Ms Fitz once tried to explain to her Theology class why God created suffering to exist. According to Catholics, there is no real explanation to this inquiry. The Church justifies suffering in our world with the existence of free will. With the gift of free will, God gave us suffering; they are unable to exist without each other. Thinking about the love and gifts of a person suffering makes it harder for me to remain faithful to God. Instead of turning away from God when someone I love suffers, I trust that God makes every decision for a reason. One must remain faithful and trust the plan of God in order to face suffering. In reference to Eliza's love for her son, George tells his wife that "a sword will piece through your soul" (pg 63). He believes that whatever good comes to their child will hurt Eliza even more because they are both slaves. If she raises her child to be a smart, conscientious worker, he will be quickly taken away from her. This negative diction infers that Harriet Stowe believes there is no true happiness within slavery because any good that comes for a slave results in an even bigger disappointment.
Great reference to Catholicism! The diction Stowe uses in the quote you chose is very empowering, not only appealing to the audience through diction, but through pathos as well because of the connotation of the term “sword”. Along with the diction, this could also be symbolism because you mentioned how this affects the happiness of slaves during this era, and I agree with you. Slavery was not a kind act, and it is good that we have grown from it!
Reply #5 Shoutout to Ms. Fitz lol and great extension on Emma's comment Kat! I agree with your thoughts and it is especially sad that the diction implies there is no way around Eliza'a suffering because as you said, if Harry is raised well they could eventually be separated like Tom from his family, but if he is taught to be rebellious or to not work as hard he could be whipped and punished in from of Eliza which would be so hard to watch I can't even imagine it.
After the Civil War, the southern states passed laws, the black codes, to restrict the now free African Americans. Many states required blacks to sign yearly labor contracts and if they refused, they risked being arrested as vagrants and fined or forced into unpaid labor. These laws were meant to "re-enslave" the freed African Americans and prevent them from having any voice. The laws showed the commitment of white southerners ensuring their supremacy over blacks.
In the 19th century South, slavery was a patriarchal system where owners were thought of as the fathers of their household and in charge of caring for a plantation full of childlike servants. Tom is older then St. Clare but he calls Tom "boy" repeatedly. By calling Tom "boy" he insulting Tom by treating him like a child. Paternalism here is a source of affection, but it is also patronizing and demeaning just like the black codes passed after the Civil War, both used as a way of maintaining control.
Reply #6 Great thoughts and historical connection Natalie! Paternalism was also one of the main pro-slavery arguments and it is important that Stowe includes this in her novel because she is not ignoring the other side of the issue and refuting the counter arguments that readers of her novel may have in a more subtle manner than simply stating it.
Throughout her novel, Stowe continues to define what is means to be a true Christian; and like Mayfield Senior School says, it is through one’s actions, not their words. During the 1800s, some saw slaveowning as an opportunity to not only save blacks from evil overseers, but to reconcile themselves with God through a “missionary work” (353). Augustine St. Clare gave Topsy to Ophelia so that she could teach and enlighten him just as he had done with the slave he “tamed.” Augustine’s slave was given the option to gain freedom from him, but chose to dedicate his life to him, instead. Stowe continues to show through children, that they are symbols of change. Although, Topsy did not elicit much change in Miss Ophelia, she learned more about the abuses that could have killed Prue. She had learned that he had been “whipped with a poker” and “knocked down with a shovel or tongs” (363), which leads her to believe that she cannot punished Topsy for having fear, but comfort her instead. In order to be holy, one must learn about the background of the individual they hope to help.
Mrs Morin would be proud! Love this connection to our MSS. Although some saw slaveowning as "missionary work" (353) many slaveowners were just simply cruel. For example, George's new master was so terrible that George started to lose faith in God, his family and himself. When George gets a chance to see his wife again, he tells Eliza "flesh and blood can't bear it any longer" (61). Stowe's diction makes the reader infer that not only the physical torture of slavery hurts a slave, but the psychological torture can tear away anything good left inside of them.
