Assumption #1 (chp. 1-14) Harriet Beecher Stowe often assumes that the reader is familiar with the Bible or has some historical knowledge about Christianity. For example, Sam, one of the slaves of the Shelbys, must use biblical references to describe the situation of Eliza. Sam says that Eliza “‘cross[ed] Jordan” into “the land o’ Canaan” (133), trying to convey the situation to Mrs. Shelby into terms that she can understand. The “Jordan” refers to the Jordan River in Israel, which is where a number of miracles occur and is the location of Jesus’ baptism. This alludes to Eliza crossing the Ohio River into a new and foreign area, which Sam refers to this as “Canaan”. The land is known as the “Promised Land” in the Bible, and this reference could be foreshadowing future events in the novel.
Comment #1: Great example Kat! Mrs. Bird's argument to Mr. Bird about the injustice of the Fugitive Slave Act was also very interesting because she uses many Biblical references to support her views. She adamantly rejects her husbands support of the FSA and abhors any defense of slavery, arguing that she should have the right to help runaway slaves out of the goodness of her heart. She says she doesnt "know anything about politics, but [she] can read [her] Bible" which says she "must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the desolate; and that Bible [she] means to follow" (144). This quote shows how prevalent Christianity was at that time in the South, and how many realized the injustice of slavery through their faith.
Reply #9 Christianity is prevalent, and the quote you used ties into the topic very well. The quote reminds of the idea of human dignity in the Catholic Church and how we are all created equal, which means we must be fair and kind everyone as well. With that, the slaves are always maltreated and never given sufficient food, water, and sometimes even shelter. Human dignity takes into account race and gender, and it tells Catholics to treat all with respect, regardless of race, gender, and even religion. The southerners should learn! The golden rule does say it all: treat others how you would like to be treated.
Harriet Beecher Stowe also makes the feminine characters in her novel, much more humane than their male counterparts. She assumes that her audience is made up of white Christian mothers. She directly states that “trading negroes from Africa, dear reader,” (213) is wicked. She continued this conversation with the reader, by warning her audience of God’s awaiting Judgement Day, which will be more likely to rule in the favor of slaves, rather than their evil slaveholders. Although white mothers did not experience losing their children to slavery, infant and child mortality rates were significantly high during the period. Therefore, Stowe uses pathos through women such as Eliza, to highlight her message about the immoralities of slavery. Through doing so, she makes slaveholders the culprits for breaking loving families apart.
Comment #6 Yes Sofia I agree! However, I think Tom is a very important male character that exhibits some feminine qualities seen in many of the women such as feeling and emotion. This makes Tom an important symbol of the hardships of slavery. Since the reader knows how "honest" and "pious" Tom is, the reader is devastated when Tom is first bought by Haley and then when he is purchased by Legree, since he is such a horrible person (42). Stowe makes Tom a sort of idol who is perfect in every way - he is deeply religious, loyal, compassionate, loving, and trustworthy even in the worst situations, which is why it is so hard for any reader, even a Southern reader, to support that Tom be subjected to the pain of slavery.
Assumption #2: Today, December 7th 2016, is the 75th anniversary of the devastating Pearl Harbor bombing that killed more than 2,300 Americans. Although before our lifetime, many of us have grandparents or great-grandparents who were involved in World War II, making the Pearl Harbor bombing a relatively recent event to us. However, the beginning of the Civil War was over 150 years ago, and seems like a very distant event. Harriet Beecher Stowe assumes that her readers are from the time period the book was published in, a few years before the Civil War, and are is familiar with the ongoing tensions between various states. Although most know that the tensions between the North and South due to slavery ultimately led to the Civil War, many readers from the 21st century may not know specific issues between two states. In chapter 15, while Miss Ophelia is deciding whether or not to visit the South, the minister tells her she "ought to go, to show the Orleans people that we don't think hardly of them at all" (246). Although it is clear that the minister is referencing a North/South combative issue, readers from this century are unsure whether there was a specific horrific incident that would cause Orleans people to "think hardly" of New England.
