Uncle Tom's Cabin - Essay Example

The book was fuelled by the growing anger due to the slavery and other forms of injustice being meted out to the slaves. The translation of the book was done into many languages, and it became the second best seller after the Bible. It was equally well received in England, with over two hundred thousand copies being sold in a short period. The aim of this work is to compare and contrast Tom’s three owners, Shelby, St. Clare, and Legree, and to find out how much they are alike and different.

CHARACTERS OF THE NOVEL The characters in the book are intertwined. The opening of the book focuses at the life of a Kentucky farmer. Arthur Shelby is facing a prospect of losing the farm due to the impending debts, which need to be cleared. Arthur and his wife Emily are kind to the slaves. There is a decision to raise the funds by selling two of the slaves. One of them is Tom, who is a middle aged man; and Harry. George Shelby is averse to the idea as he does not like the prospect of parting with Tom, whom he sees as a mentor and friend.

After the maid Eliza overhears the discussion between the masters, she runs away with her son. After that Tom is sold. While on board, he comes across a young girl called Eva. The father of Eva, Augustine St. Claire; went on to buy him. Tom and Eva become close owing to the deep Christian faith shared by them. On the other hand Eliza meets with her husband, who had run away earlier. There is an attempt to reach Canada, but they are tracked down by a slave hunter. St. Clare, who reaches New Orleans, has a debate with the Northern relative of his, Ophelia.

While Ophelia opposes the practice of slavery, she is biased against the blacks. St Clare is of the view that he is not biased, in spite of being a slave owner. This makes him to ask Ophelia to educate a young slave. After living with St Clare for two years, Eva becomes very ill. Before she dies, there is a vision of heaven. This makes all the characters change their views. Also, St Clare promises to free Tom .But soon after the death of Eva, her father is killed outside a tavern. The wife of St.

Clare does not respect the promise given to Eva and sells Tom to a slave owner called Simon Legree. Legree takes Tom to the rural parts of Louisiana. Tom is beaten in a vicious manner by Legree and challenges his faith in God. He meets another slave Cassy, who has been separated from her family. Despite all the hardships, Tom refuses to lose his faith in God. He continues reading the Bible and also comforts other fellow slaves. Tom Loker, who is a slave owner, returns to the story. He has changed after being treated by the Quakers.

Meanwhile, George, Eliza, and Harry have also obtained their freedom by moving into Canada. Tom assists the exit of Cassy and Emeline. When Tom refuses to divulge the details of their exit, he instructs the overseers to kill Tom. Even on his deathbed, Tom forgives his killers. Also, George Shelby tries to buy the freedom of Tom, but it is too late for that. On the boat ride, Cassy reunites with Eliza, who turns out to be her long lost daughter. George Shelby returns to his farm and frees all the slaves.

He also tells them to remember the sacrifices of Tom. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERS The three owners of Tom are very different from each other. Although one can find certain degree of similarities between the characters of Shelby and St. Clare; the one of Legree is totally different by