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.
Stowe uses logos quite frequently in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin proving that she has knowledge of events and relationships occurring in the time period. The novel contains White people who own African Americans as if they were property. Slavery was extremely common at the time. In the novel, there is discussion of a slave trade, Mr. Shelby who owns Mr. Hayley money is hoping that by selling his “steady, honest, and capable” (42) slave that it will cover all of his debts. In doing this, Stowe shows examples for everyday life in the south during the 19th century. The 19th century was surrounded by racism.
Stowe's logos, though, as you noted is "frequent," is certainly very subtle: her argument is wrapped up in storytelling, but with evidence. This makes it all the more effective.
In Chapter 19, it is revealed that Prue, a slave, had been whipped by her slave master, to death. Miss Ophelia, shocked, and curious, wonders if there can be anything done or someone who can “interfere” in those instances. Rather than having ethical and moral standards, the slave master had the right to do anything with their “possessions”(327), since slaves are considered property. Rather than having moral values, the slave master appealed to the law, and as a logical viewpoint, it was not illegal. Though, this act is very wrong, and immoral, this passage definitely evokes an emotional response, especially from Miss. Ophelia, the act itself, was not illogical according to the law and rules that states a slave to be property, which was a fact at that time.
The novel has many truths to it, and Stowe, to grasp the attention from the reader uses logos. In the first few chapters, the trade is a piece of information that helped secure my thought that this story is reliable. Stowe also uses the language of the slave traders and slaves of that time and even referring to the slaves as "critters" (46).
- Logos #2 Chapters 14-17 - Harriet Beecher Stowe uses logos throughout the novel. Logos refers to logic so by making her novel historically accurate she is applying logic. This novel was written about a time in which African Americans were considered slaves and therefore property of the upperclass whites. Slaves were bought, sold, traded similar to material goods. African Americans unfortunately were not considered to be humans and were treated with little to no respect. If you were to marry into a family that owned slaves then you automatically were “legally entitled” (267) to manage and keep track of these people who were viewed with “immoral Should” (268)
I like how you said Stowe really tries to make the novel historically accurate. I think this also helps her establish ethos, because her accuracy about the time period and correct details within the novel allow her audience to realize that she knows what she is talking about.
Blog Post #5 Stowe includes references to the Bible in order to establish logos. References to the Bible appeals to her Christian audience. Readers who hold the Christian religion close at heart would pay closer attention to the novel because, to them, the Bible is irrefutable and those who include it in their life are more moral than those who do not. Phrases such as "though shalt not be burned" and "neither shall the flame kindle upon thee," establish the classical appeal of logos (498).
I like your point about how Stowe uses religion as logos in her novel. Specifically, in chapter 40, Stowe connects Tom's suffering to the suffering of Christ. This catches the attention of the audience, realizing just how awful and terrible the suffering of slaves really is.
I agree Carly. I feel like when Stowe used Jesus' suffering to compare it to Tom's, you really got a picture of how bad the circumstances were. It also aids the reader to feel sorry for Tom because no one wants someone else going through what Jesus did. As well, by referencing the Bible, it allows Stowe to appeal to more audiences which is great for the purpose of getting the message that their should no longer be slavery in the states.
I think it is very powerful for Stowe to compare the suffering of Jesus to Tom. Both were put through incredible injustices and it is sad that people during the era where slavery took place knew of Christ and they read the bible yet still believed that was they were doing was justifiable. By includidng the bible into her work she is definitely appealing to a large audience which assisted her in getting her message of abolishing slavery across to a larger crowd.
This also shows the use of Stowe's purpose of the novel, to appeal to Christians as her audience, to show a perspective on Southerners, to aide them to realize their injustice they have placed on African Americans, by comparing the treatment of slaves to be as cruel as the treatment of Jesus on the crucifix.
