Chapter 1: Mr. Shelby is a Slave Owner in Kentucky who owes money to Mr. Haley, a slave trader. Mr. Shelby thinks that by selling him Tom it should cover the cost of his debt. When Harry, a young boy, comes in to preform a dance for the two men Mr. Haley decides he wants Harry too. Harry is the son of Eliza, a slave of the Shelbys and a Christian. However, Mr. Shelby declines saying he is “a humane man,” and that he’d “hate to take the boy from his mother” (46). Mr. Haley counters that it isn’t human because blacks don’t have feelings and suggest to sell the boy “quietly” while Eliza is “off for a day” (46). Then after Mrs. Shelby can give Eliza “ear-ings, or a new gown, or a some such truck,” to help her forget Harry (46). Mr. Shelby agrees to think about selling him and arranges to talk with Mr. Haley later. While this conversation was occurring, Eliza overhears and goes to Mrs. Shelby with her worries over Mr. Shelby selling her son. Mrs. Shelby reassures Eliza that Mr. Shelby won’t sell his slaves and she would never agree to such a proposal.
Chapter 2: Eliza is married to another slave, George Harris, owned by Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris hired George out to “work in a bagging factory” (54). Here he invents a machine for cleaning hemp [the fiber of the cannabis plant, extracted from the stem used to make rope, stout fabrics, fiberboard, and paper]. Even though Mr. Harris is profiting from George’s skills he grows jealous from his praises and decides to take George home and put him back to working on the farm. When the manufacturer tries to reason with his master for his return, Mr. Harris refuses. George was “much trusted and favored by his employer” and he had the freedom to come and go as he pleased (56). It was during his employment at the factory that he married Eliza. When his master takes him back to the farm he puts him “to the meanest drudgery of the farm” (56).
SUMMARY Chapter 3: George visits Eliza and relays the recent events to her wishing “he’d never been born” and that Eliza had never seen him because she might have been happy (59). The day befor his master whipped him for no reason and George decided he isn’t going to take his abuse anymore. George doesn’t believe his master has any right to him. ELiza says that she thought it was her Christian duty to “obey” her “master and mistress” (61) but George explains that in his case it is different because his master isn’t kind like the Shelbys. Eliza had given George a dog. Carlo, and it was the only thing that made him happy but his master “he couldn’t afford to have every n-- keeping his dog” and order him to drown the dog. When he didn’ “Mas’r and Tom pelted the poor drowning creature with stones” (62). The last straw was when his master said that George should take another slave as a wife even though he’s already married. If George refused Mr. Harris would sell him. George decided he would run away to Canada to escape his master where he’ll work until he can buy Eliza and Harry’s freedom.
Chapter 4: Uncle’s Tom’s cabin is a “small log building” close to the Shelby house where he lives with his wife, Aunt Chloe who is a great cook, and his Children. Master George Shelby, the Shelby’s son, drops by and teaches Tom how to read and write. During this time George teases Aunt Chloe that a neighbor, Tom Lincoln, thinks his cook is the best and Aunt Chloe tells George to invite Tom over for a dinner that will put his cook to shame. Later in the evening slaves show up for a church service in the cabin where Master George reads the Scriptures. While this is happening Mr. Shelby and Mr. Haley are finalizing their deal and he agrees to sell Tom and Harry.
SUMMARY Chapter 5: When Mrs. Shelby finds out about that Mr. Shelby sold Tom and Harry she is horrified and outraged and tries to convince Mr. Shelby not to do it. She feels strongly that by selling Harry and Tom it will prevent the Shelby family from living good, Christian lives. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Eliza discovers that her son has been sold and she rushes to Uncle Tom as well as leave with Harry. Aunt Chloe urges Tom to leave with Eliza, however, even though Uncle Tom is warned he decides not to leave so that he is the only slave sold instead of everyone and because he couldn’t betray Master Shelby.