I agree Mo! Stowe created the novel in response to the ongoing tensions between the pro and anti slave states, and attempted to show her support for the abolition movement. While she does assume that the reader knows about the horrors of the life of a slave, it is a perfectly valid assumption because it was all the men and women of the century could talk about. However, it is true that many Northerner's were not educated on this topic, such as Miss Ophelia. She comes to the south and expects to be able to work for herself, but is unable to because the slaves will not allow her to touch a single dish. In such, Stowe also assumes that many people are uneducated on the issue of slavery, because Miss Ophelia was quite surprised to learn she was unable to work in her own kitchen.
Returning to Stowe's first assumption, that her audience is reading with a Christian view, she proposes that slavery can be abolished with love. She assumes that her readers also want to abolish slavery, as for her proslavery audience, she attempts to convince them that slavery is a crime. She assumes her readers are familiar with "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them" (201), which is the golden rule. The golden rule is a constant reminder of slavery's abuses throughout the book. Stowe uses the golden rule to prove that in order to abolish slavery, one must understand the horrors of it.
Reply #6 I think Christianity is one of the main topics of this novel. Stowe makes multiple assumptions about the reader’s knowledge on Christianity, even religion in general. The point Mo made about it exemplifies this as well. Adding onto Sofia’s comment, the golden rule she speaks about really only applies to Christians. Most southerners during this time period believed that slavery was morally fair, yet northerners thought otherwise. If the reader did not understand this separation between North and South, they would not understand the main point of the novel!
Reply #3 Christianity is definitely a major topic in this novel, most likely because there was a large assumption that most of American were Christians. To appeal to her audience Stowe presumes her readers are familiar with the bible and constantly make biblical references. In using references from the bible, Stowe allows her readers to relate and connect with the characters. However, by referencing Christianity she is also making a jab at her Christian readers say 'hey if you're Christian how can you support slavery because it's sinful, unjust, and God is going to punish us if it's not abolished.'
Assumption #5 (pgs 457-finish) Harriet Beecher Stowe assumes that we understand what life is like as a slave. After Augustine St. Clare has died and Marie has sold all the slaves to a slave warehouse, Tom has become mentally and physically stronger. Tom promises Mr. Legree that he will give “all the work of [his] hands, all [his] time, all [his] strength” (540), but never his soul to a mortal man. Uncle Tom is a symbol that faith can prove strongest against any hardship one is experiencing. Tom claims that slavery has only drawn him closer to God, and that unlike Mr. Legree, he can look forward to eternity. Through Uncle Tom, Stowe argues that one must have faith in order to overcome adversity.
Assumption #4: When Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published in 1852, it immediately became a bestseller in both the U.S. and Great Britain. Stowe lived at a time when many Americans assumed that the United States was "a Christian country" — and a Protestant country at that. Based on this assumption, Stowe writes to her audience and makes one of the book's major topics Christianity. Uncle Tom is a devoted Christian. His trials and sufferings are not so much those of an African in America, a slave, husband or father separated from his family but as a man attempting to follow Christ's life and teachings. Eva is also a symbolic religious figure “The Little Evangelist” whose work is to spread the message of love in regard to slavery, which is the message of the New Testament and the message of Christ. Eva serves as a figure for love and sacrifice.
In the US, the idea of acceptance is widely spread, especially between a parent and a child. On the contrary, relationships between parents and their children in the South in the 1850's may have not been all butterflies and rainbows. For example, Sara Grimke got in to many disputes with her mother and father over the issue of slavery. Her parents were rich southerners with more slaves than they knew what to do with, and Sara was an abolitionist at a young age. In Uncle Tom's Cabin, Marie assumes that "Eva's peculiar" (265) because she treats slaves nicely. Eva worries about the health and well being of the slaves in her house, and is always trying to help them. This inclines Marie to think that Eva does not know how to place slaves correctly, therefore she is not in a correct state of mind.
