# William — Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl character guide > William in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Linda Brent. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Poor William, brother William **First appearance:** 0004-i-childhood ## Snapshot Linda's younger brother, sold away and presumed lost, whose rumored escape to the North becomes a painful test of hope and family loyalty. ## Who they are William is Linda's brother, a faithful servant whose disappearance during a trip North with his master leaves his family uncertain whether he has been decoyed away or has seized his own freedom. His grandmother waits dinner for him in vain, and Linda, alone in her hiding place, weeps bitter tears at the thought of never seeing him again. His ambiguous fate forces Linda to confront the terrible arithmetic of slavery: one brother's liberty may come at the cost of her children's security. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Sands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/mr_sands) _professional_ Mr. Sands is William's enslaver, a relationship of ownership and control. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _family_ William is Grandmother's son, and she is deeply invested in his well-being and freedom. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/grandmother) _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) _professional_ Mr. Sands is William's enslaver, a relationship of ownership and control. ## In the story ### [Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/i-childhood) Linda's younger brother, described as a bright, affectionate child. ### [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) Linda's brother, purchased by the Flint family; expresses despair about ever being free. ### [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 brother, age twelve; confides in Linda about his fight with young master Nicholas and his aversion to slavery. ### [VII: The Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/vii-the-lover) Linda's affectionate brother; they plan together to escape to the North, though he notes the difficulty. ### [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) Linda's brother; works in Dr. Flint's office, forced to carry notes; shows distress at his role; briefly jailed for tardiness. ### [XIX: The Children Sold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xix-the-children-sold) William is sold along with the children, handcuffed and driven out of town, but is later freed by the trader acting for Mr. Sands. He is described as a 'bright, honest chap' by the trader. ### [Still in Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxiii-still-in-prison) Cares for Linda during her illness, fetches a Thompsonian doctor by describing her symptoms as his own, and helps nurse her back to consciousness. ### [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 brother; escapes to the North after traveling with Mr. Sands; sells his clothes to pay for passage to Boston; writes a letter expressing his longing for freedom. ### [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's brother, whom she has been searching for; she learns he has gone on a whaling voyage. ### [A Home Found](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxiii-a-home-found) William visits Linda in New York disguised as a sailor; they share a joyful reunion and he sees Ellen. ### [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 brother, who takes care of Benjamin after his arrival in Boston. ### [The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/xxxix-the-confession) Arranges for Ellen's boarding school and later proposes opening an anti-slavery reading room in Rochester. ### [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) Linda's brother, who spends his last evening with her before leaving for California. He is free from the Fugitive Slave Law but expresses bitterness and hostility toward oppressors. ### [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/chapters/appendix) Linda's brother, who introduced her to Amy Post and related some of the events of her life. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/incidents_in_the_life_of_a_slave_girl_se/characters/william - 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