Essay on Uncle Tom’s Cabin The Uncles Tom Cabin of Harriet Beecher Stowe is the finest example of so-called abolitionist literature, which used to criticize slavery in America from Christian prospective. This book is now referred to as American first bestseller, because its sales exceeded 300.000, within one year after it was first published in 1852. Apparently, it is not the literary quality of this book that attracted readers. Harriet Beecher Stowe is also an author of numerous Christian novels that were supposed to promote the good news, but were forgotten almost instantly by the reading public. As a matter of fact, it is a notion that there was something unnatural in the idea of slavery that guaranteed popularity of Stowes book. Nevertheless, authors original intention was only to popularize Christianity.
She thought of slavery as a tool, which enabled her to pursue its agenda. Stowes concern about bad treatment of slaves was nothing but a tribute to contemporary social trends. She simply wanted to appear as progressive. In the same way Friedrich Engels used to promote the idea of workers liberation, while using child labor at his factories Majority of people think that abolition of slavery in Southern states was the main reason for the outbreak of civil war in America. This is far from being the truth. Such abolition would imply racial equality, but no politicians would seriously consider Black Americans being able to integrate into American society as equals, at the time.
The Essay on Slavery In American History
Slavery in American HistoryThe Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by ThomasJefferson under order of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and theContinental Congress. This document was written in order to let the wholeworld know that the colonists of the United States of America were going todenounce the British Government in order to establish a democraticgovernment of their own. The ...
The abolition of slavery was nothing but a propaganda tool, widely exploited by the Unionist leaders. Although Abraham Lincoln is known to refer to Stowe as little lady who made this big war, we can only think of it as a compliment on his part. Many famous leaders of Black liberation movement in America regarded Uncles Tom Cabin as the ultimate expression of White persons cynicism, who would cry with crocodile tears, while talking about injustices of slavery, but who would never doubt its own racial superiority, at the same time. Harriet Beecher Stowe suggested that African-Americans needed a spiritual guidance. She denied them a historicity. The character of Uncle Tom is very representative, in this respect. All his sufferings turned out beneficial in the end, because they brought him closer to Jesus If Uncle Tom didnt have to endure countless injustices, on the part of slave owners, he wouldnt be sitting at Jesus right hand in the kingdom of heaven.
Many critics rightly point out to the fact that Bible is the last book, which can be used as theoretical foundation for abolition of slavery. It explicitly refers to Black people as descendants of Ham, who are destined to be slaves. It also justifies slavery socially: And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” (Luke 12:47).
Thats why we cannot say that Stowe has ever researched this issue at depth, otherwise she would never thought of Christianity as something diametrically opposed to slavery. Therefore, it comes as quite a surprise that most of Uncles Tom Cabin readers, have never noticed a deep inner contradiction between the proclaimed principles of freedom and the theoretical foundation for such principles. I think that Stowes novel is being credited with many progressive ideas undeservingly.
In her book, she applies the same logic that was used by the proponents of racial segregation in South Africa, up until recently. Instead of treating Black people as equals, they simply wanted to liberalize the concept of interracial relations, so they could feel better about themselves. Stowe was a little woman, but she possessed a huge ego, seriously thinking that it was her alone that introduced Americans with true meaning of Christianity. Uncles Tom Cabin stands as a monument to the painful legacy of slavery in America, yet it doesnt mean that this masterpiece cannot be criticized. We now think of this book as something different from what it meant to be originally. Basically, it is a sappy novel of irrational lady, who did most of her writing out of boredom and desire to gain a reputation of progressive writer.
The Term Paper on Harriet Beecher Stowe`s Uncle Tom`s Cabin
... this way conflicted, as Stowe seeks for Uncle Tom the characteristics of femininity that the corporeal delineations of a black masculinity might otherwise deny. ... Christian or proto-feminist protest, Uncle Tom’s Cabin mounts an attack on American capitalism, north and south: slavery is the ultimate expression of ...
It is possible that this novel had some influence on those who supported abolition on slavery during Civil War, but such influence should not be overestimated.
Bibliography:
Stowe, H. B. Uncles Tom Cabin 1995. Project Gutenberg Etext. March 4, 2005. http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext95/utomc11.txt The New American Bible. Camden, NJ: Thomas Nelson. 1971..
