Harriet Jacobs
by Lydia R. Diamond

Name: Harriet Jacobs
Brand: Lydia R. Diamond
SKU: 9780573704352

Harriet Jacobs Book Cover — Harriet Jacobs Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins American Civil War Era Role(s) for Black Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings

Synopsis

In her book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl , Harriet Jacobs describes with brutal honesty the hardships she endures under slavery, including the extraordinary choices she makes to be near her children.

To survive, she escapes into her imagination and through writing, discovers hope for a better life.

Accompanied by the rich musical traditions of slave spirituals, Harriet Jacobs is an inspiring look at a young woman’s fascinating journey from slavery to freedom.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
HARRIET JACOBS (14-19) The author of the first published slave narrative. Harriet possesses an intelligence and centeredness beyond her years. These traits are equally attributable to the strength that surely any slave must have had to endure, and a personal wisdom and acuity passed down from insightful parents and grandparents. Harriet has a social savvyness, a dexterity that serves her well both with her family, peers, and slave-owners. She's very educated, and slips easily between a more casual slave vernacular of the time to the forrnallanguage used in her writing, and when addressing the audience. She is not "putting this on" or "talking proper" she is an adept and unconscious "code-switcher". Historically Harriet is described as having light brown skin and dark eyes. She is the daughter of two bi-racial parents. She is pretty, but does not embrace nor consciously exploit her looks, in her setting they are more often a liability then a blessing and she is aware of this.	female	14-19	(14-19) The author of the first published slave narrative. Harriet possesses an intelligence and centeredness beyond her years. These traits are equally attributable to the strength that surely any slave must have had to endure, and a personal wisdom and acuity passed down from insightful parents and grandparents. Harriet has a social savvyness, a dexterity that serves her well both with her family, peers, and slave-owners. She's very educated, and slips easily between a more casual slave vernacular of the time to the forrnallanguage used in her writing, and when addressing the audience. She is not "putting this on" or "talking proper" she is an adept and unconscious "code-switcher". Historically Harriet is described as having light brown skin and dark eyes. She is the daughter of two bi-racial parents. She is pretty, but does not embrace nor consciously exploit her looks, in her setting they are more often a liability then a blessing and she is aware of this.
GRANDMA / ENSEMBLE Harriet's strong willed, well-liked, free grandmother.	—	—	Harriet's strong willed, well-liked, free grandmother.
MARY / ENSEMBLE African American. 15. In awe of and dangerously jealous of Harriet. A house servant and field hand, and has fewer of Harriet's social and language graces. Charlotte - Slave, various ensemble roles.	—	—	African American. 15. In awe of and dangerously jealous of Harriet. A house servant and field hand, and has fewer of Harriet's social and language graces. Charlotte - Slave, various ensemble roles.
TOM / ENSEMBLE African American, 18. Handsome, strong, good natured, charismatic. He loves Harriet. Harold - Slave, various other roles.	male	—	African American, 18. Handsome, strong, good natured, charismatic. He loves Harriet. Harold - Slave, various other roles.
MASTER NORCOM / ENSEMBLE 50-65. The White Master. The town doctor, he carries himself with a confident swagger. He fancies himself a Godly, family man. (avoidcasting him as the obvious villain) Various other roles.	male	50	50-65. The White Master. The town doctor, he carries himself with a confident swagger. He fancies himself a Godly, family man. (avoidcasting him as the obvious villain) Various other roles.
MRS. NORCOM / ENSEMBLE The White Mistress. 27. A faded flower. Once beautiful and carefree, she is a victim of her environment. She is hateful toward her female slaves and wary of her husband. She has born a child a year since her marriage at 17. Slaves, various other roles.	female	—	The White Mistress. 27. A faded flower. Once beautiful and carefree, she is a victim of her environment. She is hateful toward her female slaves and wary of her husband. She has born a child a year since her marriage at 17. Slaves, various other roles.
SAMUEL TREADWELL SAWYER / ENSEMBLE White Lawyer. 30s. From a prestigious family. He is intrigued by Harriet's intellect, and physically attracted to her. He is probably not "in love" with her.	male	30s	White Lawyer. 30s. From a prestigious family. He is intrigued by Harriet's intellect, and physically attracted to her. He is probably not "in love" with her.
HAROLD SKINMORE / ENSEMBLE field slave, various other roles	—	—	field slave, various other roles
BENNY (Harriet's son) 7, Harriet's son, not necessarily required to speak.	male	—	7, Harriet's son, not necessarily required to speak.
ELLEN (Harriet's daughter) 6, Harriet's daughter, not necessarily required to speak.	female	—	6, Harriet's daughter, not necessarily required to speak.