# Competition in Cunning explained — Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

> Chapter companion for Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Linda Brent.

## What happens

Linda devises a plan to outwit Dr. Flint by writing letters from New York to convince him she has escaped north, while she remains hidden in her grandmother's garret. She enlists Peter to mail the letters, and her grandmother and aunt Nancy assist in the ruse. Dr. Flint reads a forged letter to the grandmother, claiming Linda wants to return, but Linda overhears and maintains her deception.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resistance and Escape

Linda uses cunning and deception to resist Dr. Flint's control and plan her eventual escape, demonstrating active resistance.

### Northern Complicity and Abolitionism

Dr. Flint's fear of abolitionists in Boston and the reference to Massachusetts as a 'nigger hunter' highlight northern tensions over slavery.

### The Illusion of Kind Masters

Dr. Flint's pretense of forgiveness and willingness to let Linda be purchased masks his true manipulative and predatory nature.

## Character check-ins

### Linda Brent

Orchestrates a cunning plan to write letters from New York to deceive Dr. Flint, while hiding in the garret.

### Dr. Flint

Attempts to trap Linda by offering to let her be purchased, and writes to the mayor of Boston to verify her location.

### Grandmother

Distressed by Linda's plan but supports her; listens to Dr. Flint's fabricated letter and fears for Linda's safety.

### Peter

Trusted friend who agrees to carry Linda's letters to New York and mail them, risking his own safety.

### Aunt Nancy

Helps by reporting conversations at Dr. Flint's house and expresses willingness to remain a slave for Linda's freedom.

### Ellen

Briefly appears when Dr. Flint stumbles over her on the piazza; she expresses a desire to see her mother.

## Key lines

> I resolved to match my cunning against his cunning.

Linda decides to use her own cleverness to outsmart Dr. Flint's schemes.

_Highlights Linda's strategic resistance and agency._

> The mayor of Boston won't trouble himself to hunt niggers for Dr. Flint.

Linda reassures her grandmother that northern officials are unlikely to assist a slaveholder in recapturing a runaway.

_Reflects the limited cooperation between northern authorities and southern slave catchers before the Fugitive Slave Law._

> I have no wish to hold her as my slave. Her friends can buy her as soon as she arrives here.

Dr. Flint falsely claims he does not want Linda as a slave and offers to let her be purchased, but this is a trap.

_Exemplifies the theme of the illusion of kind masters._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxv-competition-in-cunning
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters