Linda was able to achieve her secured freedom with the help of Mrs. Bruce. Her slave owners, Mr. and Mrs. Dodge were constantly searching for Linda to take back to the south. Mr. Dodge was actually a northerner by birth, but after he entered a southern society he accepted the idea of being a slaveholder.
The first time that Mr. and Mrs. Dodge came to look for Linda, Mrs. Bruce took a great risk by sending Linda away so that she may be protected from her slave owners. The second time the Dodge family came to New York to search for Linda. However, this time Mrs. Bruce declared Linda and her children free and bought Linda’s freedom from Mr. Dodge. Even though Linda was grateful for her newfound freedom, she was upset that Mrs. Bruce purchased her. Linda felt she was indebted to Mrs. Bruce for her new secured freedom.
After Linda obtained her freedom, she had mixed emotions about it. Even though she had a secured freedom in the North where slavery is prohibited, there were still prejudices that got in the way of how she lived her life. There were many dreams that Linda wanted to fulfill, but oppression often stood in the way of those dreams.
1 comment:
I don't understand how Mrs. Bruce increased her risk by sending Linda away; wouldn't it lessen Mrs. Bruce's risk? I agree that she didn't want to be "bought for freedom", though. I also like how you mentioned that although she was free, she was still oppressed. When she went to England, she said she felt truly free for the first time in her life; I wonder why she didn't just stay there?
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