How Slaves Fight for Their Freedom in Uncle Tom Cabin - Book Report/Review Example

?How slaves fight for their freedom in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" The history of America is interconnected with colonization, slavery, slave trade, and forced labor. One can see that Emancipation Proclamation helped the African Americans to be free from the clutches of slavery and to gain social, economic and political freedom. During and after the time of slavery in America, the writers made use of slavery and forced labor as an important theme to express their social responsibility. Within this context, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s works are well known for her commitment towards the underdogs in the society. The novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, by the world renowned author Harriet Beecher Stowe, reveals the author’s sentimental attitude to the African American slaves. Thesis statement: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s purpose in writing the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin is to unveil the historical and political implications of anti-slavery movement and to support the anti-slavery initiatives in America during 1850s. The author’s purpose in writing the novel: The author’s main purpose in writing the novel is to unleash her sympathy to the African American slaves, and to create awareness among the public on the negative effect of slavery and forced labor. Mary McCartin Wearn makes clear that “In fact, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, all maternal impulses that fall outside the narrow limits of the sentimental-be they infanticidal, murderous, or simply self-interested- are negatively inflected and ultimately presented as an undesirable symptom of the institution of slavery.”1Besides, the author’s feminine perspective on slavery, on motherhood and forcible separation, and the author’s opinion on patriarchal nature of slavery, are visible in the novel. Feminine perspective on slavery In the novel, the author makes use of the main characters like Mrs. Shelby (mistress) and Eliza (maid) to express her feminine attitude and reaction on slavery. For instance, Mrs. Shelby was aware of the fact that they cannot maintain their farm. Still, she tries to help the slaves by arguing with her husband. Earlier, she agreed that they will not sell Eliza’s son to a salve trader. Within this context, the author made use of the character Mrs. Shelby to reveal her feminine attitude towards children. To be specific, the author was aware of the fact that slavery badly affects women and children. In addition, the author introduces another character named as Evangeline St. Clare, to unveil her feminine perspective on slavery and forced labor. Feminine perspective on motherhood and forcible separation The character named as Eliza (say, Mrs. Shelby’s mistress) is symbolic of the author’s feminine perspective on motherhood and forcible separation. For instance, Eliza considers the life with Mrs. Shelby’s family as a safe haven which saves her family from the atrocities faced by other slaves. This attitude and attachment to Mrs. Shelby’s family is symbolic of Eliza’s motherly love and tenderness. In addition, she was not ready to leave her son in the hands of a slave trader. So, she decided to flee with her son, Harry. She considers her son as the one and only asset in her life and she was ready to accept the uncertainty in future life. From a different angle of view, the author makes use of the character Eliza to portray the hardships faced by female slaves. In Harriet Beecher Stowe’s work, the narrator makes clear that “The writer has lived, for many years, on the frontier-line of slave states, and has had great opportunities of observation among those who formerly were slaves.”2 Besides, the emotional trauma originating from forcible separation is beautifully portrayed by the author in her work. Feminine perspective on patriarchal nature of slavery One can see slavery is deeply rooted in patriarchy. In the novel, Arthur Shelby decides his slaves’ destiny. E. Ann Kaplan states that “Often narrated from the feminine perspective, texts such as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin manage to expose male codes and uses of social power while remaining basically within sentimental traditions of the popular woman’s novel.”3 Within the context of decision making, Arthur Shelby’s wife possesses less importance. Mrs. Shelby was not able to influence her husband because decision making is vested upon him. In a male dominated society, female members are under the direct control of their counterparts. Even in their private circles (say, families) the women are forced to follow the instructions of the male members. Mrs. Shelby was aware of the fact that her son likes Tom, the slave. But she was helpless due to the patriarchal nature of slavery. During the 19th century, most of the slave traders and slave owners were male. This aspect of slavery proves its patriarchal nature and related problems faced by the African American slaves. Historical implications: From a historical perspective, one can see that the history of the United States of America is related to slavery, slave trade and forced labor. Within this context, the novel possesses anti-slavery elements and portrays the hardships faced by the African American slaves. Hardships faced by the African American slaves The novel can be considered as a historical anecdote that portrays the hardships faced by the African American slaves in American farms and families. The slaves were generally considered as commodities that can be bought and sold in the marketplace. They did not possess any rights in the mainstream society. Even children and women were treated cruelly. The slaves worked hard, not to save their families, but to serve their master’s family. Debra J. Rosenthal states that “The key to understanding the complex nature of the racial ambivalence in Stowe’s novel and in her personality, and the particular responses blacks made to the novel, lies in the historical moment that inspired the novel and these reactions.”4 In