Chapter 6: In the morning when Eliza doesn’t appear on time to help her mistress get ready for the day Mr. Shelby sends his personal slave, Andy, to fetch Eliza. They find out that Eliza has ran away with Harry and while Mrs. Shelby is happy to hear the news Mr. Shelby isn’t saying “it touches” his “honor” (93). Mr. Shelby informs Mr. Haley that Eliza has run away and sends a slave named Black Sam to get horses ready so that Mr. Haley can go look for his property Eliza has ‘stolen’ aka Harry. Andy lets Sam know that "Missus" doesn’t want him to hurry so he deliberately takes his time and even puts a burr under Haley’s horse’s saddle, so that the horse runs away. When Sam finally ‘catches’ the horse it’s time for lunch and Ms. Shelby insists that Mr. Haley stay for lunch before searching for Eliza. Sam successfully delays Mr. Haley from pursuing Eliza and gives her more time to run.
SUMMARY Chapter 7: Eliza runs all night with Harry in her arms, her love for Harry urging her on even though she is afraid and tired. She takes the road to town and makes Harry walk next to her at a ‘casual’ pace through town as to not look suspicious. She also realizes that she is fair-skinned enough to pass for white which may keep her from being found. She finally reaches a village near the Ohio River, which is separating her from the other bank. She enters a tavern to ask if there are any boats crossing and lies to a woman inside that her son is ill and she needs to get to the other side of the river. The woman replies that ferries are no longer operating, but that somebody is planning to go tonight, if the river is safe enough to cross. In the meantime, Eliza and Harry can stay in a back bedroom and rest. At the Shelby house, Aunt Chloe takes her sweet time preparing lunch for Mr. Haley. When Tom is called to the parlor Mr. Haley tells him he is counting on him not to try to escape. Mrs. Shelby promises that she try to buy Tom back as soon as they have the money to do it. Sam continues to delay Mr. Haley in his pursuit of Eliza and convinces Mr. Haley to take a road that dead ends in the middle of nowhere. However, Sam and Mr. Haley reach the right road again and head for the town Eliza is staying in. In the town Sam sees Eliza in the window first and tries to distract Mr. Haley while Eliza runs through a side door straight to the river but, Mr. Haley sees her and runs after her. Even though the river is in her way, she jumps onto the blocks of ice in the river and makes it to the other side. Reaching the opposite shore, Eliza sees Mr. Symmes, who helps her up the bank where she then asks him to save her and he decides to take her to a nearby house where some people live who would be willing to help her. Sam and Andy head home because they can’t take the horses across the ice and they bid goodbye to Mr. Haley.
Chapter 8: Mr. Haley retreats to a local tavern, where he runs into Tom Loker and Loker’s friend, Mr. Marks. Mr. Haley recounts his story of Eliza and Harry and then Mr. Loker explains that his slave women don’t fuss when he sells their children because he beats them if they do. Mr. Haley hires Mr. Loker to track Eliza down for a fee of $50. Mr. Loker and Marks suggest that they make some cash off Eliza after they catch her and Harry, rather than sending her straight back to Mr. Shelby. Haley wants some of the profits, but Mr. Loker says that getting the little boy should be profit enough for Haley. If that doesn’t work for Haley, then Mr. Loker and Marks will catch mother and child, sell them both, and keep all the profits. Mr. Loker and Marks have dogs that can sniff Eliza out with the shawl and bonnet she left behind in her rush. But Haley is worried that the dogs will damage Eliza’s looks, and she won’t sell if she’s not pretty. Sam and Andy arrive home where they relate the events of the day and lets Mrs. Shelby know that Eliza managed to cross the river with Harry. She praises God. Mrs. Shelby explains to Mr. Shelby that, as a mother herself, she completely understands Eliza’s desperate bid to save her son. Sam then goes to the kitchen and tells the story again to the other Slaves while Aunt Chloe gets his dinner ready.
SUMMARY Chapter 9: Eliza begs the Birds for their protection and after hearing her story they are touched and agree to help her.. Senator Bird takes Eliza and Harry down a road to John Van Trompe who has freed all his slaves. He agrees to shelter Eliza and Harry and is willing to protect them (with guns) if anyone comes to collect them on his property.
