# A Visit to England 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 Brent travels to England as a nurse for little Mary Bruce after Mrs. Bruce's death. She experiences life without racial prejudice for the first time, contrasts the condition of English peasants favorably with that of American slaves, and undergoes a genuine religious conversion under the influence of a kind clergyman.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dehumanization and Identity

Linda feels 'pure, unadulterated freedom' for the first time in England, where she is treated according to her deportment rather than her complexion.

### Hypocrisy of Religion and Morality

Linda contrasts the hypocritical church membership of Dr. Flint and other slaveholders with the genuine Christian example of the clergyman in Steventon.

### Northern Complicity and Abolitionism

Linda critiques Miss Murray's rosy portrayal of American slavery and highlights the relative freedom of English peasants compared to enslaved people in the U.S.

## Character check-ins

### Linda Brent

Travels to England with Mary Bruce, experiences freedom from racial prejudice, and undergoes a religious conversion.

### Mrs. Bruce

Has died; Linda mourns her loss as an excellent friend and tender mother to little Mary.

### Mr. Bruce

Wishes his daughter to visit relatives in England and entrusts her care to Linda.

### Baby Mary

The motherless child Linda accompanies to England; Linda observes her playmates and nurses.

### Benjamin

Linda puts Benny to a trade before departing for England.

### Ellen

Left behind in the house with Linda's friend to attend school.

### Uncle Fred

Mentioned as an example of a pious slave who, like Linda, risked lashes for learning to read.

## Key lines

> For the first time in my life I was in a place where I was treated according to my deportment, without reference to my complexion. I felt as if a great millstone had been lifted from my breast.

For the first time, Linda is judged by her behavior, not her skin color, and feels an immense burden lifted.

_Highlights the psychological relief of experiencing life without racial prejudice._

> I repeat that the most ignorant and the most destitute of these peasants was a thousand fold better off than the most pampered American slave.

Even the poorest English peasant lives far better than the most privileged American slave.

_Linda's stark comparison between English poverty and American slavery._

> The contemptuous manner in which the communion had been administered to colored people, in my native place; the church membership of Dr. Flint, and others like him; and the buying and selling of slaves, by professed ministers of the gospel, had given me a prejudice against the Episcopal church.

Linda's negative view of the Episcopal church stemmed from racist communion practices, slaveholding members like Dr. Flint, and clergy who traded in slaves.

_Explains Linda's religious skepticism before her conversion in England._

## Links

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