Here the writer talks about why she’s been fascinated with Girl with a Pearl Earring since she was 19 and how that turned into inspiration for the book. Since being published, Chevalier’s novel has sold over five million copies worldwide, suggesting there’s a shared curiosity about this particular Vermeer work. Set in 17th century Delft, Holland, Chevalier presents a fictional account of Vermeer, the girl in the painting and the artwork itself. ": Slavery and the U.S.In 1999, American author Tracy Chevalier published Girl with a Pearl Earring, a novel directly inspired by one of Vermeer’s most famous works of the same name. The Slave Narrative Tradition in African American Literature Flint would not fulfill his promises, and the legal documents he drew up would be invalid: "I knew that my master's offer was a snare, and that if I entered it escape would be impossible." So she believes that her decision to go to the plantation is "inevitable."Ībout Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Her understandable reluctance to trust in their promises is a recurring theme throughout the narrative. But throughout her life, Linda has been betrayed by white people. Flint threatens that her son will be put to work, and both of her children will ultimately be sold. Flint's offer, choosing instead to go to the plantation.
Flint promises that her work duties will be light. She would be able to live with her children, in relative privacy, and Dr. Compared to the lives of other slaves, this living arrangement provided benefits.
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And now she is being offered the opportunity to see her children free if she sacrifices her own morality. Possibly the greatest burden of Linda's life is that her children are living in slavery. Because blacks were believed to be creatures without a soul, this ceremony was generally restricted to whites.) (In Chapter 14, Linda takes a great risk by having her children baptized in the church. And such an arrangement violates Linda's devout Christian beliefs. In order for her children to be free, she must accept sexual servitude to an emotionally and sometimes physically abusive man whom she despises.
She must make a pivotal decision, one of the most difficult that any mother could face. He promises to procure her a cottage, where she can live with her children. Flint offers to give her and her children freedom if Linda will consent to live as his mistress. In Chapter 15, Linda is presented with a heart-rending dilemma: Dr. Slavery is terrible for men but it is far more terrible for women." She is especially distraught at the birth of her daughter, because she realizes that, as a female, the child will be forced to follow in her footsteps: "When they told me my new-born babe was a girl, my heart was heavier than it had ever been before. In these three chapters, Linda focuses on the new hardships she is forced to endure as the mother of two young children. Flint's plantation, she renews her resolve and begins to plot her escape. Flint plans to send her children back to Mr. But when she accidentally learns that Dr. During one of her visits, she reveals her plans to escape, but changes her mind when her grandmother reminds her that her first responsibility is to her children. Over the next several weeks, Linda, accompanied by a young man from the plantation, sneaks home several times to visit her children. Flint objects, she tells him that Ellen is sick and he lets the incident pass. After a terrifying incident during which Ellen is nearly killed by a snake, Linda realizes that she can no longer care for her daughter and sends her back to live with her grandmother. Flint - are extremely demanding, Linda is forced to leave Ellen on her own for most of the day. At the plantation, Linda resolves to work hard, but adamantly resists being "broken in." Because her new duties - which include preparing the household for the arrival of the new Mrs. Ben is ill so Linda leaves him behind with her grandmother. Linda finally succumbs to - as the lesser of two evils - go to the plantation. When she refuses, he threatens to send her and her children to live on his son's plantation. Flint offers to buy their freedom if Linda will consent to live with him as his mistress. After again refusing to sell her and her children, Dr. Flint begins to use her children to punish and control her. With two children to care for, Linda's life is even more challenging, because Dr. She names her son Benjamin, after her favorite uncle, and her daughter Ellen, after her father's mistress. Flint's protests, both children are baptized. Linda bears another child, a daughter, and despite Dr.
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Full Glossary for Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.The Slave Narrative Tradition in African American Literature.About Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
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