There are many meanings associated with the word freedom. Freedom can be viewed as an escape from restrictions or it can be described as an uplifting of some burden. Linda Brent detailed her journey towards freedom through an autobiography entitled, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." Brent faced a long battle to secure freedoms that many people today take for granted. She desired freedom of mind, body, religion and most importantly she wanted her children to be free from the life she was exposed to as a slave. Linda Brent was able to overcome the obstacles dealt to her in the game of life and taste freedom for herself and her beloved children. .
When Linda was a young slave, her master would verbally and mentally abuse her through harsh and obscene language. She tried to avoid him and his words but the inflictions he laid upon her made her feel absolutely horrific. After her mother died, her religious grandmother raised her to uphold a set of strong morals and her interactions with her master did not coincide with the values instilled in her as a child. Linda was able to overcome the encounters with her master by keeping herself busy with house work and since she was given the ability to read and write, Linda was able to seek help in her favorite book, the Bible. Linda reached a point in her life where she was assumed to be "of age" by her master, meaning she was no longer a little girl and sexual acts or gestures could be shown to her. Avoiding her master of these acts was extremely difficult. She felt that she had no control over anything, not even with whom she could be intimate. Linda did find a way to have freedom of her body by engaging in intercourse and bearing children with someone she actually desired. In spite of everything her master put her through, Linda was able to freely choose whom she would be with and who would be the father of her children.
When she traveled abroad, Linda was exposed to the freedom of religion.