Harriet Jacobs, "A Life of a Slave Girl," is an account in which describes her entire life throughout the time she was enslaved up until she was freed. This story is completely truthful, as she assures the reader knows. In the introduction she states "this narrative is no fiction" and her "adventures...[are] strictly true." She also states that she has not written this story in light of getting sympathy for her sufferings, but rather to raise awareness to others. As we discussed in class, she probably did have some intention of getting a little sympathy from her readers. In her story she describes her detailed emotions and how wretched she felt, which entices the audience to feel sympathetic for her. Jacobs also wrote directly to her readers. In one instance she said, "Reader, did you ever hate? I hope not. I never did but once" and again later she states, "And now reader, I come to a period in my unhappy life which I would gladly forget if I could." Directly speaking to her reader, in my opinion allows for the reader to pause and reflect an even greater amount than what they usually would. This makes her writing much more personal, on a whole new level, almost as if you knew her personally. She uses this technique right before she describes her actions when she slept and got pregnant from a white man which disgraced her family. She is also ashamed of what she has done and tries to convey her feelings by connecting to the reader (which was targeted white high class women) and by telling them that having a lover who has no control over you brings "akin to freedom."
Overall her language is personal and portrays her struggle she experienced throughout her life. She attempts to obtain some sympathy and understanding from her readers by telling them her reasoning behind her actions and her feelings towards how she felt about them, knowing her audience may judge her she used this personal language to earn attraction and awareness.
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