Uncle Tom's Cabin Thesis

In 1852, author Harriet Beecher Stowe released Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel so iconic and controversial it would late be cited as a factor in leading up to the American Civil War. The novel sold over three thousand copies domestically and one million were sold in Great Britain. It was the second bestselling book in the 19th century behind the Bible. The book’s message on the evils and immorality of the institution of slavery was very popular among the Northern abolitionist movement, and in many countries where it was later translated into almost every major language. Southerners became outraged. Supporters of slavery declared the novel to be criminal, slanderous, and utterly false. Many Southern writers began writing their own novels in opposition

Everyone is complicit from the Shelbys’ who are kind owners, to the sadist Northerner Simon Legree. The book revolves around the main character Uncle Tom, a slave who is constantly being sold to various owners. He differs from the submissive slave characters in Southern novels because he has strength and intelligence Tom is also a character who finds solace from hardships through his deep Christian faith. Tom himself is depicted as a Christ-like figure because of how unflinching he is despite all his suffering. He manages to touch and relate to many characters throughout the book with his faith and devotion. Even when the cruel and vicious owner Legree beats his and vows to destroy his faith, Tom still reads the Bible and comforts other slaves. At the end, Tom is brutally beaten to death after he refused to tell Legree where two runaway slaves have gone. As he dies, he still forgives the men who beat him and these men are so humbled they become Christians. Tom’s sacrifice allows the two runaways, Cassy and Emmeline, to escape on a boat to their freedom. Essentially, Tom truly embodied Christ as he suffered and died for others. Author Harriet Beecher Stowe herself was deeply religious and was the daughter of a minister. Uncle Tom’s Cabin can be seen as a call for Americans to do

In the book, abolitionists are generally depicted as crass and fervent people. One character is initially an abolitionist but converts to a slaveholder in order to marry a Southern woman for her fortune. Eastman herself describes abolition as “accomplishing nothing good; forever creating disturbance”. The book also points out the hypocrisy of Northern abolitionists fighting against slavery. It was common in Southern publication to retort to abolitionist press with how the ruthless Northern industrial system treats its factory workers. The hardship of factory labor exploited the working class essentially making them “wage