Linda Brent

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Disasters expose our true selves. For some people, this means acting bravely and courageously by looking out for others. For others, this means hiding and looking out for themselves. The different definitions of each word reflect on the different views people have on certain people. In If I Die In a Combat Zone by Tim O’Brien, O’Brien defines brave, courageous, and coward-like individuals. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs tells the story of a woman hiding from her disaster, slavery. Based on O'Brien's definitions, Linda Brent is not courageous because she has exhibited grace under pressure, but has not shown motives to do better next time. Throughout the text, Brent displays grace under pressure, proving she is not …show more content…
O’Brien adds, “You promise, almost moving your lips, to do better next time; that by itself is a kind of courage,” (O’Brien 146-7). Brent further describes her situation and states, “This continued darkness was oppressive. It seemed horrible to sit or lie in a cramped position day after day, without one gleam of light. Yet I would have chosen his, rather than my lot as a slave, though white people considered it an easy one; and it was so compared with the fate of others” (Jacobs 1). Brent remains in confinement and refuses to leave because she wants to escape the conditions of slavery. She would choose to stay in the shed and hide, then face the owners. Rather than working harder to please the owners for the sake of her children, Brent hides, leaving her children exposed to the harsh owners. Because she chooses confinement over fighting slavery, Brent does not promise to do better next time. Brent’s lack of room for improvement supports O’Brien’s definition of courage.
According to O’Brien, Linda Brent has not acted courageously through acting gracefully under pressure and displaying no thoughts for improvement. Brent’s inability to face slavery demonstrates she is not a courageous person. She is persistent in keeping herself safe even if it means her children will risk danger. Similar, to a man worried and frightened of dying at war, who ends up saving himself. During difficult
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