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.
Themes #1 Slavery v. Christian Values Often times, people are presented with the choice to do what is morally right and to do what is needed. For example, one might feel tempted to cheat on a chemistry test because they really need the grade, or they choose to do the right thing and study. In Stowe’s novel, the moral values of Christianity appear to be very influential for both slaveholders and slaves, and yet Christian ideals directly oppose slavery as a sin. From the beginning, Stowe portrays the Shelby’s as a generous and Christian-like couple, who cares deeply for their slaves, as if they were family, and yet Mr. Shelby is forced to sell two of his most trusted slaves. Mrs. Shelby defends Eliza and Uncle Tom saying that “it is a sin to hold a slave...I never thought that slavery was right” (84-85). Ultimately, the religious morals instilled in a person make them more susceptible to objecting slavery as a whole. The lucrative business of slavery and extreme economic dependence often influenced men like Mr. Shelby to overlook their Christian ideals so that they may be financially stable.
I agree with you statement that "Ultimately, the religious morals instilled in a person make them more susceptible to objecting slavery as a whole" Stowe constantly uses religion throughout her novel to depict the faith to God of her characters. However, as the novel progress religion not only allows citizens to condemn slavey, but commend it. Religion plays a huge role in Stowe's novel.
Blog Post 2: Fear originates from the unknown future.
Within the novel, Stowe constantly depicts the constant fear slaves endure. Fear getting caught when they ran for safety, fear of their new masters when they were sold, and the fear of when they will be whipped next. In chapter 13, Elisa is struck with the consistent horrors of being caught by her master, that she “dare not stop” (216) chasing the Canadian border for a safe haven. She lays awake at night, not knowing what the lies ahead, think that “the man [will come] into the yard” (216) and take her son away from her. Being unaware of the future, enables one to live in fear.
Blog Post 3: Chapters 18&19 Dehumanizing a person leads to unhappiness Although as young adults it is commonly felt that parents dehumanize us and do not treat us like we should, that is false. Although we do not have full rain to do everything we would ever want, that does not make us any less human. What truly makes people feel less human is how slaves were treated. In chapter 18 and 19 a new character comes into the novel. Prue, a slave who lives down the street from Tom has had a very rough life. She walked into the house with a very solemn look "wish't i's dead" (319) coming out of her mouth depressingly. From her owners before she had been used solely for breeding purposes so the owner could sell the child into slavery. Prue never got to keep a child until she started to work for her very last owner. She gave birth in hopes of keeping the child, and as she gave birth the mistress got very ill and she had to take care of her. As she took care of her, Prue's breast milk dried up. Her owners refused to pay for formula, so the baby died. She was never treated well, which had led to her being unhappy. She wished to be dead to take her out of her misery. The day after she met Tom, she was beat to death by her owner. Dehumanizing a person is never good and will always lead to awful scenarios.
I agree " hat truly makes people feel less human is how slaves were treated" throughout the novel, Stowe emphasizes the harsh treatments slaves endure by their masters. She depicts their masters as sinful demons that abuse others. Stowe depicts slaves as having unhappiness due to the fact their masters dehumanize them.
Blog Post #5 Traumatic experiences can lead to changes of heart. Every individual experiences painful experiences at some point in their life that changes their mind about a conviction they previously had. These experiences may be the death of a loved one or inhumane treatment. In Uncle Tom's Cabin, several characters undergo changes of heart after tragic experiences, including Mr. Shelby. When he attempts to buy back Tom, he arrives only to hear Tom's last words and watch as he dies are being so harshly mistreated. When he returns to his plantation, he asserts that he will never "own another slave" and frees all of his slaves but tells that to remember that they owe their freedom to "good old Uncle Tom" (617). Freeing his slaves marks a change in his convictions of owning slaves and shows that event the oldest beliefs can be changed after traumatic experiences.
This definitely is a universal truth, in which sad or tragic event can make one develop a stronger and empowered being, who has been exposed to grief, which allows them to grow from their experiences, and moves on to new ideas which had been influenced by these events.
I agree with you both, that there are many universal truths within this novel. They range from slavery to religion. By using universal truths within the novel, slaveholders in the North were offended, whereas in the South, they agreed strongly. Her novel clearly contributed to the divisions between North and South.
- After tragic events, the faith and existence of God of an individual is questioned, due to the horrid circumstances placed in the world. Prior weeks to her death, Eva had told St.Clare and all her friends that she loves them because she had been getting sick, and told them all, “In a few more weeks you will see me no more”(417), and soon after, sorrow and grief had been brought upon St. Clare who began to become skeptic of the existence of God. Tom, wanting him to reach salvation, tries to comfort and assure him of his beliefs. Upsetting situations can leave an individual confused about their faith, especially since God has allowed these situations to happen, even though he promises love and peace.
I agree with you all. Uncle Tom's tragic death was depicted in a heroic way. His sacrifices allowed the liberty for many other slaves, and this act not only moved the hearts of the Shelbys but also the hearts of the readers.
