In "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs, there is a special day called New Year’s Day that is very important for the slaves. On this day, many slaves would hope to be sold to a new owner or to be with their family if they were separated. It was like a chance for a new beginning, even though it was sad because they were being treated like property and not like people.
In the story, the setting on New Year’s Day helps us understand how the slaves felt. It takes place in a time when people didn’t have the freedom to live their own lives or choose where to go. The big houses and the people who owned them remind us of just how unfair it was. The slaves waited and worried about what might happen to them. The excitement of the new year was mixed with fear because they didn't know if they would still be with their loved ones.
This setting helps make the story more powerful. It shows how even a day that is supposed to be happy can be filled with worry for the slaves. The hope for a better life and the fear of being separated makes us feel for them. It shows us how hard their lives really were and how much they longed for freedom and family. This part of the book helps us understand the struggles they faced every day.