Shrouded Christianity
The Bible is a "roadmap" that shows how one ought to live their life. It contains the mind of God and gives Christians moral guidelines and examples of which to abide by. Although the oppressors in both "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" written by Harriet Jacobs and "Our Nig" written by Harriet E. Wilson, claim to be of the Christian faith, there is a disparity between their religious values and how they actually treat their "slaves". Jacobs and Wilson show how this hypocrisy leads to physical abuse, limitations, and mental anguish. Both "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" and "Our Nig" are replete with an insubordination of Christian values and the authors use this to exemplify the wrong doings towards slaves. The word of the Lord says, "Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them."(Matthew 7:12) This scripture, however, was not one of the Christian values that Dr. Flint and Mrs. Flint abided by in "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." Throughout her story, Harriet Jacobs describes the many hardships that Linda Brent went through. "Dr. Flint had sworn that he would make me suffer, to my last day..."(223). These are not the words that would come out a Christian mouth, fo
Flint, however, feels that this ideal is not applicable to him and his slave. The Bellmonts should have never allowed this thought to enter Frado's head. This attitude towards the disallowance of Frado to go to church is in complete contrast with all that Christians believe in. However in both "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" and "Our Nig," Jacobs and Wilson demonstrate how there is a disparity between religious values and actions bestowed upon their slaves. Rather than teach Frado about God, Mrs. Being that her mistress was a professor of religion but not all that great of a man, she was unsure about heaven and why it was so special if evil people, such as her mistress, were going there. The mental anguish that Frado endures is that of a battle with oneself. Bellmont was very much aware of this. Flint relayed into Brent's pure and innocent mind contributed to her separation from her self. Flint felt and acted as if they could do whatever they pleased with Linda Brent and there would be no consequences. B and Mary commenced beating [Frado] inhumanly; then propping her mouth open with a piece of wood, shut her up in a dark room, without any supper" (451). Flint would not impose these types of "punishments" on their own children, so why was it acceptable to impose them on Linda Brent? It is the double standard that the Flints hold. Whilst growing up Frado received many beatings, mainly at the expense of Mrs.
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Acceptance Essays