Themes #1 Slavery v. Christian Values
ReplyDeleteOften times, people are presented with the choice to do what is morally right and to do what is needed. For example, one might feel tempted to cheat on a chemistry test because they really need the grade, or they choose to do the right thing and study. In Stowe’s novel, the moral values of Christianity appear to be very influential for both slaveholders and slaves, and yet Christian ideals directly oppose slavery as a sin. From the beginning, Stowe portrays the Shelby’s as a generous and Christian-like couple, who cares deeply for their slaves, as if they were family, and yet Mr. Shelby is forced to sell two of his most trusted slaves. Mrs. Shelby defends Eliza and Uncle Tom saying that “it is a sin to hold a slave...I never thought that slavery was right” (84-85). Ultimately, the religious morals instilled in a person make them more susceptible to objecting slavery as a whole. The lucrative business of slavery and extreme economic dependence often influenced men like Mr. Shelby to overlook their Christian ideals so that they may be financially stable.
I agree with you statement that "Ultimately, the religious morals instilled in a person make them more susceptible to objecting slavery as a whole" Stowe constantly uses religion throughout her novel to depict the faith to God of her characters. However, as the novel progress religion not only allows citizens to condemn slavey, but commend it. Religion plays a huge role in Stowe's novel.
DeleteBlog Post 2: Fear originates from the unknown future.
ReplyDeleteWithin the novel, Stowe constantly depicts the constant fear slaves endure. Fear getting caught when they ran for safety, fear of their new masters when they were sold, and the fear of when they will be whipped next. In chapter 13, Elisa is struck with the consistent horrors of being caught by her master, that she “dare not stop” (216) chasing the Canadian border for a safe haven. She lays awake at night, not knowing what the lies ahead, think that “the man [will come] into the yard” (216) and take her son away from her. Being unaware of the future, enables one to live in fear.
Blog Post 3: Chapters 18&19
ReplyDeleteDehumanizing a person leads to unhappiness
Although as young adults it is commonly felt that parents dehumanize us and do not treat us like we should, that is false. Although we do not have full rain to do everything we would ever want, that does not make us any less human. What truly makes people feel less human is how slaves were treated. In chapter 18 and 19 a new character comes into the novel. Prue, a slave who lives down the street from Tom has had a very rough life. She walked into the house with a very solemn look "wish't i's dead" (319) coming out of her mouth depressingly. From her owners before she had been used solely for breeding purposes so the owner could sell the child into slavery. Prue never got to keep a child until she started to work for her very last owner. She gave birth in hopes of keeping the child, and as she gave birth the mistress got very ill and she had to take care of her. As she took care of her, Prue's breast milk dried up. Her owners refused to pay for formula, so the baby died. She was never treated well, which had led to her being unhappy. She wished to be dead to take her out of her misery. The day after she met Tom, she was beat to death by her owner. Dehumanizing a person is never good and will always lead to awful scenarios.
I agree " hat truly makes people feel less human is how slaves were treated" throughout the novel, Stowe emphasizes the harsh treatments slaves endure by their masters. She depicts their masters as sinful demons that abuse others. Stowe depicts slaves as having unhappiness due to the fact their masters dehumanize them.
DeleteBlog Post #5
ReplyDeleteTraumatic experiences can lead to changes of heart.
Every individual experiences painful experiences at some point in their life that changes their mind about a conviction they previously had. These experiences may be the death of a loved one or inhumane treatment. In Uncle Tom's Cabin, several characters undergo changes of heart after tragic experiences, including Mr. Shelby. When he attempts to buy back Tom, he arrives only to hear Tom's last words and watch as he dies are being so harshly mistreated. When he returns to his plantation, he asserts that he will never "own another slave" and frees all of his slaves but tells that to remember that they owe their freedom to "good old Uncle Tom" (617). Freeing his slaves marks a change in his convictions of owning slaves and shows that event the oldest beliefs can be changed after traumatic experiences.
This definitely is a universal truth, in which sad or tragic event can make one develop a stronger and empowered being, who has been exposed to grief, which allows them to grow from their experiences, and moves on to new ideas which had been influenced by these events.
DeleteI agree with you both, that there are many universal truths within this novel. They range from slavery to religion. By using universal truths within the novel, slaveholders in the North were offended, whereas in the South, they agreed strongly. Her novel clearly contributed to the divisions between North and South.
Delete
ReplyDeleteThemes #4
- After tragic events, the faith and existence of God of an individual is questioned, due to the horrid circumstances placed in the world. Prior weeks to her death, Eva had told St.Clare and all her friends that she loves them because she had been getting sick, and told them all, “In a few more weeks you will see me no more”(417), and soon after, sorrow and grief had been brought upon St. Clare who began to become skeptic of the existence of God. Tom, wanting him to reach salvation, tries to comfort and assure him of his beliefs. Upsetting situations can leave an individual confused about their faith, especially since God has allowed these situations to happen, even though he promises love and peace.
I agree with you all. Uncle Tom's tragic death was depicted in a heroic way. His sacrifices allowed the liberty for many other slaves, and this act not only moved the hearts of the Shelbys but also the hearts of the readers.
ReplyDelete