the novel, Tom’s life is symbolic of the hardships faced by the African American slaves in American farms. Tom was the master of his family but he was not allowed to enjoy his family life because he was a slave. Eventually, Tom was sold to another master and continues his life journey. But he was not able to escape from his fate because he was forced to be with another master, named as Simon Legree. This new master was so cruel and he used to consider his slaves as mere animals. But Tom helps other slaves to escape. This humanitarian attitude eventually leads Tom to death. Most of the slaves who tried to escape were able to reach Liberia. But Tom did not try to escape and was brutally beaten to death. So, the author makes use of the main characters in the novel to portray the hardships faced by the African American slaves. Anti-slavery elements The author consciously inculcates anti-slavery elements in the work because her aim was social criticism and expression of opinion on slavery. Elizabeth Ammons states that “For many readers, as Stowe’s son pointed out, Uncle Tom’s Cabin made slavery immediate and opposition imperative.”5 But the author did not provide ample importance to the rights and amalgamation of the slaves into the American society. Instead, the author concluded the work by pointing out that the slaves who were able to escape from their masters were deported to Liberia, an African country. Still, the work possesses strong anti-slavery elements because most of the main characters are the victims of slavery. For instance, in the novel, most of the members of white race are not aware of the fact that slavery is inhuman. Even those who support the rights of slaves possess a number of slaves. For instance, Augustine St. Clare, a white male is in favor of the rights of African American slaves. At the same time, he owns a number of slaves and does not consider this as an inhuman practice. Besides, the author portrays the hardships faced by the slaves to create awareness among the people. For instance, Simon Legree orders Tom to beat other slaves. When Tom refuses to do so, Simon Legree orders others to beat him to death. So, the author’s aim is to create empathy in the minds of the readers towards the slaves and the work carries anti-slavery elements in general. Political implications: The political implications in the novel include the author’s reaction on the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and the novel’s influence on the Abolitionist movement in 1850s. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 As pointed out, the novel was published in the year 1852. At the same time, the novel’s theme and plot are related to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. One can see that this Act was basically an effort to reduce the problems related to the disagreement between different states in America on slavery and forced labor. To be specific, this Act declares that the runaway slaves are not free. So, one can see that the novelist chooses the stories of Eliza and Tom to shed light into the lives of the slaves. The only difference is that Eliza was ready to flee, but Tom was not ready to do so. This basic difference changes their lives. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 declares that one who helps the suspected slaves will be fined. So, one can see that the author utilized her literary craftsmanship to unveil the inhuman aspect of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The Abolitionist movement in 1850s Another political implication of the novel is that it accelerated the Abolitionist movement in 1850s. But David Grant states that “Her novel, after all, was published in the National Era, an organ not of the abolitionist movement but of the political antislavery movement.”6 To be specific, the novel indirectly influenced the Abolitionist movement in 1850s and other initiatives like Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 to save the African American slaves from the clutches of slavery. Due to the general reaction on slavery, the American government was forced to disallow slavery. One can easily identify the fact that the novel is a conscious reaction from the author on slavery. The only difference is that the author considered that deportation of the slaves to the African continent can solve the problem. But the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 ignited the spirit of freedom and liberty among the African American slaves. Later, they were able to gain importance in the mainstream society of America. So, one can easily identify the fact that the author’s effort was not futile. Summing, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s purpose in writing the novel unveils the hardships suffered by the African American slaves. Historically, slavery and forced labor were not considered as inhuman and illegal. Instead, slavery helped the different states in America to exploit human resources, but in an inhuman way. Still, the political implications of the novel deeply influenced the reaction and protest against slavery and eventually led to the freedom of slaves. Besides, the novel can be considered as a historical anecdote which supported the anti-slavery initiatives in America during 1850s. So, the novel is one among the works that ignited the spirit of freedom among the African Americans in the mainstream society of America. Bibliography Ammons, Elizabeth. Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Casebook. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Grant, David. Political Anti-Slavery Discourse and American Literature of the 1850s. Maryland: Lexington Books, 2012. Kaplan, E. Ann. Motherhood and Representation: The Mother in Popular Culture and Melodrama. London: Routledge, 1992. Rosenthal, Debra J. Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Sourcebook. Oxon: Routledge, 2004. Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom's Cabin. Boston: The University of Michigan, 1852. Wearn, Mary McCartin. Negotiating Motherhood in 19th-century American Literature. New York: Routledge, 2008. Read More

 

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