I don't believe that there are any fallacies (at least that I found) in the first 200 pages of UTC. Harriet Beecher Stowe created a sound argument against slavery, that eventually led to the outbreak of the Civil War and abolition of slavery. Her beliefs became quite common among women (and middle class families), whom, alongside slaves, wanted certain rights. Haley, as described in the first 14 chapters, reflects the harshness that was common among slaveowners. Although a work of fiction, Uncle Tom's Cabin contains true historical fact.
Well, are there any characters, such as slave trader, Haley, that believes that slaves are lesser beings. In his remark on page 46-47 he says "These critters ain't like white folks, you know; they gets over things, only manage right" which suggests that African Americans don't have souls, as if a color of skin takes the pain of having your son or daughter stolen from you. I believe Stowe is using Haley's character as a symbol of the fallacies taking place at this time.
I was thinking the same thing, Ms De Vine! Since slavery is something we have read so much about in history books and is obviously an inhumane institution to our society, it is a fallacy we don't realize to discuss. Many people in the South believed that slaves were not considered to be made of the same blood as whites, which of course is the fallacy that Stowe was trying to disprove and shed some light on at the time the novel was written. In chapter 16, Marie refers to slaves as "degraded creatures", proving the mistaken belief that slaves and their owners were not considered equals in the eyes of the Lord.
Natalie Akins. Commment #2 Another Fallacy could be that all slave masters cruel people that beat and starve their slaves. However the Shelby's disprove this idea of cruel masters because Mr. Shelby "had the appearance of a gentleman" (42) while Mrs. Shelby "was a woman of high class... intellectually and morally" (52). The Shelby's didn't treat their slaves with cruelty but with kindness, a fallacy to all slave masters being unforgiving, heartless, cruel men.
Comment #10 Looking back at this, I agree with you!! When reading, you don't want to believe that there are any fallacies, because the book was written for such a good cause. However, these were intentional fallacies on Stowe's part, because I believe as the abolitionist and feminist that she was, she would not have advocated that slaves do not have souls. She wrote this for the prime intention of using the evil character Haley as that symbol (like you said) Thanks for making me look at this again, and I see what you mean now!!
Fallacies #2 With slavery being one of the main topics of this novel, there must be a basic understanding of it and the history of the United States, and Stowe does not always account for this. For instance, in a conversation about slavery between Miss Ophelia and Augustine St. Clare, it may be unclear why Miss Ophelia is opposed to slavery, saying that one must “educate your slaves, and treat them like reasonable creatures” (271). She says this because she is a Northerner, which, at the time, was the part of the country that was against slavery and wanted it to be abolished. St. Clare, however, was a southerner who owned slaves and believed it was a privilege and a lifestyle to own them. In this instance, Miss Ophelia is right; all humans, regardless of race, gender, sex, and other attributes, are created equal, but a southerner may not understand that because of his/her mindset, which is based on where he/she lives and how he/she grew up in the South.
Comment #5 Great example Kat! This fallacy is also apparent in the conversation between the Birds. Mrs. Bird asks her husband, a Senator, if there has been a law passed "forbidding people to give meat and drink to those poor colored folks that come along" (142). Stowe does not include the name of this law, which is the Fugitive Slave Law. Without this basic understanding of US Civil War history, the reader would not know the specific law spoken of.
Fallacies #3: While on the Riviere boat, a group of passengers get into an altercation while discussing the issue of slavery. Some individuals are strong proponents of slavery, such as one woman who states that "the negroes are better off than they would be to be free" (199). Harriet Beecher Stowe uses this character as a symbol of the fallacies taking place in the time period. 21st century readers of this novel already know how the argument over slavery ends; the South attempts secession, but are defeated in the Civil War and rejoin the United States. So, this woman's opinion cannot simply be dismissed as her opinion, but it must be considered a fallacy, or a false statement. From the stories told in novels such as Uncle Tom's Cabin or the movie Twelve Years A Slave or even in our history textbooks, all people should know that a person in captivity is never better off than a free person. Although it is likely that some slaves had nice lives and were treated well, nothing can be done to make up for the fact that they were someone else's property.
Fallacies #5: By 1804, all Northern states had voted to abolish slavery within their borders. In most states, however, abolition wasn’t immediate but instead a gradual emancipation by law deadlines; releasing individuals as they reached a certain age or the end of a certain work period. Stowe emphasizes the flight of the Harris family from the U.S. because the North was a fallacy itself. Even though Slavery was abolished in the north, slaves were not safe. Many people in the North were against abolitionists because they didn’t like the problems radical abolitionist caused. The North was especially unsafe after the Fugitive Slave Act allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves within the territory of the United States because non slaves were sold into slavery. By claiming that the North was unsafe for slaves Stowe argues the only solution is abolition. When George and Eliza finally reached Canada they knew they were truly free and “with tears and embracings, the husband and wife… knelt down and lifted up their heart to God!” (549). The Harris’ were now free to “move, speak, and breath - go out and come in unwatched, and free from danger.” (549).
I complain about not getting 8 hours of sleep every night, when realistically I get plenty of rest throughout the week. Many slaves could not enjoy the simple luxury of sleeping through the night. For example, Marie demands that Mammy watch her while she sleeps, and tend to her if she wakes up with a problem. She continues to believe that Mammy is getting enough rest because "Sewing, standing, or sitting, that creature will go to sleep, and sleep anywhere and everywhere." (266) Instead of realizes that Mammy falls asleep throughout the day because she is not getting enough sleep at night, Marie continues to believe it's simply because Mammy loves to sleep.
