Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

by

Harriet Jacobs

First Mistress Character Analysis

The unnamed mistress of Mother and, during her early years, Linda. Mother and the mistress have an unusually close relationship, and at her deathbed the mistress promises to take care of her children. She takes the young girl under her wing, teaches her about religion, and treats her so kindly that Linda says she doesn’t even realize she’s a slave. However, on her death she doesn’t free the girl but leaves her to the Flints, plunging her into a decade of trouble. The mistress’s pious and kindly attitude contrasts with her actual behavior, and Linda uses this character to point out that people who make an outward show of religiosity often lack the moral strength that should come with such devotion.

First Mistress Quotes in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

The Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl quotes below are all either spoken by First Mistress or refer to First Mistress. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

My mistress had taught me the precepts of God’s Word: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.” But I was her slave, and I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor.

Related Characters: Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent (speaker), First Mistress
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl LitChart as a printable PDF.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl PDF

First Mistress Quotes in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

The Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl quotes below are all either spoken by First Mistress or refer to First Mistress. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

My mistress had taught me the precepts of God’s Word: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.” But I was her slave, and I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor.

Related Characters: Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent (speaker), First Mistress
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis: