Linda’s first employer when she begins working as a free woman in New York. Having spent years in the service of a cruel family, Linda is astounded by Mrs. Bruce’s kind and sympathetic attitude: she makes special accommodations when Linda’s limbs, weak from years of hiding, cramp too much to climb upstairs, and assists her when she needs hide during Dr. Flint’s visit to the city. Mrs. Bruce is an Englishwoman, and her nature convinces Linda that British society has managed to evade the racism that pervades America.
Mrs. Bruce Character Timeline in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Bruce appears in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter Thirty-Three: A Home Found
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Old Enemy Again
...from a family friend, warning her that Dr. Flint is again coming north. Without telling Mrs. Bruce why, Linda goes to Boston for two weeks, writing to Grandmother that if she sends... (full context)
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Hairbreadth Escape
...disrupt her plans for her children, all because of her continued vulnerability. Linda confesses to Mrs. Bruce that she’s a fugitive; the kind woman consults two lawyer friends, who advise going north... (full context)
Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Visit to England