Chapter 10: Tom says his goodbyes to his family and to Ms. Shelby. Mr. Shelby is conveniently away on a business trip so he doesn't have to witness the Tom’s “departure”
Chapter 11: There is an advertisement put up for George offering $400 for his return dead or alive. In a hotel in Kentucky a few men discuss the advertisement, one of them being Mr. Wilson, George’s former boss at the factory. Some of the men believe that slaves are actually men, not property while others think that have a smart slave is disadvantageous to the owner because they will use their smarts to escape. George runs into Mr. Wilson at the hotel who urges George to return to his master. However, George declines, tells Mr. Wilson his life story, and then Mr. Wilson gives him some money and tells him to trust in God who he is sure will help George.
Chapter 12: The journey of Haley buying and selling slaves and separating mother’s and children. He buys a child but refuses to purchase the mother and son together even though Aunt Hager begs for him to take her too. He boards a ship and at the next boat stop he returns with a black woman and her young child. Haley sells the son and when she lays the child in a cradle and goes to the side of the boat hoping to catch sight of her husband, the baby is taken so that she won’t make as much fuss. That night the woman commits suicide by jumping overboard. Haley isn’t shocked but he’s upset that he’s lost money.
Chapter 13: YAY! George and Eliza are reunited at a Quaker settlement. George doesn’t want the Quakers to go to jail or have to pay fines for helping runaway slaves but the Quakers aren’t not doing it for George, but for God.
Chapter 14: Tom has a new KIND owner after he befriends Eva St. Clare on the ship. Eva says she wants her papa to buy Tom but when the she runs to see her father she trips and falls overboard. Tom jumps in the water to save Eva and then Augustine St. Clare negotiates with Haley to buy Tom. Tom is in charge of driving the coaches.
Chapter 1:
ReplyDeleteMr. Shelby is a Slave Owner in Kentucky who owes money to Mr. Haley, a slave trader. Mr. Shelby thinks that by selling him Tom it should cover the cost of his debt. When Harry, a young boy, comes in to preform a dance for the two men Mr. Haley decides he wants Harry too. Harry is the son of Eliza, a slave of the Shelbys and a Christian. However, Mr. Shelby declines saying he is “a humane man,” and that he’d “hate to take the boy from his mother” (46). Mr. Haley counters that it isn’t human because blacks don’t have feelings and suggest to sell the boy “quietly” while Eliza is “off for a day” (46). Then after Mrs. Shelby can give Eliza “ear-ings, or a new gown, or a some such truck,” to help her forget Harry (46). Mr. Shelby agrees to think about selling him and arranges to talk with Mr. Haley later. While this conversation was occurring, Eliza overhears and goes to Mrs. Shelby with her worries over Mr. Shelby selling her son. Mrs. Shelby reassures Eliza that Mr. Shelby won’t sell his slaves and she would never agree to such a proposal.
Chapter 2:
Eliza is married to another slave, George Harris, owned by Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris hired George out to “work in a bagging factory” (54). Here he invents a machine for cleaning hemp [the fiber of the cannabis plant, extracted from the stem used to make rope, stout fabrics, fiberboard, and paper]. Even though Mr. Harris is profiting from George’s skills he grows jealous from his praises and decides to take George home and put him back to working on the farm. When the manufacturer tries to reason with his master for his return, Mr. Harris refuses. George was “much trusted and favored by his employer” and he had the freedom to come and go as he pleased (56). It was during his employment at the factory that he married Eliza. When his master takes him back to the farm he puts him “to the meanest drudgery of the farm” (56).
