Harriet Beecher Stowe (June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was a famous abolitionist and poet. daughter of a preacher and firmly against slavery, she was encouraged to put her feeling son the subject into writing, the resutl, was uncle tom's cabin. (1852), written two years after the fugitve slave law of 1850 (which along with the dred scott decision and the infamous majority decision by Judge Taney which stated that a bBlack man had no rights that need be respected by white men) was seen as the final precoursors of the civil war. The book sold over 300,000 copies the first year, and made slavery, it's evils and the complicity of every American (though the fugitive slave law) apparent. It promoted abolitionism in the north and anger in the south. It is said that when Abraham Lincoln met Beecher Stowe he remarked, "So this is the little old lady who started this new great war!
Perspective:
it’s unfortunate that the term “Uncle Tom” has become such a standard term of racism and of Blacks with no awareness of racial issues and for Blacks that kow-tow to the racist demands of society. It’s a shame, because it makes the book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” something that Blacks naturally come to avoid. They are told that Uncle Tom is immensely racist, and the assumption is that Blacks are painted in a very negative light. Also, the author, being white, and the work being fiction, there can be a hesitancy that the story and the portrayals are anything close to accurate.
Yes, it’s a shame, because this novel surely is one of the greatest works I have ever read. So many arguments are annunciated and teased out. The nuances of the entire debate, philosophical, moral, human, legal, psychological, etc, are laid out so plainly. Blacks, in all their diversity are represented. Their different intelligences, talents, and the nature of their family history, and history of rape and sexual use and exploitation are laid bare. The characters, both black and white are rich, full, humane and grave. The arguments well structured, natural. The contrivance of different scenarios are astounding, the coincidences, fantastic, yet, believeable, poetic and classic in structure.
This is a fantastic book. And when it came out, it helped push the agenda of abolitionist and contributed to a vast enlightenment in the north of the true horrors of slavery from every possible angle. This book, written in response to Beecher Stowe’s disgust for the fugitive slave law of 1850 and her anger and hatred of slavery, was truly divinely inspired and one of best works of American fiction ever produced.
It should be mandatory reading for every White and Black person as well as all Americans who want a candid, full look into the horrors of this nations 250 year affair with slavery.
Synopsis:
The story opens on slave row of a certain plantation. The plantation owner is discussing selling one or more of his slaves to a slave trader to settle certain reckless investments and speculation on his part. His choice is simple, either settle with the trader, or the trader turns in the debt and his home and property and all of his slaves are lost.
The slave trader is interested in “Uncle Tom” a very loyal and hardworking slave. Tom in fact has been sent to Cincinnati, in free country on his own to conduct business for his master and returned, never thinking about running, or in this case, walking to freedom. It seems that for Tom, his honesty, his own sense of what is right and wrong, is the only thing he has. Although he thinks of himself as a man, he implicitly accepts slavery as his condition, and having forged a bond with his master, who he looks upon as a very kind master, he feels his loyalty to his master, is warranted over his sense of his own right to freedom. (thus the term, “uncle tom” has become a label of lackey Blacks who have no sense of their own self-worth, and back down to racist encroachment upon their humanity)
Tom in addition to being loyal, has “got religion”.
In the midst of the gentle bargaining and drinking of wine and brandy in the parlor room, little Jim, “Jim Crow” comes in. the master very kindly throws several raisins on the floor for Jim and then Jim performs several imitations of others on the plantation, as well as performs a few jigs. The slave trader is instantly enamored and wants to purchase Jim Crow and Uncle Tom to settle the slaveholders debt.
Eliza, is Jim’s mother. She hears the conversation and becomes worried that her precious son will be sent down south with the trader. Her mistress calls her silly, and accuses her of foolish pride in thinking that anyone would want her son, simply because Eliza thinks the world of him. She ignorantly sooths Eliza’s anxiety and brings her to calm. Later that evening, the Master and his wife have a conversation, and he in fact admits that he has in fact sold Jim and Tom to the slave trader because he has no choice. This despite the fact that Tom was promised his manumission for his years of loyal service.
Meanwhile, Eliza’s husband is experiencing trouble on the job. He is apparently too smart, too polished, proud and handsome. And in addition to this he carries himself as one who is special and elegant, almost princely. His intelligence is such that he has devised a machine for cleaning hemp that has been replicated and saved countless dollars for his employer, who rents him out from his master. His master is spiteful of “Mr. Wilson’s” intelligence, and takes him back to the plantation to do backbreaking work, even though he could make far more (double, triple) if he were rented out. He then brands him and threatens him with selling him down south if he continues in his uppity ways.
Mr. Wilson meets with Eliza and explains that he will run away to freedom. His manhood can no longer be subjugated in this way. Eliza begs him to reconsider, but his mind is set. He plans to one day rescue her from slavery also.
Later, Eliza hides in a closet and hears her mistress and master discussing the details of the sale of her son. She emboldens herself to run off too and make for freedom to avoid losing her dear son. She can not bear to lose her child.