Diction #4 Children and adults alike choose their words wisely when they want something. Similarly, Harriet Beecher Stowe uses expert diction to manipulate her audience to sympathize with and feel the pain her characters go through during Eva’s death. For example, Stowe writes that, “poor Mammy’s heart yearned towards her darling [Eva],” (423) as she is dying but Marie will not let Mammy leave her side to see Eva. By using the word, “yearning,” the audience feels the strain and pull on Mammy’s heart as if it were their own and I wanted nothing more than for her to be able to be by Eva’s side and not have to take care of Marie during her time of lamentation. She also used the word, “yearning,” to highlight the difference in affection between Mammy and Marie.
Reply #9 Stowe also uses diction, not only to manipulate her audience, but to expose the cruel of slavery. Stowe describes Topsy with words like "creature" (351) and "goblin" (365) to emphasize how slave masters viewed their slaves, without respect. By using diction to expose slavery she is also manipulating her audience to feel contempt towards masters who treat their slaves unkindly and keep them "dependent" on the masters.
Comment #6 The harsh use of language and diction to describe the horror that was slavery in the 1800's definitely causes impact upon the reader. She also uses angelic words to describe Eva, which strongly contrasts the wicked language used to describe awful characters, such as Haley or Simon Legree. With this strong use of diction, Stowe is able to compare and contrast Good VS Evil in the novel, which, becomes a large theme.
Diction #5 The linguistic nature of an immigrant coming to the United States is probably not very good. They probably have an accent, broken English, or may not even know the native language at all. Slaves, although they were technically American Citizens (not all but some) they still talked in the same Southern drawl that caused Whites to believe they were better simply because they did not have an accent. Simon Legree, an very very mean slave owner, treats his slaves like absolute trash. His "violence and brutality fell on the helpless" (500). Stowe uses intense diction to describe the brutality that is inflicted on Uncle Tom, and how it was like for slaves to live at this time.
Diction #1 (Ch 3: p 59-66)
ReplyDeleteMs Fitz once tried to explain to her Theology class why God created suffering to exist. According to Catholics, there is no real explanation to this inquiry. The Church justifies suffering in our world with the existence of free will. With the gift of free will, God gave us suffering; they are unable to exist without each other. Thinking about the love and gifts of a person suffering makes it harder for me to remain faithful to God. Instead of turning away from God when someone I love suffers, I trust that God makes every decision for a reason. One must remain faithful and trust the plan of God in order to face suffering. In reference to Eliza's love for her son, George tells his wife that "a sword will piece through your soul" (pg 63). He believes that whatever good comes to their child will hurt Eliza even more because they are both slaves. If she raises her child to be a smart, conscientious worker, he will be quickly taken away from her. This negative diction infers that Harriet Stowe believes there is no true happiness within slavery because any good that comes for a slave results in an even bigger disappointment.
Great reference to Catholicism! The diction Stowe uses in the quote you chose is very empowering, not only appealing to the audience through diction, but through pathos as well because of the connotation of the term “sword”. Along with the diction, this could also be symbolism because you mentioned how this affects the happiness of slaves during this era, and I agree with you. Slavery was not a kind act, and it is good that we have grown from it!
DeleteReply #5
DeleteShoutout to Ms. Fitz lol and great extension on Emma's comment Kat! I agree with your thoughts and it is especially sad that the diction implies there is no way around Eliza'a suffering because as you said, if Harry is raised well they could eventually be separated like Tom from his family, but if he is taught to be rebellious or to not work as hard he could be whipped and punished in from of Eliza which would be so hard to watch I can't even imagine it.
Diction #2 ((p. 239 - 285)
ReplyDeleteAfter the Civil War, the southern states passed laws, the black codes, to restrict the now free African Americans. Many states required blacks to sign yearly labor contracts and if they refused, they risked being arrested as vagrants and fined or forced into unpaid labor. These laws were meant to "re-enslave" the freed African Americans and prevent them from having any voice. The laws showed the commitment of white southerners ensuring their supremacy over blacks.
