Uncle Tom's Cabin - Final Paper
Stowe, Harriet. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. New York: Aladdin Classics, 2002.
In the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Stowe, there are two characters in which the reader feels sympathy and sorrow for. One character is Tom, the black slave who is treated horribly, but still remains kind and forgiving. The other character is Eva St. Clare, the young white girl who is loving and brings love to many people, but her life is cut short.
The reader feels sympathy for Tom because of how he is treated. After being sold the first time he is kept in chains even though everyone, including his previous owner, said it was not necessary. Then when he is sold for the final time he was treated like a piece of property. His owner says “’Didn't I pay down twelve hundred dollars, cash, for all there is inside yer old cussed black shell? An't yer mine, now, body and soul?’” (359).He lives in poor conditions and is beaten to his untimely death because he doesn’t have the information on the escaped slave (410).
On top of how Tom is treated, he is so kind and devoted to God that the reader feels hurt because of his treatment. In the beginning he wants to be sold instead of running away, because he doesn’t want the rest of the slaves to be sold (37). On his last owner, with all the treachery, he is presented with a chance to kill his master and be set free, but he spares the owner’s life in the name of God (359). Then when he is presented with an escape, he refuses saying he would rather stay and help the other slaves stay strong and faithful. When talking to the other escaping slave he says “’No, time was when I would, but the Lord's given me a work among these yer poor souls, and I'll stay with 'em and bear my cross with 'em till the end. It's different with you; it's a snare to you…,--and you'd better go if you can.’” (394). Before his life ending beating Tom begs Simon to spare him, not because he is scared, but because he wants Simon not to commit sin. The moment before the beating begins he says “’…Mas'r! don't bring this great sin on your soul! It will hurt you more than't will me! Do the worst you can, my troubles'll be over soon; but, if ye don't repent, yours won't never end!’” (410). After the beating while his is near his death, Tom forgives Simon for it all “’There an't no more ye can do! I forgive ye, with all my soul!’” (411).
The other character that receives sympathy from the reader is Eva St. Clare. She is so kind and loving, but her life is cut short. She feels the pain from the wrong doings of other slave owners (275). She even teaches the people around her to be kinder to slaves. She is the first person to ever love the slave girl Topsy (280). After she dies she makes a path for Ophelia to carry on that love. Ophelia finally admits she can love her; “’I can love you, though I am not like that dear little child. I hope I've learnt something of the love of Christ from her. I can love you; I do…’” (297). All of these kind deeds are fallowed by Eva’s early death.
Harriet Stowe uses many instances of kindness to get the reader to care for and relate to Tom and Eva. Then she uses instances of extreme sorrow to force the reader to feel sadness and sympathy for the characters. She does all of this while showing the treacheries of slavery.