In Harriet Jacobs' historically famous short story Incidents in the Life of a Slave, the story of Linda Brent's struggles as a slave helps shed light on unrealistic standards imposed on women during the 19th century. As defined by Barbara Welter, the "cult of true womanhood" required domesticity, piety, purity, and submission in all women of the period. Propagated by popular magazines and literature of the time, Welter explains that these traditions reassured Americans "in a society where values ​​changed frequently, where fortunes rose and fell with frightening rapidity, where social and economic mobility provided instability as well as hope , one thing remained the same: a real woman was a real woman wherever she was” (151-52). Likewise, any woman who did not live up to such standards was considered a “demi-woman” (173). slaves were considered inferior by default, the cult of true femininity placed further pressure on black women to live up to social mores. While Jacobs does not shy away from structured traditions of femininity in her tale, she does use the conventions of a "real" woman. to emphasize the impossibility for slave women to achieve such standards. Say no to plagiarism Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an Original Essay At the end of the story, Linda reminds her audience that she has not yet fully achieved the main goal of her life: to have a real home for herself and the children. She points out that although her "story ends in freedom," she still "longs for a home of her own, however humble" (152). As defined by Welter, "the true woman's place was indisputable 'at the hearth - as daughter, sister, but above all as wife and mother'" (162). Throughout the story, Linda Brent is confronted with her inability to participate to the same domestic world as her white counterparts. Lacking sufficient role models regarding true femininity, Linda's Aunt Martha becomes her only symbol of ideal domesticity. A freed slave, Aunt Martha has her own home and makes money by selling products from oven to the community Generally known as having “intelligence and good character,” Aunt Martha comes as close to embodying the ideas of true femininity as possible for a black slave (131 However, Linda quickly realizes that such domestic perfection is not so easily achieved by her slave master, Dr. Flint, she is unable to achieve true womanhood. Due to sexual and emotional abuse, the plantation family becomes demoralized beyond salvation. For example, the cottage that Dr. Flint begins to build for Linda represents Jacobs'. rejection of the cult of true femininity. An opportunity for her to finally have a home of her own, Linda instead chooses marriage to escape Dr. Flint's oppressive wrath. In this case, Jacobs addresses men who manipulate women and explains how they can work to overcome this problem. Although women were partially dependent on men to ensure domesticity and purity, Brent's refusal to submit to Dr. Flint's advances highlights the implied rebellion against true femininity. In short, Linda Brent's rejection of Dr. Flint's cottage embodies Jacobs's critique of nineteenth-century ideals of true women. Before analyzing Jacobs's implicit criticisms of pious virtues, it is important to realize the extent to which blacks were excluded from religion. From the beginning of her life, Linda looked to God for answers, but rarely found satisfaction. In thechapter 2, Linda states that her “heart rebelled against God” following her father's death (130). Throughout the story, Jacobs highlights the extent of exclusion experienced by blacks regarding religion. Because blacks were seen as subhuman, they were considered incapable of achieving salvation to the extent of their white counterparts. Therefore, piety is not a practical or attainable virtue as far as black women (men) are concerned. Yet in the nineteenth century “religion or piety was the core of a woman's virtue, the source of her strength” (Welter 152). Linda Brent's direct rejection of pity can be seen when she belittles Aunt Martha's claims that slavery is the result of God's will, as well as other instances in which she believes God is not acting in her best interests. By illustrating how slavery jeopardizes one's faith, Jacobs subtly comments on the unreasonableness of the cult of true womanhood. Purity, linked to sexual identity, "was as essential as piety to a young woman, its absence unnatural and unfeminine. Without it she was, in reality, no woman at all, but a member of an inferior order" (Welter 154). Jacobs similarly, using sentimental language, appeals to the emotions of his audience by expressing his desire to achieve the same pure virtues as his reader (primarily upper-middle-class white women). However, she justifies her deviation from the Cult by explaining how her role as a slave compromises the ruthless standards of True Womanhood. Furthermore, Jacobs illustrates the extent to which a woman's purity is endangered by white slave owners and their mistresses. From an early age Linda Brent's purity is violated by her master "who resorts to many means to achieve his goals" by "whispering vulgar words in [her] ear" and "populating her mind with impure images" (134). Avoiding direct confrontation with Dr. Flint, Brent chooses to remain protected and isolated from her family and the public in the hope that silence will preserve her purity. She explains that I had escaped my feared fate by finding myself among people” (136). However, as the narrative progresses, Brent develops a more explicit rebellion against the cult of true femininity. For example, Linda deliberately forbids Dr. Flint from furthering her sexual advances. Brent chooses his own marital partner and states that "there is something like freedom in having a lover who has no control over you" (137). Brent's choice of sexual partner completely undermines the preconceived expectations of enslaved women. She makes it clear that she chooses (rather than be chosen by) Mr. Sands and states, “I knew what I did and I did it with deliberate calculation” (137). It is the choice to make one's own decisions regarding one's sexual life that reveals its inherent agency, further affirming the claim that Jacobs seeks to diminish the principles of true femininity. Since the Cult offers no hope for enslaved women to achieve purity, Brent decides to achieve personal dignity and sexual agency. At this point, it becomes evident that enslaved women are forced to neglect at least one element of the Cult of True Femininity in order to protect another. In the narrative, Harriet Jacobs uses characters besides Linda Brent to criticize the Cult's requirement for submission. For example, the first woman the reader learns about is “a maiden, seventy years of age” who buys Aunt Martha's freedom at auction (132). With this action, he knowingly discourages Dr. Flint from separating Aunt Martha from her family. With "a big heart overflowing with human kindness," she actively prevents Dr. Flint from controlling Auntie's fate. 2016.