Literary Analysis of the Novel Uncle Tom's Cabin

The novel Uncle Tom's Cabin begins in a large Kentucky home, where Mr. Shelby is discussing the sale of his slaves with slave trader Haley. Due to debt, the Shelby`s must sell two of their best slaves, even though they had promised them a good, safe life. Eliza, one of the slaves, overhears this and realizes her son is to be sold. Immediately she prepares to run to freedom for her son. Tom, also known as Uncle Tom, is warned by Eliza that he too was to be sold, yet he refuses to run away. Mrs. Shelby, as well as the other slaves, try their hardest to stall Haley on his journey to capture Eliza and Harry. Informed by other slaves that Haley is on his way to find them, Eliza daringly takes her son in her arms and crosses a partially frozen Ohio River. She finds refuge in a home with Quakers and is reunited with her husband, George. They plan their escape to become truly free. While this is happening, Haley and Tom get on a boat towards a slave market. Initially, Tom deals with grief and keeps to himself on the boat, but meets a small white girl named Eva. Eva falls into the river, and Tom instantaneously jumps in to save her. Eva tells Tom she will ask her father to buy him, and so Tom is sold into the St. Clare family. In their New Orleans home, Tom and Eva become even closer and bond over their strong Christian faith. Miss Ophelia, Mr. St Clare's cousin, comes from the North to live at their home for a while. She and her cousin are very different, as she is orderly and logical, and Augustine is thoughtful and expressive. 

The two also hold different opinions on religion as well as slavery, which sparks many conversations on the topics. Eva is kind to all the slaves her father owns and often plays with them. The book then shifts back to Eliza and George, where they are trying to run from the men Haley hired to continue the chase. They get away, but barely, as the book again focuses on St. Clare home. Augustine buys a slave girl, Topsy, and gives Miss Ophelia instructions to educate her. This is difficult for Miss Ophelia, as Topsy is intelligent yet a relentless troublemaker. Eva becomes ill soon after, and her father does not want to accept this, so Miss Ophelia is the one to nurse and deal with her. She becomes very weak and often talks to Tom about how she will die soon. Eventually, she passes, and all the slaves and the St. Clare family are devastated. Her death sparks change in some characters such as Miss Ophelia, who comforts Topsy and decides to love the slaves. St Clare decides he will free Tom, but before he can he is fatally stabbed when trying to break up a fight. In the moments before his death, he finds his faith and reunites with Eva and his mother in heaven. 

The slaves panic, for they know that St Clare's wife will not be considerate of any of them. They are all sold back into slavery, and Tom ends up with an extremely cruel and harsh master in Louisiana. He is immediately reprimanded for being Christian and is punished multiple times for disrespecting what his master instructs him to do. Tom meets Cassy, who is the only slave with the ability to influence Master Legree. She tells Tom her story and the two become acquaintances. While this is happening, Eliza and George finally cross Lake Erie and make it to Canada, with Harry dressed up as a girl and Eliza as a man. Although they find freedom, Tom is as far from it as he has ever been. His faith is tested, but visions of Eva redeem him, and he becomes stronger and brighter than he has been since he got to the plantation. Cassy and Emmeline plan their escape and are successful, yet Tom is punished for not telling Legree where they have gone. Legree ordered the overseers to beat him, and he is near death. George Shelby, Master Shelby's son, finds Tom and is ready to buy him back only to find him on his deathbed. Cassy and Emmeline use the money they've stolen from Legree to go into town and get on a boat towards their freedom. The two meet George Harris's sister, and Cassy realizes that Eliza is her daughter. They make their way to Canada to reunite, and the family eventually travels to France for George's education. They decide after to move to Liberia. George Shelby goes back to Kentucky, where he frees all the slaves and tells them to think of Tom and have faith such as his.

Quotes:

'Oh, that's what troubles me papa. You want me to live so happy, and never to have any pain, never suffer anything, not even hear a sad story, when other poor creatures have nothing but pain and sorrow, all their lives; it seems selfish. I ought to know such things, I ought to feel about them! Such things always sunk into my heart, they went down deep; I've thought and thought about them. Papa isn't there a way to have all the slaves made free?'

