# The Old Enemy Again 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 receives a letter purportedly from Emily Flint's younger brother but recognizes Dr. Flint's hand, exposing the hypocrisy of slaveholders. She learns Dr. Flint plans to visit the North, so she arranges for her son Benjamin to be sent to Boston. Benjamin arrives joyfully, and Linda later returns to work for Mrs. Bruce, but the constant threat of being recognized by Southerners in New York keeps her feeling insecure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy of Religion and Morality

Dr. Flint's letter uses sentimental language about family and Christian death to mask his intent to recapture Linda, exposing the moral hypocrisy of slaveholders.

### Northern Complicity and Abolitionism

Linda's fear of being recognized by Southerners in New York highlights the precariousness of fugitives even in free states, where slave catchers operated.

### Motherhood and Family Separation

Linda's joy at Benjamin's arrival and her ongoing separation from Ellen underscore the deep emotional toll of family separation under slavery.

## Character check-ins

### Linda Brent

Receives and sees through Dr. Flint's deceptive letter; arranges for Benjamin's journey north; returns to work for Mrs. Bruce but remains haunted by fear of recognition.

### Dr. Flint

Writes a deceitful letter under the guise of Emily's brother, attempting to lure Linda back; travels to New York in search of her.

### Benjamin

Linda's son, who arrives in Boston full of excitement and pride in his reading ability, unaware of the challenges free Black children face in the North.

### Grandmother

Holds legal ownership of Linda's children; sends Benjamin north; is mentioned as longing for Linda's return.

### Mrs. Bruce

Linda's employer, unaware of Linda's fugitive status; treats Linda with considerate kindness.

### William

Linda's brother, who takes care of Benjamin after his arrival in Boston.

## Key lines

> O, the hypocrisy of slaveholders! Did the old fox suppose I was goose enough to go into such a trap? Verily, he relied too much on 'the stupidity of the African race.'

Linda condemns the deceit of slaveholders, noting that Dr. Flint underestimated her intelligence by thinking she would fall for his trick.

_Highlights Linda's sharp awareness of slaveholder manipulation and her refusal to be deceived._

> O reader, can you imagine my joy? No, you cannot, unless you have been a slave mother.

Linda asserts that only those who have experienced slavery as a mother can fully understand the depth of her happiness at being reunited with her son.

_Emphasizes the unique emotional bond and suffering of enslaved mothers._

> Hot weather brings out snakes and slaveholders, and I like one class of the venomous creatures as little as I do the other.

Linda equates slaveholders with snakes, expressing her fear and contempt for both as dangers that emerge in the summer.

_Uses vivid metaphor to convey the constant threat slaveholders posed to fugitives._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-old-enemy-again
- 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