Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ is a masterpiece novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852. Stowe was a 19th century writer and abolitionist and concentrated her writing on the evils brought by slavery. The novel largely contributed to the antislavery sentiments in the post civil war American society.Main Character and their Roles
The story contains about two dozens of characters of which Uncle Tom is in the central role. He is depicted as being a true believer of Jesus, a virtuous, devout, committed, honest, loyal and considerate human being. In the time when education was prohibited for the slaves, Uncle Tom learned to read Bible and teach it to fellow slaves. Arthur Shelby and his wife Emily are Tom’s masters in Kentucky. The couple is kind and just to slaves and Emily is blessed with high moral values. Their son George teaches Tom to read Bible and is deeply attached to him. When his father sell Tom and another young slave Harry to pay for his debt, the little boy swears to get back Tom. Aunt Chloe is Tom’s wife and a very good cook. When Tom was sold, she started selling pastries to get money and buy him back.
Eliza is Emily’s maid and is married to George Harris, a slave on neighboring plantations. Their son, Harry is a talented and beautiful kid who sings and dance to amuse his master. Mr. Haley is a cruel and brutish slave trader who buys Tom and Harry from Shelby and sells them to Augustine and Marie St. Clare. Augustine becomes fond of Tom after he saves his daughter Eva from drowning. He promises to free Tom but dies before signing the papers. His wife is a self-centered and vicious woman and disapproves of her husband’s and daughter’s liking for the slaves and sells them all after her husband’s death. Ophelia is St. Clare’s cousin and Topsy is her little slave girl. Simon Legree is Tom’s last master. He is a vindictive and malicious person and finds pleasure in beating, humiliating and punishing his slaves. Eliza’s mother Cassy is Legree’s mistress....