SUMMARY
ReplyDeleteChapter 3:
George visits Eliza and relays the recent events to her wishing “he’d never been born” and that Eliza had never seen him because she might have been happy (59). The day befor his master whipped him for no reason and George decided he isn’t going to take his abuse anymore. George doesn’t believe his master has any right to him. ELiza says that she thought it was her Christian duty to “obey” her “master and mistress” (61) but George explains that in his case it is different because his master isn’t kind like the Shelbys. Eliza had given George a dog. Carlo, and it was the only thing that made him happy but his master “he couldn’t afford to have every n-- keeping his dog” and order him to drown the dog. When he didn’ “Mas’r and Tom pelted the poor drowning creature with stones” (62). The last straw was when his master said that George should take another slave as a wife even though he’s already married. If George refused Mr. Harris would sell him. George decided he would run away to Canada to escape his master where he’ll work until he can buy Eliza and Harry’s freedom.
Chapter 4:
Uncle’s Tom’s cabin is a “small log building” close to the Shelby house where he lives with his wife, Aunt Chloe who is a great cook, and his Children. Master George Shelby, the Shelby’s son, drops by and teaches Tom how to read and write. During this time George teases Aunt Chloe that a neighbor, Tom Lincoln, thinks his cook is the best and Aunt Chloe tells George to invite Tom over for a dinner that will put his cook to shame. Later in the evening slaves show up for a church service in the cabin where Master George reads the Scriptures. While this is happening Mr. Shelby and Mr. Haley are finalizing their deal and he agrees to sell Tom and Harry.
SUMMARY
ReplyDeleteChapter 5:
When Mrs. Shelby finds out about that Mr. Shelby sold Tom and Harry she is horrified and outraged and tries to convince Mr. Shelby not to do it. She feels strongly that by selling Harry and Tom it will prevent the Shelby family from living good, Christian lives. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Eliza discovers that her son has been sold and she rushes to Uncle Tom as well as leave with Harry. Aunt Chloe urges Tom to leave with Eliza, however, even though Uncle Tom is warned he decides not to leave so that he is the only slave sold instead of everyone and because he couldn’t betray Master Shelby.
Chapter 6:
In the morning when Eliza doesn’t appear on time to help her mistress get ready for the day Mr. Shelby sends his personal slave, Andy, to fetch Eliza. They find out that Eliza has ran away with Harry and while Mrs. Shelby is happy to hear the news Mr. Shelby isn’t saying “it touches” his “honor” (93). Mr. Shelby informs Mr. Haley that Eliza has run away and sends a slave named Black Sam to get horses ready so that Mr. Haley can go look for his property Eliza has ‘stolen’ aka Harry. Andy lets Sam know that "Missus" doesn’t want him to hurry so he deliberately takes his time and even puts a burr under Haley’s horse’s saddle, so that the horse runs away. When Sam finally ‘catches’ the horse it’s time for lunch and Ms. Shelby insists that Mr. Haley stay for lunch before searching for Eliza. Sam successfully delays Mr. Haley from pursuing Eliza and gives her more time to run.
SUMMARY
ReplyDeleteChapter 7:
Eliza runs all night with Harry in her arms, her love for Harry urging her on even though she is afraid and tired. She takes the road to town and makes Harry walk next to her at a ‘casual’ pace through town as to not look suspicious. She also realizes that she is fair-skinned enough to pass for white which may keep her from being found. She finally reaches a village near the Ohio River, which is separating her from the other bank. She enters a tavern to ask if there are any boats crossing and lies to a woman inside that her son is ill and she needs to get to the other side of the river. The woman replies that ferries are no longer operating, but that somebody is planning to go tonight, if the river is safe enough to cross. In the meantime, Eliza and Harry can stay in a back bedroom and rest. At the Shelby house, Aunt Chloe takes her sweet time preparing lunch for Mr. Haley. When Tom is called to the parlor Mr. Haley tells him he is counting on him not to try to escape. Mrs. Shelby promises that she try to buy Tom back as soon as they have the money to do it. Sam continues to delay Mr. Haley in his pursuit of Eliza and convinces Mr. Haley to take a road that dead ends in the middle of nowhere. However, Sam and Mr. Haley reach the right road again and head for the town Eliza is staying in. In the town Sam sees Eliza in the window first and tries to distract Mr. Haley while Eliza runs through a side door straight to the river but, Mr. Haley sees her and runs after her. Even though the river is in her way, she jumps onto the blocks of ice in the river and makes it to the other side. Reaching the opposite shore, Eliza sees Mr. Symmes, who helps her up the bank where she then asks him to save her and he decides to take her to a nearby house where some people live who would be willing to help her. Sam and Andy head home because they can’t take the horses across the ice and they bid goodbye to Mr. Haley.
