Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

by

Harriet Jacobs

The Boat Captain Character Analysis

The captain of the boat on which Linda and Fanny escape North Carolina. At first Linda mistrusts the captain, feeling that he might try to sell her to a slave trader for money or harass her during the journey. However, he turns out to be an honorable man and conveys her safely to Philadelphia.
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The Boat Captain Character Timeline in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

The timeline below shows where the character The Boat Captain appears in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Preparations for Escape
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
...to the wharf and finds the ship setting off; he rushes aboard and tells the captain that he needs to bring another woman on the ship. After some confusion and a... (full context)
Chapter Thirty: Northward Bound
Motherhood and Family Theme Icon
...in the cabin, and she has to explain her whereabouts for the last years. The captain warns them not to cry too loudly or attract undue attention, but says they can... (full context)
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
The voyage proceeds without issue, but Linda can’t help mistrusting the captain and sailors. It’s completely within their power to turn around and sell them; the women... (full context)
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
By the time the ship arrives in Philadelphia, Linda feels that the captain could not have treated her better if she was a white woman. She and Fanny... (full context)
Chapter Thirty-One: Incidents in Philadelphia
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery Theme Icon
When they arrive at the harbor in Philadelphia, the captain finds a “respectable looking colored man” and asks him to assist the women in finding... (full context)