Stowe uses logos quite frequently in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin proving that she has knowledge of events and relationships occurring in the time period. The novel contains White people who own African Americans as if they were property. Slavery was extremely common at the time. In the novel, there is discussion of a slave trade, Mr. Shelby who owns Mr. Hayley money is hoping that by selling his “steady, honest, and capable” (42) slave that it will cover all of his debts. In doing this, Stowe shows examples for everyday life in the south during the 19th century. The 19th century was surrounded by racism.
ReplyDeleteLogos #1
DeleteStowe's logos, though, as you noted is "frequent," is certainly very subtle: her argument is wrapped up in storytelling, but with evidence. This makes it all the more effective.
Delete--Logos #3 Chapters 18-19--
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 19, it is revealed that Prue, a slave, had been whipped by her slave master, to death. Miss Ophelia, shocked, and curious, wonders if there can be anything done or someone who can “interfere” in those instances. Rather than having ethical and moral standards, the slave master had the right to do anything with their “possessions”(327), since slaves are considered property. Rather than having moral values, the slave master appealed to the law, and as a logical viewpoint, it was not illegal. Though, this act is very wrong, and immoral, this passage definitely evokes an emotional response, especially from Miss. Ophelia, the act itself, was not illogical according to the law and rules that states a slave to be property, which was a fact at that time.
The novel has many truths to it, and Stowe, to grasp the attention from the reader uses logos. In the first few chapters, the trade is a piece of information that helped secure my thought that this story is reliable. Stowe also uses the language of the slave traders and slaves of that time and even referring to the slaves as "critters" (46).
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete- Logos #2 Chapters 14-17 -
ReplyDeleteHarriet Beecher Stowe uses logos throughout the novel. Logos refers to logic so by making her novel historically accurate she is applying logic. This novel was written about a time in which African Americans were considered slaves and therefore property of the upperclass whites. Slaves were bought, sold, traded similar to material goods. African Americans unfortunately were not considered to be humans and were treated with little to no respect. If you were to marry into a family that owned slaves then you automatically were “legally entitled” (267) to manage and keep track of these people who were viewed with “immoral Should” (268)
I like that you included that the marriages of slaves were not viewed as legitimate or valid. In the novel this reality furthered Stowe's purpose.
DeleteI like how you said Stowe really tries to make the novel historically accurate. I think this also helps her establish ethos, because her accuracy about the time period and correct details within the novel allow her audience to realize that she knows what she is talking about.
DeleteBlog Post #5
ReplyDeleteStowe includes references to the Bible in order to establish logos. References to the Bible appeals to her Christian audience. Readers who hold the Christian religion close at heart would pay closer attention to the novel because, to them, the Bible is irrefutable and those who include it in their life are more moral than those who do not. Phrases such as "though shalt not be burned" and "neither shall the flame kindle upon thee," establish the classical appeal of logos (498).
I like your point about how Stowe uses religion as logos in her novel. Specifically, in chapter 40, Stowe connects Tom's suffering to the suffering of Christ. This catches the attention of the audience, realizing just how awful and terrible the suffering of slaves really is.
DeleteI agree Carly. I feel like when Stowe used Jesus' suffering to compare it to Tom's, you really got a picture of how bad the circumstances were. It also aids the reader to feel sorry for Tom because no one wants someone else going through what Jesus did. As well, by referencing the Bible, it allows Stowe to appeal to more audiences which is great for the purpose of getting the message that their should no longer be slavery in the states.
DeleteI think it is very powerful for Stowe to compare the suffering of Jesus to Tom. Both were put through incredible injustices and it is sad that people during the era where slavery took place knew of Christ and they read the bible yet still believed that was they were doing was justifiable. By includidng the bible into her work she is definitely appealing to a large audience which assisted her in getting her message of abolishing slavery across to a larger crowd.
DeleteThis also shows the use of Stowe's purpose of the novel, to appeal to Christians as her audience, to show a perspective on Southerners, to aide them to realize their injustice they have placed on African Americans, by comparing the treatment of slaves to be as cruel as the treatment of Jesus on the crucifix.
Delete