Harriet Tubman

Essay by Anonymous User November 1996

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"Whipped", "chained", and "beaten" were commonly exchanged words among American slaves throughout the 19th century. Day after day in a world filled with torture and pain, slaves suffered servile lives under the feet of an overseer. During these times, when freedom and liberty were merely the topics of dreams, one outstanding slave named Harriet Tubman set out to make her dream a reality. She possessed tremendous courage which proved to be of the utmost importance. Secondly, she had the determination and will not matched by any other slave of her time. Most importantly, Harriet had a loving heart, which influenced her to do the impossible. It was because of these abilities that she was regarded as 'the Moses of her people'. Harriet Tubman was truly a legend whose visions and heroic character paved the extensive road to freedom for hundreds of runaway slaves.

Bravery, one of Harriet's most developed and admirable characteristics, became an exceptional utility in fulfilling her persistent vision of independence.

Time and time again, Ms. Tubman was forced to confront numerous life threatening situations. Not on one occasion did Harriet lose courage in what she was pursuing. One incident which exemplifies Harriet's bravery, pertains to her initial flight north alongside her brothers. Two hours distance from the plantation where they were fleeing, her brothers became quite fearful of their safety. They decided to head back forcing Harriet to return as well. The following quotation describes Harriet's feeling towards the importance of the courage she possessed. "She crept back into her sleeping husband's bed bitterly disappointed. But she had learned an important lesson, one she would never forget: Freedom is only for those bold enough to take it."1 Although Harriet's siblings had made her plans more difficult, the final success of her goal of freedom was a...