# Dr. Flint — Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl character guide > Dr. Flint in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Linda Brent. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mistress Dr. Flint, old Flint, ole massa Flint, Cunning Dr. Flint **First appearance:** 0005-ii-the-new-master-and-mistress ## Snapshot A small-town doctor whose professional respectability masks a predatory willfulness, he claims absolute ownership over Linda's body and soul and refuses to be refused. ## Who they are Dr. Flint is Linda's master, a man whose medical standing gives him cover for relentless sexual pursuit and petty tyranny. He alternates between oily endearments and threats of violence, enraged less by Linda's resistance than by the idea that a enslaved woman might choose a freeborn black man over him. His obsession drives the central cat-and-mouse of the narrative's early and middle sections, making him the embodiment of slaveholding power's intimate cruelty. ## Relationships ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _rivalry_ Dr. Flint and Grandmother are locked in a power struggle, as he tries to control Linda and she resists his authority. ### [Mrs. Flint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/mrs_flint) _psychological_ Dr. and Mrs. Flint are married, but their relationship is marked by mutual suspicion, cruelty, and shared tyranny over enslaved people. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _rivalry_ Dr. Flint and Grandmother are locked in a power struggle, as he tries to control Linda and she resists his authority. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _rivalry_ Dr. Flint and Grandmother are locked in a power struggle, as he tries to control Linda and she resists his authority. ### [Mrs. Flint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/mrs_flint) _psychological_ Dr. and Mrs. Flint are married, but their relationship is marked by mutual suspicion, cruelty, and shared tyranny over enslaved people. ## 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) Continues to pursue Linda relentlessly, using threats and manipulation to try to force her return. ### [The New Master and Mistress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/ii-the-new-master-and-mistress) The new master; an epicure who cruelly punishes slaves and defrauds grandmother of her freedom. ### [III: The Slaves’ New Year’s Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/iii-the-slaves-new-year-s-day) Mentioned as owning a fine residence, several farms, and about fifty slaves. ### [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 master; his 'stinging, scorching words' and assertion that Linda was made for his use provoke her hatred. ### [V: The Trials of Girlhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/v-the-trials-of-girlhood) Begins whispering foul words and using manipulative tactics to corrupt Linda, asserting his ownership over her. ### [VI: The Jealous Mistress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/vi-the-jealous-mistress) Continues his sexual advances, uses manipulation and threats, and claims he cannot sell Linda because she is his daughter's property. ### [VII: The Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/vii-the-lover) Violently opposes Linda's relationship with a free Black man, threatens to send her to Louisiana, and asserts his absolute control over her life. ### [X: A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girl's Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/x-a-perilous-passage-in-the-slave-girl-s-life) Plans to build a secluded cottage for Linda; is stunned when she reveals she is pregnant by another man. ### [XI: The New Tie to Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xi-the-new-tie-to-life) Continues to harass Linda, demanding the father's identity and threatening her; asserts his ownership; uses William as a messenger. ### [The Church and Slavery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xiii-the-church-and-slavery) Mentioned as having joined the Episcopal church, yet continuing his persecutions of Linda. ### [Another Link to Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xiv-another-link-to-life) Dr. Flint rages at Linda's defiance, cuts her hair, strikes her, and forces her to stand with her newborn; he threatens to sell her child and curses her and her deceased relatives. ### [XV: Continued Persecutions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xv-continued-persecutions) Dr. Flint threatens to sell Linda's children, physically assaults her and Benny, and accuses her of plotting an intrigue. ### [Scenes at the Plantation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xvi-scenes-at-the-plantation) Dr. Flint orders Linda around with emphasis, calling her 'your mistress,' and plans to bring her children to the plantation to break them in. ### [XVII: The Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xvii-the-flight) Dr. Flint searches for Linda, posts a reward for her capture, and threatens violence against anyone who aided her. ### [XVIII: Months of Peril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xviii-months-of-peril) Continues his relentless pursuit, searching houses and jailing Linda's relatives to force her return. ### [XIX: The Children Sold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xix-the-children-sold) Dr. Flint, disheartened and short on money, sells William and the children to a slave trader. He later discovers the deception and threatens Linda's family, but his power over her children is broken. ### [XX: New Perils](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xx-new-perils) Arrests uncle Phillip and intensifies the search for Linda. ### [XXIV: The Candidate for Congress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxiv-the-candidate-for-congress) Dr. Flint returns from New York and actively campaigns against Mr. Sands, using liquor to sway voters. ### [Competition in Cunning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxv-competition-in-cunning) Attempts to trap Linda by offering to let her be purchased, and writes to the mayor of Boston to verify her location. ### [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) Continues to assert power over Linda's children, claiming they are still his daughter's property and threatening their freedom. ### [XXVIII: Aunt Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxviii-aunt-nancy) Nancy's master, who shows momentary softness at her death but later tries to manipulate Linda's grandmother into convincing Linda to return. ### [The Meeting of Mother and Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxii-the-meeting-of-mother-and-daughter) Linda writes to him requesting terms for her purchase; he advises her to return and submit to her owners. ### [The Old Enemy Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-old-enemy-again) Writes a deceitful letter under the guise of Emily's brother, attempting to lure Linda back; travels to New York in search of her. ### [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) Referenced as the old master whose family is aware of Linda's movements and continues to pursue her. ### [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/appendix) Referenced as the master whose treatment of Linda is known to George W. Lowther. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/dr_flint - 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