Harriet Beecher Stowe was the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The book was an anti-slavery book published in 1852. The book was also known as titled "The Life among the Lowly." According to William Kaufman, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" helped lay the groundwork for Civil War.
BLOG POST 1: It is not rare that blacks were treated like animals. It was a common practice of the time around when the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was written. Stowe claims that all African- American's are inhumane. In the beginning, Mr. Haley and Mr. Shelby are discussing a trade they want to make with each other regarding slaves. This is ever so wrong because slaves are people and not meant to be sold and bought. They are treated as objects not people with the same rights that white men were granted when America became its own nation. The founding fathers wanted freedom and liberty and the pursuit of happiness but it was not included for slaves or women.
Blog post 2: Through the personalities of different characters, Stowe claims that there are two sides: people who care for and are kind towards slaves, and people who hate slaves and are not very kind towards them. By using the personalities of the characters mother and daughter Evangeline and Marie, Stowe claims that people who are kind towards slaves are usually great people in general, and people who are not kind towards slaves are terrible people in general.
Are there really two sides of slave owners? Slave overall is such an awful part of history. I honestly do not think that there could be "nice" owners. Yes, there are people who are kinder, but they still own people as property. Overall it is morally wrong and I strongly believe that no matter what circumstances there is no good in slavery.
I believe that in general, there are two sides to every story, and the two types of slaveowners that Stowe tries to depicts is represented in her claim. Obviously, being a slaveowner is not morally right, and partaking in any support of slavery is cruel, but in that society, there was not many individuals who didn't own a slave, and sadly, this was the way of life. The slave owners, such as Mrs. Shelby are very kind and willing to help the slaves as much as they can in their time of oppression. This claim is very important, because without any kind slaveowners, the progression of abolishing slavery would most likely have developed later on, and Stowe as an author, who was not black, made a difference and acknowledged the treatment of slaves as a white women, who most likely was a descendant of slaveowners, if she was not one herself.
I agree with Carly and Amanda. Despite the fact that enslaving an entire people is morally wrong, there were people who truly did care for their slaves, such as Mrs. Shelby and St. Clare. Owning slaves today would be completely abhorred, but as the reader, we must consider the time period in which this novel was written. Both Mrs. Shelby and St. Clare condemned slavery as an "abomination", but they felt powerless in a society that saw slavery as a RIGHT. St. Clare remarked slavery as "loathsome, insufferably disgusting, and the essence of abuse", however, St. Clare remained a bystander in the fight for abolition because he himself did not want to be ostracized. Furthermore, slaves were better off living with their master, than being "free", out in the world. A free slave still suffered the same racial prejudice, which often prevented them from any chance of making a living-having a job, house, or land.
Blog post 3: By depicting various situations is which slaves live in fear; Stowe claims that crossing the boarder to Canada is extremely dangerous. By using George, Eliza, and their son’s journey to freedom, she depicts the hardships slaves endure while being a slave, and while trying to gain their freedom in Canada. Within her novel, Stowe claims that escaping to freedom as a salve is exceedingly dangerous.
Within Stowe's claim that escaping to freedom as a slave is fraught with peril is a subclaim of sorts- that living in slavery is so awful that black people had fair reason to want to leave, even despite the danger and beating that might await them if caught. This reinforces her abolitionist message as an exposure to the North of the conditions of the shackled in the South.
In addition, the portrayal of a slave's perilous journey, allows Stowe to gain sympathy from the audience. It not only shows the great dangers of escaping, but also the great sacrifices slaves are willing to risk, just to evade the cruel conditions of bondage and losing a loved one.
Stowe's character, the mistress slave Cassy, unsettles cruel master Legree by using moral, religious arguments to attempt to dissuade him from beating Tom. "Legree, though he talked so stoutly to Cassy, still sallied forth from the house with a degree of misgiving which was not common with him." Stowe claims Legree loses confidence, from the strength of the argument of goodness used against him. This is a view consistent with the abolitionists, and one meant to convince other Northerners.
Blog #4 Stowe uses Ophelia as the ideal example for her northern audience. Ophelia claims she wants to become a missionary and help slaves, but the fact that she can’t even touch Topsy, proves she still holds such prejudice. Stowe demonstrates that anti-slavery sentiments must arise from a more emotional side, from love and compassion rather than duty.