Chapter 8:
Mr. Haley retreats to a local tavern, where he runs into Tom Loker and Loker’s friend, Mr. Marks. Mr. Haley recounts his story of Eliza and Harry and then Mr. Loker explains that his slave women don’t fuss when he sells their children because he beats them if they do. Mr. Haley hires Mr. Loker to track Eliza down for a fee of $50. Mr. Loker and Marks suggest that they make some cash off Eliza after they catch her and Harry, rather than sending her straight back to Mr. Shelby. Haley wants some of the profits, but Mr. Loker says that getting the little boy should be profit enough for Haley. If that doesn’t work for Haley, then Mr. Loker and Marks will catch mother and child, sell them both, and keep all the profits. Mr. Loker and Marks have dogs that can sniff Eliza out with the shawl and bonnet she left behind in her rush. But Haley is worried that the dogs will damage Eliza’s looks, and she won’t sell if she’s not pretty. Sam and Andy arrive home where they relate the events of the day and lets Mrs. Shelby know that Eliza managed to cross the river with Harry. She praises God. Mrs. Shelby explains to Mr. Shelby that, as a mother herself, she completely understands Eliza’s desperate bid to save her son. Sam then goes to the kitchen and tells the story again to the other Slaves while Aunt Chloe gets his dinner ready.
SUMMARY
ReplyDeleteChapter 9:
Eliza begs the Birds for their protection and after hearing her story they are touched and agree to help her.. Senator Bird takes Eliza and Harry down a road to John Van Trompe who has freed all his slaves. He agrees to shelter Eliza and Harry and is willing to protect them (with guns) if anyone comes to collect them on his property.
Chapter 10:
Tom says his goodbyes to his family and to Ms. Shelby. Mr. Shelby is conveniently away on a business trip so he doesn't have to witness the Tom’s “departure”
Chapter 11:
There is an advertisement put up for George offering $400 for his return dead or alive. In a hotel in Kentucky a few men discuss the advertisement, one of them being Mr. Wilson, George’s former boss at the factory. Some of the men believe that slaves are actually men, not property while others think that have a smart slave is disadvantageous to the owner because they will use their smarts to escape. George runs into Mr. Wilson at the hotel who urges George to return to his master. However, George declines, tells Mr. Wilson his life story, and then Mr. Wilson gives him some money and tells him to trust in God who he is sure will help George.
Chapter 12:
The journey of Haley buying and selling slaves and separating mother’s and children. He buys a child but refuses to purchase the mother and son together even though Aunt Hager begs for him to take her too. He boards a ship and at the next boat stop he returns with a black woman and her young child. Haley sells the son and when she lays the child in a cradle and goes to the side of the boat hoping to catch sight of her husband, the baby is taken so that she won’t make as much fuss. That night the woman commits suicide by jumping overboard. Haley isn’t shocked but he’s upset that he’s lost money.
Chapter 13:
YAY! George and Eliza are reunited at a Quaker settlement. George doesn’t want the Quakers to go to jail or have to pay fines for helping runaway slaves but the Quakers aren’t not doing it for George, but for God.
Chapter 14:
Tom has a new KIND owner after he befriends Eva St. Clare on the ship. Eva says she wants her papa to buy Tom but when the she runs to see her father she trips and falls overboard. Tom jumps in the water to save Eva and then Augustine St. Clare negotiates with Haley to buy Tom. Tom is in charge of driving the coaches.