Assumption #1 (chp. 1-14)
ReplyDeleteHarriet Beecher Stowe often assumes that the reader is familiar with the Bible or has some historical knowledge about Christianity. For example, Sam, one of the slaves of the Shelbys, must use biblical references to describe the situation of Eliza. Sam says that Eliza “‘cross[ed] Jordan” into “the land o’ Canaan” (133), trying to convey the situation to Mrs. Shelby into terms that she can understand. The “Jordan” refers to the Jordan River in Israel, which is where a number of miracles occur and is the location of Jesus’ baptism. This alludes to Eliza crossing the Ohio River into a new and foreign area, which Sam refers to this as “Canaan”. The land is known as the “Promised Land” in the Bible, and this reference could be foreshadowing future events in the novel.
Comment #1:
DeleteGreat example Kat!
Mrs. Bird's argument to Mr. Bird about the injustice of the Fugitive Slave Act was also very interesting because she uses many Biblical references to support her views. She adamantly rejects her husbands support of the FSA and abhors any defense of slavery, arguing that she should have the right to help runaway slaves out of the goodness of her heart. She says she doesnt "know anything about politics, but [she] can read [her] Bible" which says she "must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the desolate; and that Bible [she] means to follow" (144). This quote shows how prevalent Christianity was at that time in the South, and how many realized the injustice of slavery through their faith.
Reply #9
DeleteChristianity is prevalent, and the quote you used ties into the topic very well. The quote reminds of the idea of human dignity in the Catholic Church and how we are all created equal, which means we must be fair and kind everyone as well. With that, the slaves are always maltreated and never given sufficient food, water, and sometimes even shelter. Human dignity takes into account race and gender, and it tells Catholics to treat all with respect, regardless of race, gender, and even religion. The southerners should learn! The golden rule does say it all: treat others how you would like to be treated.
Harriet Beecher Stowe also makes the feminine characters in her novel, much more humane than their male counterparts. She assumes that her audience is made up of white Christian mothers. She directly states that “trading negroes from Africa, dear reader,” (213) is wicked. She continued this conversation with the reader, by warning her audience of God’s awaiting Judgement Day, which will be more likely to rule in the favor of slaves, rather than their evil slaveholders. Although white mothers did not experience losing their children to slavery, infant and child mortality rates were significantly high during the period. Therefore, Stowe uses pathos through women such as Eliza, to highlight her message about the immoralities of slavery. Through doing so, she makes slaveholders the culprits for breaking loving families apart.
DeleteComment #6
DeleteYes Sofia I agree! However, I think Tom is a very important male character that exhibits some feminine qualities seen in many of the women such as feeling and emotion. This makes Tom an important symbol of the hardships of slavery. Since the reader knows how "honest" and "pious" Tom is, the reader is devastated when Tom is first bought by Haley and then when he is purchased by Legree, since he is such a horrible person (42). Stowe makes Tom a sort of idol who is perfect in every way - he is deeply religious, loyal, compassionate, loving, and trustworthy even in the worst situations, which is why it is so hard for any reader, even a Southern reader, to support that Tom be subjected to the pain of slavery.
Assumption #2:
ReplyDeleteToday, December 7th 2016, is the 75th anniversary of the devastating Pearl Harbor bombing that killed more than 2,300 Americans. Although before our lifetime, many of us have grandparents or great-grandparents who were involved in World War II, making the Pearl Harbor bombing a relatively recent event to us. However, the beginning of the Civil War was over 150 years ago, and seems like a very distant event. Harriet Beecher Stowe assumes that her readers are from the time period the book was published in, a few years before the Civil War, and are is familiar with the ongoing tensions between various states. Although most know that the tensions between the North and South due to slavery ultimately led to the Civil War, many readers from the 21st century may not know specific issues between two states. In chapter 15, while Miss Ophelia is deciding whether or not to visit the South, the minister tells her she "ought to go, to show the Orleans people that we don't think hardly of them at all" (246). Although it is clear that the minister is referencing a North/South combative issue, readers from this century are unsure whether there was a specific horrific incident that would cause Orleans people to "think hardly" of New England.
