Sheri Smith HST 345 5/4/09 1st Book Review
Visiting Uncle Toms Cabin
Just before the American Civil war (1861-1865) Harriet Beecher Stowe pissed off the south by writing Uncle Tom’s Cabin and anti-slave novel published in 1852. In this brief essay I will sum up the plot of the book and how it’s important themes and characters helped influence the civil war and change the attitude towards slaves in what we can now call “the land of the free.” Uncle Tom’s Cabin takes place in the South during the 1850’s. The story begins on an old Kentucky plantation. A transaction is made between a slave owner named Arthur Shelby, and a slave buyer called Mr. Haley. Because of debt, Arthur must sell a couple valuable slaves, middle-aged husband and father, Uncle Tom and a young boy called Harry. Eliza, Harry’s mother takes action almost immediately by fleeing with her son to the North in hopes of meeting with her husband George in Canada. It is at this point that the story is split in two. One focus being on the plight of Uncle Tom and the other being on Eliza and Harry’s escape to Canada. In the novel both stories are full of trials and tribulations. Pious Christian Uncle Toms struggles to gain spiritual enlightenment while Eliza and Harry struggle to gain freedom. In the end, Uncle tom is made a martyr and Eliza and Harry gain freedom and happiness in Canada. Throughout the novel good and bad characters arise. Characters that make Uncle Tom, Harry and Eliza fight and falter in their goals. Just two important character’s in Uncle Toms story include Eva St. Clare and Legree. Eva St. Clare is the angelic daughter of Uncle Tom’s third Master in the story. Tom is bought by
the St. Clare family after saving Eva from drowning. After this event, Eva and Uncle Tom become very close. Eva’s unfaltering innocence and saintliness help Tom strengthens his faith in Christianity. In death Eva shows Tom death can be peaceful and full of forgiveness if faith in God is unfaltering. Without...