Bibliographical Data: Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
446 pages. Published by Bantam Books
First published in 1851-52. It has never gone out of
print.
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote this novel during the time of the debates that lead to the
Civil War and near the time of the Compromise of 1850. The book provides a defiant
protest against the social and political conditions of that era. The division between
the northern industrial states and the southern agrarian states was very prominent and
apparent. There was fierce competition between them. This lead to differing viewpoints
about slavery. The competition helped the South justify it and gave the North reason to
denounce it. Information like this is not provided by the author because her target
audience at the time she wrote the story was living through these conflicts. To make up
for this, I would suggest that before reading this work you have at least a minimal
knowledge of the aspects of slavery and its geographical distribution in early America.
Also, it is important to have basic understanding of the Christian faith and its two
major kinds of believers at the time. There were those who believed that all were equal
and that all had souls that were to be treated with compassion, and those who argued that
God had created them superior to all blacks. Keep in mind that Mrs. Stowe was living
through all of what is in her story. So while providing social, political, and religious
commentary, she also spatters her work with racism and subtle bigotry that would not be
found in most modern writing.
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a novel about how trust in God can conquer great obstacles,
including the pain of slavery. The main character shows this to us through the story of
his life. He is a gentle, pious slave who has been promised freedom but is sold by his
kind master to a hardened and unfeeling trader. Separated from those who he loves, he is
forced to be submitted to a cruelty that only his trust in the Lord can carry him
through. Despite his own suffering he brings hope to others, always trusting and
believing in his own eternal life granted to him by Jesus Christ. Suffused throughout is
brilliant commentary on the world Stowe is depicting.
The author creates vivid, complete images of all the characters' opinions, appearances,
and backgrounds. Because of this, we quickly feel either compassion or hate for all the
players in this story. In addition, Stowe creates brilliant dialogue that draws us into
the interactions between characters. While some might find the speech of certain
characters hard to read, the author does an excellent job of showing us exactly what the
characters are thinking and feeling through their speech. "'I think so, Mas'r ' said
Tom; 'the poor crittur's sick and feeble; 'twould be downright cruel, and it's what I
never will do, raising my hand agin any one here, I never shall,- I'll die first!'" (pg.
355)
Along with this, the book is written with a style that is uncommon now. The story is
told in third person but the author often speaks to both the reader and the characters in
a very personal manner. Sometimes she addresses you as one would a dear friend. "In
such a case you write your wife, and send messages to your children..." (pg. 142) This
creates a feeling of involvement in the story that one does not often find when reading.
These are some of the positive aspects of the book that make it a spiritual, intellectual
and entertaining experience.
Uncle Tom's Cabin explores the many facets of mankind's relations to other humans. With
her penetrating writing, the author drives us to ask many questions of ourselves: What
side would we be on in the issue of slavery? How would we feel growing up in a home that
owned slaves? How would we interact and treat members of the black race? Along with
these provocative ideas, Stowe constantly laces her writing with political, social, and
religious commentary. This commentary is remarkable for her time. Slaves were finally
given human qualities and emotions. First printed in 1851, the novel forced many people
of this time to stop and really think about the issues surrounding slavery, as we must
also do today in regard to racism and hate toward any race or minority. Today, Stowe's
words are just as applicable as when they were first composed.
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