I agree Mo! Stowe created the novel in response to the ongoing tensions between the pro and anti slave states, and attempted to show her support for the abolition movement. While she does assume that the reader knows about the horrors of the life of a slave, it is a perfectly valid assumption because it was all the men and women of the century could talk about. However, it is true that many Northerner's were not educated on this topic, such as Miss Ophelia. She comes to the south and expects to be able to work for herself, but is unable to because the slaves will not allow her to touch a single dish. In such, Stowe also assumes that many people are uneducated on the issue of slavery, because Miss Ophelia was quite surprised to learn she was unable to work in her own kitchen.
DeleteReturning to Stowe's first assumption, that her audience is reading with a Christian view, she proposes that slavery can be abolished with love. She assumes that her readers also want to abolish slavery, as for her proslavery audience, she attempts to convince them that slavery is a crime. She assumes her readers are familiar with "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them" (201), which is the golden rule. The golden rule is a constant reminder of slavery's abuses throughout the book. Stowe uses the golden rule to prove that in order to abolish slavery, one must understand the horrors of it.
DeleteReply #6
DeleteI think Christianity is one of the main topics of this novel. Stowe makes multiple assumptions about the reader’s knowledge on Christianity, even religion in general. The point Mo made about it exemplifies this as well. Adding onto Sofia’s comment, the golden rule she speaks about really only applies to Christians. Most southerners during this time period believed that slavery was morally fair, yet northerners thought otherwise. If the reader did not understand this separation between North and South, they would not understand the main point of the novel!
Reply #3
DeleteChristianity is definitely a major topic in this novel, most likely because there was a large assumption that most of American were Christians. To appeal to her audience Stowe presumes her readers are familiar with the bible and constantly make biblical references. In using references from the bible, Stowe allows her readers to relate and connect with the characters. However, by referencing Christianity she is also making a jab at her Christian readers say 'hey if you're Christian how can you support slavery because it's sinful, unjust, and God is going to punish us if it's not abolished.'
Assumption #5 (pgs 457-finish)
ReplyDeleteHarriet Beecher Stowe assumes that we understand what life is like as a slave. After Augustine St. Clare has died and Marie has sold all the slaves to a slave warehouse, Tom has become mentally and physically stronger. Tom promises Mr. Legree that he will give “all the work of [his] hands, all [his] time, all [his] strength” (540), but never his soul to a mortal man. Uncle Tom is a symbol that faith can prove strongest against any hardship one is experiencing. Tom claims that slavery has only drawn him closer to God, and that unlike Mr. Legree, he can look forward to eternity. Through Uncle Tom, Stowe argues that one must have faith in order to overcome adversity.
Assumption #4:
ReplyDeleteWhen Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published in 1852, it immediately became a bestseller in both the U.S. and Great Britain. Stowe lived at a time when many Americans assumed that the United States was "a Christian country" — and a Protestant country at that. Based on this assumption, Stowe writes to her audience and makes one of the book's major topics Christianity. Uncle Tom is a devoted Christian. His trials and sufferings are not so much those of an African in America, a slave, husband or father separated from his family but as a man attempting to follow Christ's life and teachings. Eva is also a symbolic religious figure “The Little Evangelist” whose work is to spread the message of love in regard to slavery, which is the message of the New Testament and the message of Christ. Eva serves as a figure for love and sacrifice.
Assumption #3
ReplyDeleteIn the US, the idea of acceptance is widely spread, especially between a parent and a child. On the contrary, relationships between parents and their children in the South in the 1850's may have not been all butterflies and rainbows. For example, Sara Grimke got in to many disputes with her mother and father over the issue of slavery. Her parents were rich southerners with more slaves than they knew what to do with, and Sara was an abolitionist at a young age. In Uncle Tom's Cabin, Marie assumes that "Eva's peculiar" (265) because she treats slaves nicely. Eva worries about the health and well being of the slaves in her house, and is always trying to help them. This inclines Marie to think that Eva does not know how to place slaves correctly, therefore she is not in a correct state of mind.