Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl | Chapter 24 : The Candidate for Congress | Summary

Summary

After his third visit to New York, Dr. Flint returns to support the Democratic party's candidate, Mr. Sands's rival, in the election. Mr. Sands wins. Wanting to secure emancipation papers, Linda sneaks out to speak with Mr. Sands before he departs for New York. She is so stiff from her confinement she can barely walk.

Mr. Sands promises to free the children and purchase Linda if he can. While he speaks with Martha, Linda tries to go back upstairs, but her weak limbs fail her. Her grandmother finds her and calls Phillip to carry her back to the garret. Linda is "left with [her] own thoughts" in a state of hopelessness that she depicts by comparison to her surroundings: "starless as the midnight darkness around [her]."

Analysis

Even though Martha knows her granddaughter has put the safety of the entire family at risk, she supports Linda in trying to ensure her children's freedom. She pities her granddaughter and calls her "poor thing."

Back in her "dungeon," Linda wishes she could die but vows to live on for the sake of the children.