# Grandmother — Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl character guide > Grandmother in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Linda Brent. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Aunt Marthy, aunt Marthy **First appearance:** 0004-i-childhood ## Snapshot Linda's grandmother, a free-born woman of fierce faith and dignity, whose small house becomes the family's only sanctuary. ## Who they are Known to neighbors as Aunt Marthy, she has earned a rare respect among both enslaved people and whites, and her modest home is the emotional anchor Linda returns to again and again. Her pride and religious conviction make her both a source of strength and a woman Linda dreads disappointing, especially when secrecy becomes necessary. When Linda must hide, it is the grandmother's trusted standing that opens the door to a dangerous act of shelter. ## Relationships ### [Benjamin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/benjamin) _family_ Benjamin is the grandmother's son, and they share a close, protective bond. ### [Mrs. Flint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/mrs_flint) _rivalry_ Grandmother and Mrs. Flint are adversaries, with Mrs. Flint resentful of Grandmother's moral authority and independence. ### [Linda Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/linda_brent) _family_ Grandmother is Linda's maternal grandmother, a source of love, guidance, and protection. ### [Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/ellen) _family_ Ellen is Grandmother's granddaughter, and Grandmother cares for her deeply despite the dangers of slavery. ### [Dr. Flint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/dr_flint) _rivalry_ Dr. Flint and Grandmother are locked in a power struggle, as he tries to control Linda and she resists his authority. ### [Phil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/phil) _family_ Phil is Grandmother's son, and she maintains a caring but strained relationship with him due to his weaknesses. ### [Young Mr. Flint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/young_mr_flint) _professional_ Young Mr. Flint is Grandmother's enslaver after his father's death, and she must navigate his erratic and cruel authority. ### [William](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/william) _family_ William is Grandmother's son, and she is deeply invested in his well-being and freedom. ### [Mr. Sands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/mr_sands) _social_ Grandmother and Mr. Sands have a tense, transactional relationship as she negotiates for her family's welfare with him. ### [Aunt Martha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/aunt_martha) _family_ Aunt Martha is Grandmother's sister, and they share a close, supportive sibling bond. ### [Linda Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/linda_brent) _family_ Grandmother is Linda's maternal grandmother, a source of love, guidance, and protection. ### [Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/ellen) _family_ Ellen is Grandmother's granddaughter, and Grandmother cares for her deeply despite the dangers of slavery. ## 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) Provides shelter and support for Linda during her concealment, risking her own safety to protect her granddaughter. ### [Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/i-childhood) Maternal grandmother, a remarkable woman who worked tirelessly to purchase her children and provided Linda with many comforts. ### [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) Nearly sold at auction but freed by a kind elderly woman; supports Linda with food and comfort. ### [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) Mistress of a snug home; devoutly religious; labors to free Benjamin and visits him in jail at midnight. ### [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) Linda longs to confide in her but fears her strictness and the consequences of revealing Dr. Flint's behavior; her presence offers some protection. ### [VI: The Jealous Mistress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/vi-the-jealous-mistress) Suspicious of Linda's situation, tries to buy her but is refused by Dr. Flint. ### [VII: The Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/vii-the-lover) Linda confides partially in her, but fears revealing the full truth; grandmother is opposed to escape plans due to past trauma with Benjamin. ### [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) Rejects Linda upon learning of her pregnancy, tearing her mother's ring and thimble from her fingers and ordering her to leave. ### [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) Interviews Mr. Sands about the child; provides a home for Linda after the birth. ### [Fear of Insurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xii-fear-of-insurrection) Her home is searched; she bravely defends her possessions against the soldiers' accusations of theft. ### [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's grandmother tries to defend her from Dr. Flint's violence and arranges for the secret christening of Linda's children at church. ### [XV: Continued Persecutions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xv-continued-persecutions) Grandmother courageously confronts Dr. Flint, ordering him out of her house and defending Linda. ### [Scenes at the Plantation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xvi-scenes-at-the-plantation) Linda sends Ellen back to her grandmother for care after the child falls ill on the plantation. ### [XVII: The Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xvii-the-flight) Linda's grandmother is deeply distressed by the flight and is forced to take responsibility for the children to keep them from Dr. Flint. ### [XVIII: Months of Peril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xviii-months-of-peril) Anxiously receives Dr. Flint's threats and works with others to protect Linda. ### [XIX: The Children Sold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xix-the-children-sold) Grandmother faints when she sees the children in the trader's cart, but later rejoices when they are returned. She prays in thanksgiving and confronts Dr. Flint about his threats. ### [XX: New Perils](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xx-new-perils) Receives news of uncle Phillip's arrest and later provides a hiding place for Linda. ### [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) Provides Linda with food, bedding, warm drinks, and herbal remedies; visits her at the trapdoor in darkness. ### [Christmas Festivities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxii-christmas-festivities) Invites the constable and a free colored man to search the house, using the pretense of Christmas hospitality to allay suspicion. ### [Still in Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxiii-still-in-prison) Breaks down under the weight of anxiety and toil, falls critically ill, and is visited reluctantly by Mrs. Flint; eventually recovers. ### [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) Grandmother helps Linda return to her hiding place, expressing concern but also compassion for Linda's actions. ### [Competition in Cunning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxv-competition-in-cunning) Distressed by Linda's plan but supports her; listens to Dr. Flint's fabricated letter and fears for Linda's safety. ### [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) Grieves William's departure; prepares a welcome dinner that goes uneaten; later receives comfort from Aggie. ### [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) Acts as intermediary between Linda and Mr. Sands, negotiating the children's fate and facilitating the secret meeting. ### [XXVIII: Aunt Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxviii-aunt-nancy) Nancy's mother, who despite years of cruel treatment, is granted permission to watch at her daughter's deathbed and insists on burying her in the slave graveyard. ### [Preparations for Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxix-preparations-for-escape) Linda's grandmother is initially terrified of the escape plan due to fears of capture and violence, but eventually supports it after persuasion from Uncle Phillip. ### [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) Mentioned as the former neighbor of Sarah's mother, connecting Linda to her past community. ### [The Old Enemy Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-old-enemy-again) Holds legal ownership of Linda's children; sends Benjamin north; is mentioned as longing for Linda's return. ### [Free at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xli-free-at-last) Remembered fondly; she lived to rejoice in Linda's freedom but has since passed away. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother - 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