# Eliza Harris explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

A mother flees with her child across a frozen river, driven by desperate love and the terror of slavery. She risks death to reach a free shore, where she is sheltered by abolitionists. The poem condemns America's hypocrisy of liberty and justice while millions are enslaved.

## Themes in this chapter

### Motherhood and Family

A mother's love drives her to risk everything for her child's freedom.

### Freedom and Liberation

The mother's flight and successful escape symbolize the pursuit of liberty.

## Character check-ins

### Eliza Harris

The mother who flees with her child, crossing the ice to freedom.

## Key lines

> For she is a mother—her child is a slave— And she’ll give him his freedom, or find him a grave!

Because she is a mother and her child is enslaved, she will either secure his freedom or die trying.

_Highlights the mother's desperate resolve._

> How say that her banner in mockery waves— Her “star-spangled banner”—o’er millions of slaves?

How can we admit that our flag hypocritically flies over millions of enslaved people?

_Critique of American hypocrisy regarding liberty._

> With her step on the ice, and her arm on her child, The danger was fearful, the pathway was wild; But, aided by Heaven, she gained a free shore, Where the friends of humanity open’d their door.

She stepped onto the ice holding her child, facing great danger, but with divine help she reached a free shore where abolitionists welcomed her.

_Describes the perilous crossing and successful escape._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/eliza-harris
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters