Uncle_Toms_Cabin_Final_Paper

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin specifically in order to illustrate the evil and inhumanity of slavery to her mid-19th century American readers, for whom slavery was a current and heated political issue. The novel illustrates not only the suffering and misery of the slaves themselves, but also the way that slavery as an institution harms everyone involved in it. Even those who do not participate directly in slavery are shown to be complicit – such as northern politicians and citizens. Thus slavery, in addition to being highly unethical, is portrayed as unviable in economic, social, and political terms as well. Blacks were regarded as property and animals not people. "Now, they say," said Haley, assuming a candid and confidential air, "that this kind o' trade ….that's been my experience." Haley’s anecdote about the woman who died of grief when her baby was taken from her serves two purposes. First, it shows his callousness – he doesn’t actually care about the woman’s suffering, just about the economic consequences of it. This is the moment where we realize that he’s a villain, despite his chummy nature. Second, however, Stowe does want her reader to think about that economic consequence, even though it seems coldhearted and disgusting to do so. Stowe is arguing both that slavery causes inhumane suffering and that it doesn’t even make economic sense, so it can’t be justified on any grounds. "I would rather not sell him," said Mr. Shelby, thoughtfully… Your wife might get her some ear-rings, or a new gown, or some such truck, to make up with her." Mr. Shelby’s interpretation of being "humane" in his treatment of slaves is very different from Haley’s. To Mr. Shelby, treating a slave humanely means keeping families together (although he’s willing to violate this principle when he needs the money). To Haley, "humane" treatment just means managing things so that he can avoid actually seeing the unpleasant consequences of his actions. Stowe is making it clear that agreeing to treat slaves "humanely" isn’t enough, because everyone will define that term however they need to in order to do just what they want anyway. Being "humane" shouldn’t be open to interpretation, and it can’t be optional. "It's done!" said Mr. Shelby, in a musing tone; and, fetching a long breath, he repeated, "It's done!" …"Wal, you know, they may 'blige me, too," said the trader. Mr. Shelby is reluctant to recognize the similarities between himself and the slave trader, Haley, but the reader sees them very clearly. Although Mr. Shelby tries to elicit a promise from Tom’s new owner that Tom will be treated well, he fails to ensure this himself, and so he doesn’t have much moral high ground to stand on. Whites used religion to justify the enslavement of blacks. "Abolitionist! if they knew all I know about slavery, they ... think you didn't think much of that sermon, either." Mrs. Shelby knows that ministers who use religious technicalities and sophistical arguments to defend slavery are hypocrites. She doesn’t even care what their arguments are – slavery is so obviously cruel, inhumane, and immoral that it must be against her principles of Christian love. "Now, John, I want to know if you think such ... desolate; and that Bible I mean to follow." Much like Mrs. Shelby, Mrs. Bird rejects any defense of slavery – here, her husband’s political support of the Fugitive Slave Act. But Mrs. Bird adds a new layer to the argument that slavery is manifestly against the loving tenets of the Gospel: she also believes that moral citizens should disobey laws if obedience would be un-Christian. Mrs. Bird’s reliance on faith and morality over law and politics paves the way for the Quakers’ civil disobedience later in the novel. "It's undoubtedly the intention of Providence that the African race ... "that is scripture, as much as 'Cursed be Canaan.' Although one minister uses a Bible verse to justify slavery by implying that blacks are a race cursed by God, another points out that every person is enjoined to treat others as they would be treated themselves, and slavery is a clear violation of this golden rule. While Stowe obviously encourages her 19th century reader to agree with the second minister, she also shows how the moral force of the Bible is fought over by the pro-slavery and abolitionist factions. Christianity has become disputed ground – which group will get to claim it in the end' Although she shines an unflattering light on America in the 19th century, Stowe was able to also show the unity and the unfathomable love of blacks and whites of that period. This book gives a testament, a testament of the thousands who suffered under the oppression of slavery and a glimmer of hope for others. That although the slavery of one enslaves all, love and hope can overcome