I don't believe that there are any fallacies (at least that I found) in the first 200 pages of UTC. Harriet Beecher Stowe created a sound argument against slavery, that eventually led to the outbreak of the Civil War and abolition of slavery. Her beliefs became quite common among women (and middle class families), whom, alongside slaves, wanted certain rights. Haley, as described in the first 14 chapters, reflects the harshness that was common among slaveowners. Although a work of fiction, Uncle Tom's Cabin contains true historical fact.
ReplyDeleteWell, are there any characters, such as slave trader, Haley, that believes that slaves are lesser beings. In his remark on page 46-47 he says "These critters ain't like white folks, you know; they gets over things, only manage right" which suggests that African Americans don't have souls, as if a color of skin takes the pain of having your son or daughter stolen from you. I believe Stowe is using Haley's character as a symbol of the fallacies taking place at this time.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, Ms De Vine! Since slavery is something we have read so much about in history books and is obviously an inhumane institution to our society, it is a fallacy we don't realize to discuss. Many people in the South believed that slaves were not considered to be made of the same blood as whites, which of course is the fallacy that Stowe was trying to disprove and shed some light on at the time the novel was written. In chapter 16, Marie refers to slaves as "degraded creatures", proving the mistaken belief that slaves and their owners were not considered equals in the eyes of the Lord.
DeleteNatalie Akins. Commment #2
DeleteAnother Fallacy could be that all slave masters cruel people that beat and starve their slaves. However the Shelby's disprove this idea of cruel masters because Mr. Shelby "had the appearance of a gentleman" (42) while Mrs. Shelby "was a woman of high class... intellectually and morally" (52). The Shelby's didn't treat their slaves with cruelty but with kindness, a fallacy to all slave masters being unforgiving, heartless, cruel men.
Comment #10
DeleteLooking back at this, I agree with you!! When reading, you don't want to believe that there are any fallacies, because the book was written for such a good cause. However, these were intentional fallacies on Stowe's part, because I believe as the abolitionist and feminist that she was, she would not have advocated that slaves do not have souls. She wrote this for the prime intention of using the evil character Haley as that symbol (like you said) Thanks for making me look at this again, and I see what you mean now!!
Fallacies #2
ReplyDeleteWith slavery being one of the main topics of this novel, there must be a basic understanding of it and the history of the United States, and Stowe does not always account for this. For instance, in a conversation about slavery between Miss Ophelia and Augustine St. Clare, it may be unclear why Miss Ophelia is opposed to slavery, saying that one must “educate your slaves, and treat them like reasonable creatures” (271). She says this because she is a Northerner, which, at the time, was the part of the country that was against slavery and wanted it to be abolished. St. Clare, however, was a southerner who owned slaves and believed it was a privilege and a lifestyle to own them. In this instance, Miss Ophelia is right; all humans, regardless of race, gender, sex, and other attributes, are created equal, but a southerner may not understand that because of his/her mindset, which is based on where he/she lives and how he/she grew up in the South.
Comment #5
DeleteGreat example Kat!
This fallacy is also apparent in the conversation between the Birds. Mrs. Bird asks her husband, a Senator, if there has been a law passed "forbidding people to give meat and drink to those poor colored folks that come along" (142). Stowe does not include the name of this law, which is the Fugitive Slave Law. Without this basic understanding of US Civil War history, the reader would not know the specific law spoken of.
Fallacies #3:
ReplyDeleteWhile on the Riviere boat, a group of passengers get into an altercation while discussing the issue of slavery. Some individuals are strong proponents of slavery, such as one woman who states that "the negroes are better off than they would be to be free" (199). Harriet Beecher Stowe uses this character as a symbol of the fallacies taking place in the time period. 21st century readers of this novel already know how the argument over slavery ends; the South attempts secession, but are defeated in the Civil War and rejoin the United States. So, this woman's opinion cannot simply be dismissed as her opinion, but it must be considered a fallacy, or a false statement. From the stories told in novels such as Uncle Tom's Cabin or the movie Twelve Years A Slave or even in our history textbooks, all people should know that a person in captivity is never better off than a free person. Although it is likely that some slaves had nice lives and were treated well, nothing can be done to make up for the fact that they were someone else's property.
Fallacies #5:
ReplyDeleteBy 1804, all Northern states had voted to abolish slavery within their borders. In most states, however, abolition wasn’t immediate but instead a gradual emancipation by law deadlines; releasing individuals as they reached a certain age or the end of a certain work period. Stowe emphasizes the flight of the Harris family from the U.S. because the North was a fallacy itself. Even though Slavery was abolished in the north, slaves were not safe. Many people in the North were against abolitionists because they didn’t like the problems radical abolitionist caused. The North was especially unsafe after the Fugitive Slave Act allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves within the territory of the United States because non slaves were sold into slavery. By claiming that the North was unsafe for slaves Stowe argues the only solution is abolition. When George and Eliza finally reached Canada they knew they were truly free and “with tears and embracings, the husband and wife… knelt down and lifted up their heart to God!” (549). The Harris’ were now free to “move, speak, and breath - go out and come in unwatched, and free from danger.” (549).
Fallacy #4
ReplyDeleteI complain about not getting 8 hours of sleep every night, when realistically I get plenty of rest throughout the week. Many slaves could not enjoy the simple luxury of sleeping through the night. For example, Marie demands that Mammy watch her while she sleeps, and tend to her if she wakes up with a problem. She continues to believe that Mammy is getting enough rest because "Sewing, standing, or sitting, that creature will go to sleep, and sleep anywhere and everywhere." (266) Instead of realizes that Mammy falls asleep throughout the day because she is not getting enough sleep at night, Marie continues to believe it's simply because Mammy loves to sleep.