# Benjamin — Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl character guide > Benjamin in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Linda Brent. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Ben, poor Benjamin, Benny, O Ben **First appearance:** 0004-i-childhood ## Snapshot Linda's brother, whose escape to California becomes a beacon of hope and a source of anxious love as she navigates her own perilous path to freedom. ## Who they are Benjamin, called Ben, is Linda's brother, separated from her by sale and distance but never by affection. His successful escape to California proves that flight is possible, yet his absence also sharpens Linda's fear that freedom may scatter rather than reunite her family. When she considers joining him out West, his life represents both a refuge and a reminder of how much she has already lost to slavery's geography. ## Relationships ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _family_ Benjamin is the grandmother's son, and they share a close, protective bond. ### [Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/ellen) _family_ Benjamin is Ellen's uncle, and he feels a protective, brotherly affection for her. ### [Linda Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/linda_brent) _family_ Benjamin is Linda's uncle, and they share a supportive, affectionate bond as fellow enslaved family members. ### [Phil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/phil) _family_ Benjamin and Phil are brothers, with Benjamin often trying to guide or protect the more reckless Phil. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _family_ Benjamin is the grandmother's son, and they share a close, protective bond. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _family_ Benjamin is the grandmother's son, and they share a close, protective bond. ### [Linda Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/linda_brent) _family_ Benjamin is Linda's uncle, and they share a supportive, affectionate bond as fellow enslaved family members. ### [Phil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/phil) _family_ Benjamin and Phil are brothers, with Benjamin often trying to guide or protect the more reckless Phil. ### [Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/ellen) _family_ Benjamin is Ellen's uncle, and he feels a protective, brotherly affection for her. ### [Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/ellen) _family_ Benjamin is Ellen's uncle, and he feels a protective, brotherly affection for her. ### [Phil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/phil) _family_ Benjamin and Phil are brothers, with Benjamin often trying to guide or protect the more reckless Phil. ## In the story ### [Seven Years Concealed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/incidents-in-the-life-of-a-slave-girl) Linda's son, who is also affected by her absence; Linda observes his development from a distance. ### [Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/i-childhood) Grandmother's youngest son, sold at age ten for seven hundred and twenty dollars; more like a brother to Linda. ### [The Slave Who Dared to Feel Like a Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/iv-the-slave-who-dared-to-feel-like-a-man) Linda's youngest uncle; bold and daring; fights his master, attempts escape to the North, is captured and jailed. ### [Another Link to Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xiv-another-link-to-life) Linda names her son after Benjamin, who has gone far away, as a tribute to him. ### [XV: Continued Persecutions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xv-continued-persecutions) Benny, nearly five years old, tries to protect Linda and is violently thrown across the room by Dr. Flint. ### [XVII: The Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xvii-the-flight) Benny is one of Linda's children; she kisses him goodbye as he sleeps before her escape. ### [XIX: The Children Sold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xix-the-children-sold) Benny is sold and driven out of town, but is later brought back to his grandmother. He shows Aunt Nancy the marks he made counting the days in jail. ### [XXI: The Loophole of Retreat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxi-the-loophole-of-retreat) Benny speaks boldly to Dr. Flint, refusing to reveal his mother's whereabouts and asserting he no longer belongs to the doctor. ### [Christmas Festivities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxii-christmas-festivities) Receives new clothes from his mother, but believes they came from Santa Claus, unaware of her presence. ### [Important Era in My Brother’s Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxvi-important-era-in-my-brother-s-life) Linda's son; asks about Uncle Will and expresses desire to live with mother; describes his mother to Ellen. ### [New Destination for the Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxvii-new-destination-for-the-children) Believes himself free but remains vulnerable to being reclaimed as property; Mrs. Sands wishes to take him. ### [Preparations for Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxix-preparations-for-escape) Linda's son Benny is left behind but is promised to be sent north by Uncle Phillip once Linda reaches safety. ### [XXX: Northward Bound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxx-northward-bound) Appears briefly at the wharf to whisper a warning about Dr. Flint and bid his mother goodbye. ### [The Old Enemy Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-old-enemy-again) Linda's son, who arrives in Boston full of excitement and pride in his reading ability, unaware of the challenges free Black children face in the North. ### [A Visit to England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxvii-a-visit-to-england) Linda puts Benny to a trade before departing for England. ### [XXXVIII: Renewed Invitations to Go South](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxviii-renewed-invitations-to-go-south) Left to learn a trade, but after being discovered as colored and abused by apprentices, he runs away and ships on a whaling voyage. ### [XL: The Fugitive Slave Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xl-the-fugitive-slave-law) Agrees to go to California with William after his own project fails. ### [Free at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xli-free-at-last) Is with his uncle William in California during the events. ### [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/appendix) One of Linda's children, whose imprisonment, sale, and redemption are mentioned by Lowther. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/benjamin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters