o often had been sold from their families. The younger among them, like Jacobs, viewed a kindly owner as a form of parental figure lacking their own parental nurturing. JacobsÆ mother died when she was six.
By the time she is twelve, Jacobs is sold to her first mistressÆ relatives after she succumbs to her illness. While waiting for news of what will become of her, we see that despite her happiness to do the bidding of her first mistress Jacobs (1861) still longs for freedom, ôI could not help having some hopes that she had left me freeö (Ch 1). Ultimately, Jacobs (1861) becomes aware that her motherÆs and her own kindnesses to the mistress will not be enough to keep her from being sold as a piece of captive property, ôBut, alas! we all know that the memory of a faithful slave does not avail much to save her children from the auction blockö (Ch 1). Slaves suffered many forms of abuse and captivity. Worrying about oneÆs fate for a small and orphaned child is the worst kind of psychological captivity.
We see that psychological captivity is also a part of JacobsÆ experiences as a slave. While others are looking forward to celebrating New YearÆs, slave mothers look toward the day with ôpeculiar sorrows,ö knowing that her children ômay all be torn from her the next morningö (Jacobs, 1861, Ch 3). This kind of abusive captivity appears to be more painful for Jacobs than any form of physical captivity. When the children of one slave mother are sold, Jacobs (1861) is still haunting by her haggard image begging ôGone! All gone! Wh
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