This quote summarizes Eva and her benevolent and angelic nature. Up until this point in the novel, she is kind to everyone and is a bright girl, but at this moment, she rises against what society, as well as her family life, has taught her. At such a young age, the ability to recognize how inhumane the institution of slavery is shown her position as a Christ figure in the novel. Eva has accepted and welcomed death, yet instead of focusing on herself in her last moments such as her mother would, she is advocating for the success and equality of the slaves. Acknowledging the love her father holds for her, she uses it to help those who are worse off than her, by making her dying wish for her father to free Tom. She addresses the hypocrisy of her Father by discussing how he attempts to shield her from all pain while accepting the idea of inflicting pain onto those of lesser status.

'Topsy, you poor child,' she said, as she led her into her room, 'don't give up! I can love you, though I am not like that dear little child. I hope I've learned something of the love of Christ from her. I can love you, I do, and I'll try to help you grow up a good Christian girl.'

After the death of Eva is a turning point for many of the characters in the novel. It marked a significant change in the lives of many, especially those who Eva had held a conversation with often. In this quote, Miss Ophelia, who had previously held an extreme prejudice against slaves, allows herself to love Topsy and has sympathy for her. She takes it upon herself to educate and even take her back to her home instead of letting her be sold back into the harsh realities of other masters. St Clare also was greatly affected by her death and allowed Tom to guide him through the redemption of his faith. After Eva's death, and eventually her father's, Tom is sold into the hands of Master Legree, which is a turning point in his faith, yet for the worse. The importance of Eva becomes evident during the time of her death and after, and her impact on those around her sparked change in the house and internally with many characters.

Important Characters:

Augustine St Clare:

St Clare is the son of a wealthy planter from Louisiana. He is more of a romantic man than his brother or his cousin Miss Ophelia, with blonde hair and blue eyes. St Clare resided in a southern mansion and owned many slaves yet treated them well. His character is described to be 'easy, unpunctual, skeptical, and gay.' Initially, St Clare disregards religion and stays home while his wife and Eva attend church. He also believes in the concept of slavery, although he treats slaves kindly and has no extreme prejudice towards them. His character is one that goes through an extreme change. Once Eva falls ill, she tells him more of her faith and her fear of the cruelty of slavery. St Clare loves his daughter deeply and therefore takes what she says seriously despite her young age. After Eva's death, St Clare is full of grief and becomes closer to Tom. It is then he begins to read the Bible, although it is difficult for him to believe that there is truly a God. Questioning the death of his daughter as well as the reality of a God to pray to and trust in, it is not until he is on his deathbed that he believes. At this moment, St Clare calls on Tom to pray for him. Throughout his part of the novel, St Clare makes a switch from a kind yet somewhat apathetic man to one who is attempting to change things for the better, shown as he tells Tom he will make him a Freeman. St Clare is used to developing the idea that one can be saved and can find faith by showing his transition from a somewhat apathetic man to one who is attempting to help others. This is revealed as St Clare tells Uncle Tom he will make him a free man, even though he has grown very fond of him and would have liked for him to stay.

Uncle Tom:

Uncle Tom is the main slave followed throughout the novel and is extremely important in accomplishing the author's purpose. He depicts the image of the cruelty of slavery, as he is sent to three different masters, and is eventually killed by a master. He impacts not only the theme and purpose but other characters in the novel. He is responsible, alongside Eva, for developing St Clare's faith and encouraging him to believe. At each plantation, he encourages and is a Christ figure for the other slaves. Confident and exuberant in his faith, he is also humble, kind, strong, and smart. Not only this, but Tom is notably courageous, for he maintained tranquility as he was sold to Haley, then again to Legree. He defended his faith even when faced with the threat of death and did what he could to help the other slaves who would not do the same for him. Tom is a stable character throughout the novel, despite the many chaotic things he is put through. His character reminds me of the description of a 'hero in the strife' described in Longfellow's 'A Psalm of Life'.

