FREE ESSAY ON UNCLE TOMS CABIN

UNCLE TOMS CABIN

Uncle Tom's Cabin
How realistically and credibly does Stowe present 
slavery? 
Stowe presents slavery in the only way she knows how, by using the facts. Several sources
of other works in American literature contrast on to how Stowe presents slavery in her
novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The elements of slavery are driven through the reflections of
theme, characterization, and setting to show that the way slavery is presented is not
contradicting. 
Through the character of Mrs. Shelby, Stowe seems to use her opposition against slavery
the most. Mrs. Shelby's character realizes that slavery is unfair, unjust, and most of
all unchristian. This theme of opposition of slavery can be compared to that of Henry
David Thoreau, a transcendentalist in early American history. Thoreau was the author of a
book entitled "Civil Disobedience" in which he expressed his views against slavery and
the way the government did nothing to put an end to it. I bring up Thoreau because he was
like Mrs. Shelby in a way. They both sided with the slaves, rather than go with the
majority to say that slavery was a just cause. Deep down, morally, they knew it was wrong
to control the life of another human being and not give them the freedom in which God
intended for all. Thoreau tried to fight slavery in different ways than Mrs. Shelby, but
they both had the same intent, to treat everyone equal regardless of their skin color.
Thoreau went to the source of the problem, the government. This is where Thoreau was able
to try and get through to a higher authority. He did this by gathering protests in
Massachusetts where a slave was being held for fleeing from the south for a chance at
freedom. Where as Mrs. Shelby posses the same ideas as Thoreau, but she helps slaves in
other ways. Mrs. Shelby does in fact go against the government though, at this point in
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" she helps slaves try to escape to Canada where they will be free of
their slave owners. One example of this is when Mrs. Shelby distracts the slave traders
to allow more time for Eliza to escape further away (Heath Anthology P. 2316). It was at
this point that Mrs. Shelby, in contrast to Eliza, never has had the courage to denounce
slavery. This was realistic because it was an example of the Underground Railroad, which
was a secret network of people who helped runaway slaves find safety in the north to
Canada. 
In addition to the Connection of slavery in this novel, it reflects that of Frederick
Douglas' characterization with Tom from "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Frederick Douglas was an
American slave who escaped the south. Douglas wrote a folk song called "Steal Away To
Jesus" which told a story of slaves escaping to the north away from slavery (P. 2655).
This is also similar to Eliza running off to Canada. Another similar aspect of Douglas'
experiences and Stowe's novel deals with the opportunity to learn to read. Douglas was a
slave who had the chance to learn to read and write just like Tom did in Stowe's novel.
Douglas saw that he had the chance to learn to read, so he took it before he had to move
on to another slave owner (P. 1780). Douglas learns to read from a white mistress related
to his slave owner (P. 1776). This was similar to how Tom learned to read in the novel.
Both of these characters had a huge advantage over the other slaves by being able to read
and write. They were able to use their newly found talents to teach others. Stowe
realistically presents slavery, because every aspect of it is true and has been backed up
by several sources. She shows the truth and evidence to what slaves had to go through in
America.
Bibliography
(All sources cited for this essay were taken from The Heath Anthology of American
Literature in which they were cited by the page number)