BLOG POST 1:
ReplyDeleteIt is not rare that blacks were treated like animals. It was a common practice of the time around when the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was written. Stowe claims that all African- American's are inhumane. In the beginning, Mr. Haley and Mr. Shelby are discussing a trade they want to make with each other regarding slaves. This is ever so wrong because slaves are people and not meant to be sold and bought. They are treated as objects not people with the same rights that white men were granted when America became its own nation. The founding fathers wanted freedom and liberty and the pursuit of happiness but it was not included for slaves or women.
Blog post 2: Through the personalities of different characters, Stowe claims that there are two sides: people who care for and are kind towards slaves, and people who hate slaves and are not very kind towards them. By using the personalities of the characters mother and daughter Evangeline and Marie, Stowe claims that people who are kind towards slaves are usually great people in general, and people who are not kind towards slaves are terrible people in general.
ReplyDeleteAre there really two sides of slave owners? Slave overall is such an awful part of history. I honestly do not think that there could be "nice" owners. Yes, there are people who are kinder, but they still own people as property. Overall it is morally wrong and I strongly believe that no matter what circumstances there is no good in slavery.
DeleteI believe that in general, there are two sides to every story, and the two types of slaveowners that Stowe tries to depicts is represented in her claim. Obviously, being a slaveowner is not morally right, and partaking in any support of slavery is cruel, but in that society, there was not many individuals who didn't own a slave, and sadly, this was the way of life. The slave owners, such as Mrs. Shelby are very kind and willing to help the slaves as much as they can in their time of oppression. This claim is very important, because without any kind slaveowners, the progression of abolishing slavery would most likely have developed later on, and Stowe as an author, who was not black, made a difference and acknowledged the treatment of slaves as a white women, who most likely was a descendant of slaveowners, if she was not one herself.
DeleteI agree with Carly and Amanda. Despite the fact that enslaving an entire people is morally wrong, there were people who truly did care for their slaves, such as Mrs. Shelby and St. Clare. Owning slaves today would be completely abhorred, but as the reader, we must consider the time period in which this novel was written. Both Mrs. Shelby and St. Clare condemned slavery as an "abomination", but they felt powerless in a society that saw slavery as a RIGHT. St. Clare remarked slavery as "loathsome, insufferably disgusting, and the essence of abuse", however, St. Clare remained a bystander in the fight for abolition because he himself did not want to be ostracized. Furthermore, slaves were better off living with their master, than being "free", out in the world. A free slave still suffered the same racial prejudice, which often prevented them from any chance of making a living-having a job, house, or land.
DeleteBlog post 3:
ReplyDeleteBy depicting various situations is which slaves live in fear; Stowe claims that crossing the boarder to Canada is extremely dangerous. By using George, Eliza, and their son’s journey to freedom, she depicts the hardships slaves endure while being a slave, and while trying to gain their freedom in Canada. Within her novel, Stowe claims that escaping to freedom as a salve is exceedingly dangerous.
Within Stowe's claim that escaping to freedom as a slave is fraught with peril is a subclaim of sorts- that living in slavery is so awful that black people had fair reason to want to leave, even despite the danger and beating that might await them if caught. This reinforces her abolitionist message as an exposure to the North of the conditions of the shackled in the South.
DeleteIn addition, the portrayal of a slave's perilous journey, allows Stowe to gain sympathy from the audience. It not only shows the great dangers of escaping, but also the great sacrifices slaves are willing to risk, just to evade the cruel conditions of bondage and losing a loved one.
DeleteBlog Post 5
ReplyDeleteStowe's character, the mistress slave Cassy, unsettles cruel master Legree by using moral, religious arguments to attempt to dissuade him from beating Tom. "Legree, though he talked so stoutly to Cassy, still sallied forth from the house with a degree of misgiving which was not common with him." Stowe claims Legree loses confidence, from the strength of the argument of goodness used against him. This is a view consistent with the abolitionists, and one meant to convince other Northerners.
Blog #4
ReplyDeleteStowe uses Ophelia as the ideal example for her northern audience. Ophelia claims she wants to become a missionary and help slaves, but the fact that she can’t even touch Topsy, proves she still holds such prejudice. Stowe demonstrates that anti-slavery sentiments must arise from a more emotional side, from love and compassion rather than duty.