Mr. Shelby is a poor man in danger of losing his farm. He is in great debt. In order to get money so he does not lose his farm, Mr. Shelby has to sell some of his slaves. He sells Tom and The Shelby's maid's son Harry to Mr. Haley. Mr. Haley is portrayed as a evil and cruel man who treats his slaves cruelly. Mr. Shelby’s maid Eliza overhears this deal. She gets encouragement from Tom to let her son Harry run away to Canada for freedom. Mr. Haley confronts Tom about helping Eliza and Harry Escape. The slaves are the ordered by the Shelby's to get a horse ready for Mr. Haley. Eliza runs away with her child, she is pursued by Haley. Haley is the prevented from catching her when she crosses the Ohio River. Eliza is aided by well meaning citizens. Haley interacts with two slave-catchers who agree to pursue Eliza and Harry. Tom had refused to run away and is taken by Haley toward New Orleans. Haley buys several more slaves, before leaving Kentucky and one of them accomplishes suicide. …show more content…
Eliza’s Husband is George Harris, who is an escaped slave in disguise. A Quaker family takes in Eliza and her son. They are joined by George to prepare for the next stage of their escape. Tom meets a little white girl named Eva St. Clare while on a Mississippi riverboat. He is touched by her beauty and somberness. He proceeds to rescue her from drowning. At Eva's plea Tom is bought from Haley. Tom journeys with the family to their New Orleans home. Eva's mother, is a spoiled and prejudiced woman. Tom and Eva form a close relationship. They do this by Eva reading to Tom from his Bible. Eva starts to grow to understand and love