Cassy:

Although Cassy is introduced in the last half of the novel, she is essential in showing the effects of slavery on families. After telling her story, it develops compassion within Tom as well as the reader. It also helps to develop the plot, as she is reunited with her daughter at the end of the novel. Cassy was beautiful, which also helped to inform the reader of the sad fate of many beautiful girls who were sold into slavery. She held herself with confidence and looked as if she had been raised in a wealthy home, which she had. Tall and slender, Tom described her appearance as unforgettable. Although beautiful, her face showed the pain she had dealt with. Because of Tom, she too went through a religious change. Cassy's attitude towards Tom's attempts to stand up to Master Legree was at first one of pity, and she advised him against it many times. Hopeless and slightly insane, Cassy told him of all those who had come before him and tried to do the same. Yet Tom stayed insistent, and on the night, she came to bring him water and assist his wounds, she broke down and told him of how she had lost her daughter and then killed her next child so that they would not have to go through what her daughter had. This sends an extremely strong message from the author to the reader, for a mother's love for their child is so strong. Slowly, she accepts some of Tom's ideas, although she tells him she will not be able to trust in God or pray unless she was to be reunited with her daughter. Once this occurs, the author informs the reader that Cassy has been guided by her daughter and became a devout Christian. She undergoes not only a spiritual change but also a physical one, as her expression changes from a harsh one to a soft and trusting one.

Eliza:

Eliza is a very pious slave, who is courageous and loves her family dearly. She is beautiful and was raised and favored by Mrs. Shelby. She married a smart, neighboring mulatto boy named George Harris. Eliza stays steady throughout the novel and is unwavering in her faith and determination to achieve freedom for her son. Driven and intelligent, Eliza holds her son in her arms and finds her way to a Quaker settlement where she is reunited with her husband. George, who had less of a kind upbringing on his master's farm, struggles with the idea of God being real. Eliza has a great impact on him and is shown many times reassuring or reminding him of how the Lord will provide for him if he acts as if the bible tells him to. Even in their freedom, George leans on Eliza and has her to depend on when questioning his faith. When reunited also with her mother, Eliza gladly begins to teach her all about the Lord and by reading her scripture, Cassy makes her way to becoming a devout Christian.

The significance of The Opening Scene:

In the opening scene, Mr. Shelby is shown discussing the sale of his slaves with Haley, a slave trader. It establishes the character of Mr. Shelby early on, as he is willing to give up two of his best slaves, and friends, to stay out of debt. The author uses this opening scene to contrast Mr. Shelby with his wife early on. Mrs. Shelby cares deeply for her slaves and has attempted to teach them Christianity. She is willing to give up nice jewelry and deal with debt in order to save her slaves from what she knows will be cruel treatment. Although Mr. Shelby has been kind to those in his house, the willingness to do what will be best for him shows his selfishness as well as a lack of faith as strong as his wife's. The opening scene foreshadows the sale of these slaves into long and hard life. It develops a tone of matter-of-factness, but also one of slight distress. The author maintains credibility by addressing what is going on and by describing each of the characters' physical appearances and backgrounds yet portrays the motherly distress of Eliza when she overhears the conversation between the men.

The significance of The Closing Scene:

The closing scene is extremely important in this novel because it ties up a lot of loose ends and questions from the reader. As George Shelby returns to the plantation, and readers see the disappointment of Tom's wife at the news of his death, it creates sadness and empathy within the reader. Despite this initial bad news, there is hope for the Shelby slaves, as all of them are freed. When George Shelby announces this, it heightens the significance of Uncle Tom's character. Without him, Shelby told the slaves, he would not have realized how necessary it was to free them and reminds them to think of Tom and his good faith. Within the other family, the Harris's, there is a happier ending as well. A family is reunited and shown escaping their cycle of oppression by George gaining an education and moving to Liberia. I think that the author was trying to remind the reader that these good things were possible while enforcing the importance and value slaves held in being free, and having things be theirs, even if they are poor. It also shows the importance of families within slavery and continues the idea that slaves have the same emotions towards their loved ones as slaveowners.