In the 19th century South, slavery was a patriarchal system where owners were thought of as the fathers of their household and in charge of caring for a plantation full of childlike servants. Tom is older then St. Clare but he calls Tom "boy" repeatedly. By calling Tom "boy" he insulting Tom by treating him like a child. Paternalism here is a source of affection, but it is also patronizing and demeaning just like the black codes passed after the Civil War, both used as a way of maintaining control.
Reply #6
DeleteGreat thoughts and historical connection Natalie! Paternalism was also one of the main pro-slavery arguments and it is important that Stowe includes this in her novel because she is not ignoring the other side of the issue and refuting the counter arguments that readers of her novel may have in a more subtle manner than simply stating it.
Diction #3 (pgs 326-405)
ReplyDeleteThroughout her novel, Stowe continues to define what is means to be a true Christian; and like Mayfield Senior School says, it is through one’s actions, not their words. During the 1800s, some saw slaveowning as an opportunity to not only save blacks from evil overseers, but to reconcile themselves with God through a “missionary work” (353). Augustine St. Clare gave Topsy to Ophelia so that she could teach and enlighten him just as he had done with the slave he “tamed.” Augustine’s slave was given the option to gain freedom from him, but chose to dedicate his life to him, instead. Stowe continues to show through children, that they are symbols of change. Although, Topsy did not elicit much change in Miss Ophelia, she learned more about the abuses that could have killed Prue. She had learned that he had been “whipped with a poker” and “knocked down with a shovel or tongs” (363), which leads her to believe that she cannot punished Topsy for having fear, but comfort her instead. In order to be holy, one must learn about the background of the individual they hope to help.
Comment #7
DeleteMrs Morin would be proud! Love this connection to our MSS. Although some saw slaveowning as "missionary work" (353) many slaveowners were just simply cruel. For example, George's new master was so terrible that George started to lose faith in God, his family and himself. When George gets a chance to see his wife again, he tells Eliza "flesh and blood can't bear it any longer" (61). Stowe's diction makes the reader infer that not only the physical torture of slavery hurts a slave, but the psychological torture can tear away anything good left inside of them.
Diction #4
ReplyDeleteChildren and adults alike choose their words wisely when they want something. Similarly, Harriet Beecher Stowe uses expert diction to manipulate her audience to sympathize with and feel the pain her characters go through during Eva’s death. For example, Stowe writes that, “poor Mammy’s heart yearned towards her darling [Eva],” (423) as she is dying but Marie will not let Mammy leave her side to see Eva. By using the word, “yearning,” the audience feels the strain and pull on Mammy’s heart as if it were their own and I wanted nothing more than for her to be able to be by Eva’s side and not have to take care of Marie during her time of lamentation. She also used the word, “yearning,” to highlight the difference in affection between Mammy and Marie.
Reply #9
DeleteStowe also uses diction, not only to manipulate her audience, but to expose the cruel of slavery. Stowe describes Topsy with words like "creature" (351) and "goblin" (365) to emphasize how slave masters viewed their slaves, without respect. By using diction to expose slavery she is also manipulating her audience to feel contempt towards masters who treat their slaves unkindly and keep them "dependent" on the masters.
Comment #6
DeleteThe harsh use of language and diction to describe the horror that was slavery in the 1800's definitely causes impact upon the reader. She also uses angelic words to describe Eva, which strongly contrasts the wicked language used to describe awful characters, such as Haley or Simon Legree. With this strong use of diction, Stowe is able to compare and contrast Good VS Evil in the novel, which, becomes a large theme.
Diction #5
ReplyDeleteThe linguistic nature of an immigrant coming to the United States is probably not very good. They probably have an accent, broken English, or may not even know the native language at all. Slaves, although they were technically American Citizens (not all but some) they still talked in the same Southern drawl that caused Whites to believe they were better simply because they did not have an accent. Simon Legree, an very very mean slave owner, treats his slaves like absolute trash. His "violence and brutality fell on the helpless" (500). Stowe uses intense diction to describe the brutality that is inflicted on Uncle Tom, and how it was like for slaves to live at this time.