Uncle Tom's Cabin Literary Analysis

What helps you through the hardships that arise in your life? In Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the clash of slavery and Christian values is the most prominent message in the book. The novel follows the journeys of the main characters and how they coped with their struggles by having faith in God and were tested to see if they would give up on Him. The story portrays what life was like for slaves in the mid-1800’s and expose the evils of slavery even in its best-case scenarios. Stowe wanted to persuade her readers, specifically Northerners, that slavery was unchristian, evil and intolerable in a civil society. Stowe believed that the role of religion would be significant in abolishing slavery. She uses literary devices such as

Eva symbolizes purity in humanity and that everyone is equal regardless of race. Since she is morally perfect, she has a sense of Jesus and that her death resembled salvation for others. This is the same for Tom who was beaten to death. But later results in the freedom of the slaves on the Shelby plantation. Stowe writes Christian-like sacrifice and death motifs to represent her message about Christian values while using models of moral perfection. Another example she uses is that all of the women in the novel drive the importance of Christian values. For instance, Mrs. Bird argues with her husband about voting for the Fugitive Slave Act where it is illegal in the U.S. to help or assist runaway slaves. She says, “. . . I don’t know anything about politics, but I can read my Bible; and there I see that I must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the desolate.” This represents that her faith in God is strong and she is willing to go against her husband and the law to help other regardless that they are runaway slaves or not. Also motherly affection is related to Christian values of love such as Eliza’s leap which shows selflessness and benevolence passion to protect her