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Benjamin
Grandmother’s son, and Linda’s uncle. Although most of Grandmother’s children are sold away from her, she manages to purchase Phillip’s freedom. As a free man, he becomes a respected figure in the black community; he’s very resourceful and helps hide Linda in the shed after her escape. Linda is surprised to see that the city newspaper publishes an obituary for him upon his death, a privilege almost never extended to African Americans.
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Phillip Character Timeline in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
The timeline below shows where the character Phillip appears in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter Four: The Slave Who Dared to Feel Like a Man
Once Benjamin has reached New York, he meets up with his brother Phillip, who is there on business for his mistress. He encourages Phillip to escape and join...
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When Phillip brings this news to Grandmother, the old woman is sadder at losing Benjamin than she...
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Chapter Eleven: The New Tie to Life
Uncle Phillip returns to the city from a business trip, but Linda is saddened and ashamed to...
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Chapter Nineteen: The Children Sold
...he actually stops a few miles away and releases William, Benny, and Ellen to Uncle Phillip. He seems to think that the deception is a good joke, and congratulates William on...
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Dr. Flint visits Grandmother in a fury, threatening to kill her and Phillip if he finds out they’re helping Linda. Grandmother is unmoved, knowing how much his power...
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Chapter Twenty: New Perils
Dr. Flint has Uncle Phillip arrested, trying to charge him with helping Linda. Mr. Sands works to have him released,...
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Linda has arranged to meet her Uncle Phillip, but she doesn’t know if she’s escaping or going to hide somewhere else. Betty gives...
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Chapter Twenty-One: The Loophole of Retreat
...a small shed, which has a tiny garret between the joists and the pointed roof. Phillip has constructed a trap door for access into the garret, which is barely more than...
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Chapter Twenty-Five: Competition in Cunning
...He sees this as an opportunity to lure Linda south again, and says that Uncle Phillip should go to see her and promise that Dr. Flint will free her if she...
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Uncle Phillip refuses to take on this task, making the excuse that the North is full of...
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Chapter Twenty-Six: Important Era in My Brother’s Life
Mr. Sands tells Uncle Phillip that William left brazenly; he even saw him carrying his trunk away, but William claimed...
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Chapter Twenty-Eight: Aunt Nancy
Linda is devastated to hear of Aunt Nancy’s death, although Uncle Phillip assures her she died happy. Linda reflects bitterly that Mrs. Flint “rendered her poor foster-sister...
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Chapter Twenty-Nine: Preparations for Escape
...the North on a ship. She has two weeks to decide what to do. Uncle Phillip urges her to go and even talks Grandmother into the plan. Linda gets ready for...
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Uncle Phillip says that Linda must get on the boat with Fanny. Informed about the emergency, Peter...
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Chapter Thirty: Northward Bound
At the wharf, Linda bids farewell to Uncle Phillip and Peter; she’s grateful that her friend has risked so much for her, and deeply...
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Chapter Forty-One: Free At Last
Grandmother lives long enough to hear of Linda’s freedom before her death. Soon afterward, Uncle Phillip dies as well. Linda is surprised to see his obituary published in the newspaper—normally, such...
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