Symbols:

Eva:

Eva symbolizes Christ and hopes in the novel, as she is a light in the lives of everybody she encounters and leads many who are hopeless to the idea and excitement of eternal life. Her and Tom's connection help to establish this, as they are drawn to each other from the very beginning and continue to bond over their faith. Tom discusses how Eva has said many things to him that show her angelic nature and wisdom beyond her years. Topsy, a problematic character, insists that the reason she acts up is that she is so wicked, and has nobody to love or care for. An important scene in the novel is one in which Eva talks with her and tells her how she, and Jesus, love Topsy and always will. Eva at the moment is described to look like 'the picture of some bright angel stooping to reclaim a sinner'. Although many before Eva had tried, only she was successful in her attempts to help Topsy, as she promised she would try hard to be good. On her deathbed, Eva mentions that if she weren't sad to leave her friends and her father behind, then she would be extremely excited to die and to reach heaven. She even says that she understands why Jesus wanted to die for our sins. She ignites change in many around the house after her death, including Miss Ophelia and her father. By giving a curl of her hair to each slave, she attempts to give them a reminder of herself and her eternal love for them, and a reminder that she is in Heaven and hopes to see them there too.

Uncle Tom's Cabin:

Another symbol is the name of the novel itself, Uncle Tom's Cabin. The cabin is a warm and safe place for the slaves on Mr. Shelby's farm, where Uncle Tom and Aunt Chloe reside. Many visit them and find happiness in their cabin. Where the novel began, it also ends, as George Shelby tells the slaves he has freed to remind themselves of the benevolence and strong faith of Tom every time they look at his cabin. Even on Master Legree's farm, the term is used. Despite being a newer slave, his confidence in his faith and eagerness to teach others about God draws other slaves to listen to him. Tom is kind to all of them and helps them whenever it is possible. In the novel, it refers to the cabin in which all the slaves slept as Uncle Tom's Cabin. Uncle Tom's Cabin symbolizes and reminds the slaves of freedom, as well as honesty and good faith.

Themes

I think a theme that Stowe wants to get across is that religion is powerful enough to endure the cruelest of conditions. This is shown with not only Tom, but Eliza, and even Eva. If it were not for his faith, Tom would have most likely fallen under what Master Legree wanted him to do, such as whipping other slaves or telling on Cassy and Emmeline. He also might not have had the strength to endure the pain that was inflicted on him. Eliza, too, found comfort in her faith. She encouraged her husband to maintain his Christianity when he questioned it, and at the end of the novel, he discussed how she continued to guide him through his faith. When faced with the news that her son was to be taken away, she found strength through the Lord and was courageous enough to run away, with just her son in her arms. Again, she crossed the freezing river, a remarkable feat that shows how her faith and trust in God provided for her. Eva, while not suffering directly from the oppression of slavery, was very ill. Although she could have acted as her mother did, causing annoyance and acting out, she instead focused on those around her and loving them in her last moments. Her love for God and for teaching about him allows her to not feel anxiety or pain when she knows she will die. Throughout the novel, the author uses many examples of Christianity and shows that those who truly believe and act upon God's word are given eternal life.

A second theme that's apparent in Uncle Tom's Cabin is that a society in which slavery is present is a corrupt society. Shown in every aspect of the author's writing, it is evident that Stowe is trying to prove a point that slavery is cruel and should never be accepted within a society. By making all the key, influential, and bright characters abolitionists, Stowe shows the success and happiness of those who go against society, also suggesting the idea of non-conformity. By including brutal and detailed descriptions of the treatment and punishments of the slaves, the author is not afraid to expose the inhumanity of those who support slavery. Commentary from the author herself is used in order to emphasize the cruelty of slaves’ conditions. At the end of the novel as well, the author uses George Harris to show the corruption within the United States at the time, as he felt called to go to Liberia rather than back to America. The purpose of her novel was to expose the cruel realities of the institution of slavery, therefore the idea of abolitionism and a corrupt society became the large theme that connected the complicated plot.