American Literature. Harriet Jacobs and Walt Whitman

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Harriet Jacob’s narrative reveals the unique brutalities inflicted on enslaved women such as enslavement, degradation, and sexual exploitation. Harriet Jacob goes ahead to point out that American slavery is more revolting than that which is generally seen, as it entails terrible suffering inflicted upon the woman. Having been a slave, Harriet Jacobs reveals the various humiliations and experiences she had to endure in that unhappy state.

Despite her woes, she had to carry on with her life. Just like Jacob’s work, Whitman’s poetry flows in syncopation to life around him such as how he related with other people and the problems he saw some people undergoing. ‘Song of myself’ is a poem about several subjects including protests about the civil war, how humans work more efficiently ideas were facilitated by the opportunity he witnessed in America and reinforced by what he saw in his country.

Contrary to the lack of hope and future for a slave girl’s life, Whitman shows great optimism and a future for every person. His optimistic ideas are evidenced by the following line in the poem “All truths wait in all things, they do not need the obstetric forceps of a surgeon” Whitman saw imperfections all around him from his family life to city life and had confidence in the notion that evil was part of a universal design and that everyone had a chance for a better future in their next life. This is unlike the life of a slave girl where there is no chance for a better future as everybody else discriminates against them including their employers.

Inequality is a major aspect seen in the life of a slave girl. Harriet Jacobs says that young women often face more abuse than their male counterparts, and even though they are both punished by the slave owners, women’s punishment is more brutal and extreme. Inequality is also demonstrated in the fact that racism was practiced during that time in America and the blacks were punished and abused more than the whites and the Europeans.

This was during the full reign of the racism era. Whitman on the other hand demonstrates the idea that we are all part of a large whole, he explains, “And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand and the egg of wren”. Whitman’s texts lend support to the sense that all things are equal. For a better future for every person, he suggests that ‘all is one and people should be there for one another.

What becomes clear through Jacob’s narrative is that slavery is much more than just brutality, rape, and sexual coercion by white men and slave owners. is common. Black women such as Jacobs, often faced with poor or no choices and could spend the rest of their lives trying to save their children from a similar fate. Many white mistresses were exceedingly cruel, maybe because they felt threatened as they thought their husbands would be attracted to the female slaves. Whitman, in his poetry, refused to be censored and he celebrated the body and sexuality, he embarrassed the invisible and the disenfranchised, from women to slaves to prostitutes. He had hoped to heal the countries, deep political divisions, as well.

Whiteman transformed the will diversity and intensity of the city into a radical, passionate vision for America. He points out further that America is made up of different ethnic groups and people must find a way to coexists due to their diversity as there is strength in diversity.

According to him, it is everyone’s responsibility to preserve his or her country and the laws and constitutions uphold. All humans have the right to life, liberty, and slaves from insult, violence, or even death, and all these are inflicted by the people around them. The mistresses ought to protect the helpless victims, abandon the feelings of jealousy and rage and become human in their behavior. No one seems to be concerned about how the slaves live and their health. The wrongs and vices that grow out of slavery are many therefore the helpless millions suffering in this cruel bondage should be helped.

The first part of the poem “celebrate myself and sing myself, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you”, represents his belief that his country was born for people who are unified it, therefore, belongs to everyone. He encourages people to unite and live as one community without discriminating against others. He has criticized the constitution which states that all men are free and yet permitting the ownership of slaves, he says the country is huge, therefore there is room for diversity vices that grow slavery should be stopped. The poem explores the possibility for communication between individuals starting from the premise “what I assume you assume”.

Whereas Jacobs reveals no concern or communion between slaves and this slave owner, Whitman encourages this saying it’s of immense value. He believes that neither side is better than the other that people should compromise Whit mat sees an opportunity to liberate his fellow man from the shackles of convention.

Whitman encourages teamwork as a way of solving human problems. He also explains how even the simplest blade of grass is an extremely complex, important thing, in essence, he is saying that everything’s valuable, so why could the country not focus on getting along instead of made up of hundreds and thousands of people, therefore different divisions and ethnic grouping such as servants, slaves, low-class people should be eliminated.

Whitman does not face to recognize the role played by God in human life in his poem he points out God understands human suffering he is always there in times of need. Harriet Jacobs says that during slavery as she was struggling and felt she had been forsaken by God because all her efforts when she was a slave become reckless in despair she continue to state that a master may treat someone rudely as he please and he or she dare not speak. As explained in lectures, Whitman’s poem is a product of the American experience, where his dilly seals fertile fields of promise for freedom and change.

Jacobs states plainly that the condition of being a slave can be the root of unhappiness, brutality, and degradation can course psychological problems to a person. Instead of these vices, Whitman points out that idea of democracy and equality should be widespread in the world. He continues to say that being good to people does not cost much and it can contribute to the betterment of the world.

Whereas in the life of a slave girl self-esteem and confidence is not evident because of the discrimination of the slaves by the slave’s owners, Whitman’s poem illustrates strength to carry on for example in the following verse where he says, “Myself moving forward here one that I love and go with him…. Now perfect health begins hoping not to cease till death” this line shows great hope and represents joy and love in a unified manner.

Whitman opposes the ownership of slaves and continues to state that since all men are equal they should therefore be treated equally. He says supreme optimism prevails everywhere. According to Harriet Jacobs, the condition of a slave confuses all principles of morality and infant. Renders the practice of them impossible, therefore human beings should treat one another fairly.

Whitman’s poem depicts that all morality rests on the principle of utility and strives to produce as much happiness as possible. His discussion can be rightly regarded as a classic of liberal thought on humanity. He proposes freedom sociality and individuality. He further points out that individuality is a positive state that embraces societies, therefore, relies’s on reason and dispensation of justice to the self and others. Contrary to Whitman’s poem, Jacobs’ narrative illustrates that individuality and freedom imply consideration of one’s self at the expense of others. It shows discrimination, brutality, and abuse of human

Rights. Whitman discourages the peculiar evil of silencing opinions and expression of individuals. In his context, the government, the authority, and the society have the power to protect the rights of its citizens. He opposes slavery and continues to say that encouraging slavery is harming the whole world.

Reference

Jacobs Harriet (1862). Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. NY: Oxford University Press.

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American Literature. Harriet Jacobs and Walt Whitman

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