The True Narrative

Harriet Jacobs, a former slave, is an African American female writer. She takes her life experience as sources to compose an autobiography Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself. Many literature critics doubt the validity of its authorship and authenticity of its narrative when this work appears in public. Although some scholars have approved Jacobs as the author of this work, this thesis analyzes Jacobs'autobiography Incidents through the perspective of autobiographical theories to draw the conclusion that Incidents is the truthful narrative.This thesis consists of three parts, apart from the introduction and the conclusion. The introduction gives a brief introduction to Harriet Jacobs, her autobiography Incidents, literature review and the theory of autobiography.Chapter One analyzes Jacobs'changing identities and the reasons for them. The issue of identity is a very important respect for autobiographer. As for African-Americans, it is essential to know what kind of identities they acquire. Being a slave is the first cultural identity Jacobs acquires when she was born. As a slave, Jacobs is deprived of the legal body rights by her white master, and as a female slave, she suffers the sexual exploitation. She is figured as a powerless and defeated woman. But in the battle with the slaveholder and the slavery she is portrayed as an intelligent and capable woman. Being a fugitive is the second cultural identity she acquires. In fact, the freedom plays a key role in her changing identities. The pursuit of freedom makes Jacobs set feet on the way to the North America. Later Jacobs takes part in abolition activities and becomes an active abolitionist. Responsibility for the enslaved women makes Jacobs become a well-mannered woman. In this respect her identities are consistent with the incidents happened to her. Jacobs achieves the purpose of telling the truth by explaining her identities and some of her characteristics, by which readers get to know Jacobs'honesty, courage and truthfulness, then to believe that Jacobs, a truthful person, tells a truthful story.Chapter Two proves the truthful narrative of Incidents from three dimensional facts of an autobiography. The sexual harassment from her white master and the concealment in the garret for seven years are autobiographical facts, which display the strong side of her personalities. In the Incidents Jacobs describes some other people, such as her old grandmother, some slaves and white people, which constitute the biographical facts. Jacobs also records some historical facts, for example: the slavery in America, the racial discrimination and the issue of the Fugitive Slave Law. The three dimensional facts are blended in the autobiography, aiming to illustrate the truthful narrative of Incidents.Chapter Three explores Jacobs'sense of conscience. On the one hand, Jacobs ensures her truthful narrative by some of her merits such as honesty and the courage to admit the errors. It is the honesty and courage that are the components of truthfulness. On the other hand, Jacobs makes sure of her truthful narrative by assessing her shame. Though she runs the risk of arousing contempt from readers, Jacobs earns self-respect for herself.In the conclusion, the author of this thesis concludes that by analyzing Jacobs'changing identities, the three dimensional fact in the Incidents, and the consciences of autobiographers, the truthful narrative of Incidents is beyond the doubt.