 comment:

  1. I am not sure that I am happy with the second picture, but you points about Dr. Flint are well thought out.

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