Harriet Beecher Stowe makes explicit contrasts between ethnicities in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. She shows the differences between blacks and whites in her dialogue, recognizing and mocking the pre-civil war ideals aimed towards African-Americans. She begins the novel characterizing African-Americans as “critters [who] ain't like white folks” (46-47), and are “not man, but thing”(49). Stowe also lives through Mrs. Shelby, who claimed that slavery “went against [her] common sense” (85), stating her personal opinion on abolishing it. Stowe also uses counter arguments through dialogue between John and Mary Bird. Mr. Bird tells his wife that when regarding slavery, one must “put aside [their] private feelings” (144), but she continues to argue that one cannot escape their conscience or God. Stowe promotes that in order for one to be a true Christian, they must be against slavery altogether.
Reply #8 Great post Sofia! I agree with your thoughts and this is one of the only times I support using religion as a guilt trip lol. By using the topics of religion and racism and having characters that completely contrast each other she sets up a running metaphor for the North and the South and really covers all aspects and views of American society during and before the Civil War era.
Topics #2 (ch. 15-16) Current American culture looks down on men and boys that cry, show their emotions, or act in a traditionally feminine manner. Contrarily, St. Clare is depicted as an emotional man that is still taken seriously and can still do the things that were supposed to be the man’s job. Harriet Beecher Stowe uses Augustine St. Clare to broach the topics of gender roles and gender equality. Stowe describes St. Clare as, “remarkable for an extreme and marked sensitiveness of character, more akin to the softness of woman than the ordinary hardness of his own sex,” (239) in his childhood and that although he is now an adult he still has the same sensitiveness. St. Clare also treats his slaves very well and, “never strikes a blow,” (269) when he disciplines them. Stowe uses St. Clare’s kind nature to argue that being a harsh and aggressive man does not always work as well as being sensitive and understanding, like a traditional woman, does. She puts characteristics of the common woman at this time into a man to demonstrate that they are useful qualities and should not be discounted in women.
Topic #4 In life, the more you talk to a person, the more you learn about them and are able to connect on a different level. In Stowe’s novel, the dialogue between characters exemplifies this. For example, religion, and more specifically Christianity, comes up in conversation. When Eva talks to Topsy, a fellow young girl, she tells her that “Jesus loves all alike” and that “he is willing to love you, as [her]”. With this, the readers can understand Topsy’s understanding about Christianity, all through a simple and short conversation. Topsy responds by saying that “she will try” (410), which shows who she is as a character and her mindset about all of this religious matter.
Topsy is also a symbol of the abuses of slavery. She is untrusting and secretive, because she doesn't feel safe just anywhere. Topsy cannot tell the difference between generosity and hypocrisy, but she tries to understand. She does not appear familiar with Christianity, due to her "wild diablerie" (364) and babbling Christian prayers back incorrectly. Stowe uses Topsy to show slavery's neglectful and unconcerned nature towards the black society.
Topics #3 -The lives of most three year old are built of fuel of yummy food, play time, and naps. However, now as a junior in high school, my life consists of homework, studying, eating, sports, maybe sleep, and an endless cycle of stress. In UTC, Stowe describes the lives of slaves in depth, for the sole purpose of abolitionist movement. Religion is a major topic that appears in the book, in almost every chapter. The lives of the slaves consisted of reading the Bible out loud and relying in their God. Eva and Uncle Tom develop a close relationship, and they would read the Bible to each other. “The parts that pleased her most were the Revelations and Prophecies” (380). Entire paragraphs in the novel are dedicated to religious purposes, which would then allow white Christians to have sympathy on the black slaves.
Topic #5 Mary the Mother of God is a perfect symbol of women and femininity, and we often hear about her and her life at many school masses. Mary was very devoted to her son, Jesus, but also had lots of strength, especially seen in her ability to say yes to God. Similarly, an important topic in Uncle Tom's Cabin is women and femininity. Even Legree's mother was extremely selfless, "gentle," and caring (528). She "cradled with prayers and pious hymns" and gave him her "unwearied love" (528). In the novel, Stowe utilizes the "eternal good" of Legree's mother in order to show that he has been a hard, malevolent man from birth, and even his mothers love was "unvalued" to him (528). Femininity is seen in all of the women characters and has an important role in depicting the few good and happy times in a slave's life, offsetting their painful experiences.
