Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl · Chapter
The New Master and Mistress explained
Linda and her brother William become the property of Dr.
What happens
Linda and her brother William become the property of Dr. Flint's household. Linda describes the cold treatment she receives, the death of her father, and the cruelty of Dr. and Mrs. Flint. She recounts her grandmother's near-sale and eventual freedom, as well as the brutal punishments inflicted on other slaves.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy of Religion and Morality
Mrs. Flint is a church member who partakes in communion yet watches whippings and spitefully contaminates food.
Dehumanization and Identity
Linda's father is treated as mere property; his death is ignored for party decorations, and slaves are beaten and sold without regard.
The Illusion of Kind Masters
Dr. Flint pretends to spare grandmother's feelings by offering a private sale, but she sees through his hypocrisy.
Characters to notice
- Linda Brent
Narrates her grief at her father's death and her desolation in the Flint household.
- William
Linda's brother, purchased by the Flint family; expresses despair about ever being free.
- Dr. Flint
The new master; an epicure who cruelly punishes slaves and defrauds grandmother of her freedom.
- Mrs. Flint
A church member who watches whippings calmly and spitefully spoils food to prevent slaves from eating leftovers.
- Grandmother
Nearly sold at auction but freed by a kind elderly woman; supports Linda with food and comfort.
- Aunt Nancy
Linda's aunt, a slave in the Flint household who serves as housekeeper and waiting maid.
Key passages
“I have a vivid recollection of the linsey-woolsey dress given me every winter by Mrs. Flint. How I hated it! It was one of the badges of slavery.”
Linda remembers the coarse dress Mrs. Flint gave her each winter, which she despised as a symbol of her enslavement.
Highlights the dehumanizing aspect of slave clothing.
“She had not strength to superintend her household affairs; but her nerves were so strong, that she could sit in her easy chair and see a woman whipped, till the blood trickled from every stroke of the lash.”
Mrs. Flint lacked energy for housework but had no qualms watching a slave be whipped until blood flowed.
Illustrates the moral hypocrisy and cruelty of Mrs. Flint.
“I spent the day gathering flowers and weaving them into festoons, while the dead body of my father was lying within a mile of me. What cared my owners for that? he was merely a piece of property.”
Linda was forced to decorate for a party on the day of her father's death, as her owners saw him only as property.
Emphasizes the complete disregard for slaves' humanity.