Mr. Wilson and Eliza both make their escape separately and unknown to one another. Meanwhile, up north in Ohio a senator is speaking with his wife. She can not believe that congress has passed law forbidding anyone from abetting or aiding a fugitive slave, in fact, anyone who assists a slave and does not help in his capture, is subject to fine and possible imprisonment. The husband is not pro-slavery, and in fact is quite humane, however, being intelligent, he recognizes that this law of 1850 must be passed in order to keep law and order and the sanctity of the union intact.
The husband and wife argue, the wife wins many points and the senator must shut up, because he can not bring himself to say that he in truth agrees with the morality of this new law.
Eliza is found by the slavetrader and she is mere feet from capture at the Ohio river. The river is filled with ice in large and small chunks. But the banks where she stands is separated from the next bit of ice by a ten foot gap of wild current. Eliza, with Jim in her hands, leaps out and lands onto the ice. She then, to the astonishment of all, makes a mad dash for the Ohio side. Slipping, tripping, teetering and jumping from ice raft to ice raft, cutting her feet, stirring up water and nearly dying a thousand times in the frozen river, until she makes it to the other side and is helped by a man on the other side of the river.
Back at the plantation, Tom resigns himself to his fate. He realizes that his master has no choice than to sell him. And he feels proud to be able to save the farm by going down south. He looks fondly upon the 6 children in the bed and spends a last night with his wife in preparation for the next days journey.
The slave trader meets some slave catchers at a tavern and engages them to find Eliza and return her for $50 down payment. The trader wonder aloud if they can take this on. They figure between the three other Blacks that they are chasing, two of them can be brought back dead or alive, so that makes it much easier. They consider their reply and accept the slave traders money.
Later, Eliza appears at the door of the Senator and his wife nearly frozen and semi-conscious from cold. The Senator and wife forget their philosophical debate and quickly tend to Eliza. They contrive to deliver her to a farm 7 miles up river owned by a man who used to be a slaveholder in Kentucky, but then freed all of his slaves, and relocated to Ohio with them. The way is treacherous and ill, but they eventually find their way to freedom and the man agrees to help Eliza and her child. The senator continues to the city, in order to cover his tracks and provide a plausible reason for his late night departure.
Later, in Kentucky, two men argue about slavery. There is a notice to be on the look out for “Mr. Wilson” who may be trying to pass for White. Just then, a very smartly dressed White man appears with his slave. They all three engage in conversation. One of the two men who were arguing is Mr. Wilson’s former employer, but he does not recognize him. Finally, Mr. Wilson announces himself. His former employer tells him that he is wrong to run away, and that he must return. Mr. Wilson tells the story of his mother and sister. Both bought to be sexual companions of their master, while the children born of this union are one by one sold off. Mr. Wilson then produces a bowie knife and two pistols. He tells his former employer that he will either find freedom, or the grave.
Eliza makes her way to a quaker village where she is shielded, but still, due to the fugitive slave law, she can not rest. She has her eyes on Canada, even though she and her son are welcome in the village for as long as they please.
Meanwhile, the slave catcher is riding down the Ohio River with Tom. During one stop, a woman gets on with a small baby. The slavecatcher tells her that she is now his property. Her master told her she would be doing down south to work as a cook on the same plantation that her husband was sold to. It was a lie to place her smartly in the hands of the slave trader. She resigns herself to her fate. yet, later the slave trader is approached by a man who is interested in buying the womans’ 10 month old child. He offers $10. the slave trader says he would accept nothing less than $50, because in a year, the child will be worth $100 and the next year $200. they haggle a bit, and finally, the slave trader agrees to sell the child for $30. when the woman is sleeping, he takes the baby and hands it to the man in exchange for the money. The woman awakes the next morning to find her child gone. She does not cry for the blow was too sudden and too deep. She sits down despondent and depressed and during the night, drowns herself in the river. The slave trader awakes the next morning in the same way the woman awoke the day before, to find that his property is missing. He is upset, but quickly marks it down in the loss column and continues on his way…
Later Eliza has been transferred to a friends settlement in Indiana. She is in a home where one of the ladies is married (like her) and has a child (like her). One of the ladies husbands comes home. He hears them talking about Eliza’s husband (whom she misses). And he realizes that George Wilson is the same George Wilson who recently escaped from slavery and is on his way to their settlement the very next morning. All are glad and when Eliza awakens the next morning, it’s in the arms of her husband. It’s not a dream. They embrace and bathe one another in their tears.
Meanwhile… down the Mississippi river, Tom has endeared himself to all of the workers on the barge, as well as the slave trader. Tom has gone from sleeping in fetters every night to being relatively free about the boat. In his spare time, where there’s no one to help, he sits high upon the cotton bales and slowly reads his bible. Then, a young beautiful girl comes on board with her father. Everyone is taken by her beauty and countenance. Tom especially, missing his children, and his former master’s children, endears himself to the young girl by producing many carvings, flutes and other nick nacks he has horded or has manufactured. They become “friends” the girl tells Tom that her father could buy him. Later, when the ship pulls out of port and starts and stops suddenly, the young girl is thrown from the boat into the river. Tom, luckily was below and jumps into the river to save her. The young girls father haggles lightly with the slave trader and they strike a bargain. Tom has a new master and mistress.