Topic #1: Slavery (chp. 1-14)
ReplyDeleteHarriet Beecher Stowe makes explicit contrasts between ethnicities in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. She shows the differences between blacks and whites in her dialogue, recognizing and mocking the pre-civil war ideals aimed towards African-Americans. She begins the novel characterizing African-Americans as “critters [who] ain't like white folks” (46-47), and are “not man, but thing”(49). Stowe also lives through Mrs. Shelby, who claimed that slavery “went against [her] common sense” (85), stating her personal opinion on abolishing it. Stowe also uses counter arguments through dialogue between John and Mary Bird. Mr. Bird tells his wife that when regarding slavery, one must “put aside [their] private feelings” (144), but she continues to argue that one cannot escape their conscience or God. Stowe promotes that in order for one to be a true Christian, they must be against slavery altogether.
Reply #8
DeleteGreat post Sofia! I agree with your thoughts and this is one of the only times I support using religion as a guilt trip lol. By using the topics of religion and racism and having characters that completely contrast each other she sets up a running metaphor for the North and the South and really covers all aspects and views of American society during and before the Civil War era.
Topics #2 (ch. 15-16)
ReplyDeleteCurrent American culture looks down on men and boys that cry, show their emotions, or act in a traditionally feminine manner. Contrarily, St. Clare is depicted as an emotional man that is still taken seriously and can still do the things that were supposed to be the man’s job. Harriet Beecher Stowe uses Augustine St. Clare to broach the topics of gender roles and gender equality. Stowe describes St. Clare as, “remarkable for an extreme and marked sensitiveness of character, more akin to the softness of woman than the ordinary hardness of his own sex,” (239) in his childhood and that although he is now an adult he still has the same sensitiveness. St. Clare also treats his slaves very well and, “never strikes a blow,” (269) when he disciplines them. Stowe uses St. Clare’s kind nature to argue that being a harsh and aggressive man does not always work as well as being sensitive and understanding, like a traditional woman, does. She puts characteristics of the common woman at this time into a man to demonstrate that they are useful qualities and should not be discounted in women.
Topic #4
ReplyDeleteIn life, the more you talk to a person, the more you learn about them and are able to connect on a different level. In Stowe’s novel, the dialogue between characters exemplifies this. For example, religion, and more specifically Christianity, comes up in conversation. When Eva talks to Topsy, a fellow young girl, she tells her that “Jesus loves all alike” and that “he is willing to love you, as [her]”. With this, the readers can understand Topsy’s understanding about Christianity, all through a simple and short conversation. Topsy responds by saying that “she will try” (410), which shows who she is as a character and her mindset about all of this religious matter.
Topsy is also a symbol of the abuses of slavery. She is untrusting and secretive, because she doesn't feel safe just anywhere. Topsy cannot tell the difference between generosity and hypocrisy, but she tries to understand. She does not appear familiar with Christianity, due to her "wild diablerie" (364) and babbling Christian prayers back incorrectly. Stowe uses Topsy to show slavery's neglectful and unconcerned nature towards the black society.
DeleteTopics #3
ReplyDelete-The lives of most three year old are built of fuel of yummy food, play time, and naps. However, now as a junior in high school, my life consists of homework, studying, eating, sports, maybe sleep, and an endless cycle of stress. In UTC, Stowe describes the lives of slaves in depth, for the sole purpose of abolitionist movement. Religion is a major topic that appears in the book, in almost every chapter. The lives of the slaves consisted of reading the Bible out loud and relying in their God. Eva and Uncle Tom develop a close relationship, and they would read the Bible to each other. “The parts that pleased her most were the Revelations and Prophecies” (380). Entire paragraphs in the novel are dedicated to religious purposes, which would then allow white Christians to have sympathy on the black slaves.
Topic #5
ReplyDeleteMary the Mother of God is a perfect symbol of women and femininity, and we often hear about her and her life at many school masses. Mary was very devoted to her son, Jesus, but also had lots of strength, especially seen in her ability to say yes to God. Similarly, an important topic in Uncle Tom's Cabin is women and femininity. Even Legree's mother was extremely selfless, "gentle," and caring (528). She "cradled with prayers and pious hymns" and gave him her "unwearied love" (528). In the novel, Stowe utilizes the "eternal good" of Legree's mother in order to show that he has been a hard, malevolent man from birth, and even his mothers love was "unvalued" to him (528). Femininity is seen in all of the women characters and has an important role in depicting the few good and happy times in a slave's life, offsetting their painful experiences.