The Development of Henry Bibb

The Development of Henry Bibb

Throughout Henry Bibb's lifetime, he encounters many dangerous journeys on his quest for freedom. The freedom that Bibb is after is not only physical freedom from the cruel punishments he has endured through lashings during his life in slavery, but also emotional freedom. Bibb obtains physical and emotional freedom, and the love for his family played a major role in him reaching that goal. The love for his family created his drive to seek freedom, and also forced him to develop selflessness that made him the man he was after he became free. He developed a strong commitment to his family early on in his journey for freedom, and this type of self-discipline carried with him throughout his life as a free man. Although the love for his family may have delayed his freedom, he would not have had the same drive and determination to succeed in becoming a free man without the presence of his family. Once Bibb obtains his freedom after escaping from the Indian slaveholder, he discovers his marriage is over. A weight is lifted from Bibb's shoulders and he enjoys emotional freedom because he no longer has the connection to his family and does not feel the need to rescue them. Looking at Bibb's life as a whole, his family contributed to his attitude as a free black man. This attitude was an admirable one, one that helped and inspired many.

During his life as a slave, Bibb had to witness the beatings of his wife and child at the hands of slaveholders created his drive to reach freedom. He proclaims that "if ever there was any one act of my life while a slave, that I have to lament over it is that of being a father and a husband of slaves" (Bibb 44). Bibb developed such a strong desire to grant freedom for his family that although he would have opportunities to become free, he would often put his family above his own freedom in order to obtain a better life for his wife and daughter. His attitude is an admirable one, which I believe is rooted in his love for his family that he carried throughout his lifetime. The dedicated abolitionist Bibb becomes later in life can be contributed to his strict determination to set his family free.

Bibb flees for the North by himself, and succeeds by reaching Cincinnati. There is ample opportunity for him to continue his search for freedom and move farther north. However, his love for his family pulls him back into slavery in attempt to rescue them. Bibb returns from Ohio, a place where his freedom was within sight. He puts his family ahead of himself yet again when he decides to postpone their freedom journey together because of fear that his wife may get caught, "And in case of failure, if Malinda should get back even before daylight the next morning, it would have excited suspicion against her" (Bibb 58). Risking his own freedom, Bibb's selfless attitude is displayed when he comes back to Kentucky to rescue his wife and daughter.

One might think that his family would be holding Bibb back because he continues to put his family's freedom ahead of his own. Bibb eventually gets caught in an attempt to rescue his family from slavery. They are sold to Deacon Whitfield in New Orleans (Bibb 110). His treatment by the Deacon is worse than any of his previous owners, and because he is in the Deep South it seems as if freedom for his family is out of reach. It would be too easy to blame his love for his family for his situation in New Orleans. Bibb's condition cannot be characterized simply by looking at his emotional feelings. Bibb's idea of freedom does not begin and end with himself, he feels that he himself will not be free unless he is together with his family. Bibb does not feel sorry for himself while under ownership of the Deacon, so why should the reader? He does not once regret going back to Kentucky to rescue his wife and daughter from slavery, even though he was recaptured and ultimately sent to New Orleans.

I believe that Bibb made these attempts to rescue his family in Kentucky because he thought that it was a possibility that he could succeed. His dedication for his family roots itself in Bibbs' personality early on in his quest for freedom. I believe this aides him later in life, but one may question his devotion once he reaches freedom after escaping from his Indian slaveholder. Bibb does hint that he was going to make one last effort to rescue his family, but Bibb receives some bad news concerning his family that relaxes his commitment to them (Bibb 188). His wife had moved on with her life in the eyes of Bibb, therefore he felt little connection to his former love (Bibb 190). This separation seemingly ends the strong dedication that he had for his family which was displayed by him sacrificing his own freedom for theirs. Therefore it is apparent that Bibb's dedication to his family was still strong up until the