The Evils of Slavery

Slavery is a major topic of the book. The book is about slavery but it specifically tells the reader of the evils of slavery. There are many moments throughout the book where slavery is mentioned. There is a lot of racism in this book. The slave owners are all money hungry people. The only decent slave owner in the book is George Shelby. He is a nice owner who says that will let all his slaves free when he dies. Everybody else treats the slaves like animals. The book was written after the law for runaway slaves was passed. It was illegal for anyone to help slaves in the 1800s. This book demonstrates the evil of slavery by giving examples of runaway slaves that needed help.

Emancipation of Slavery

“It was on his grave, my friends, that I resolved, before God, that I would never own another slave while it was possible to free him-that nobody, through me, should ever run the risk of being parted from home and friends and dying on a lonely plantation, as he died. So when you rejoice in your freedom, think that you owe it to that good old soul, and pay it back in kindness to his wife and children. Think of your freedom every time you see UNCLE TOM’S CABIN. And let it be a memorial to put you all in mind to follow in his steps, and be as honest and faithful and Christian as he was.” (Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Page 434)
This is the last paragraph in the book. When George Shelby returns home he tells all the slaves that he will pay them and that when he dies they will all be free. He says the reason for their freedom is Uncle Tom. Tom had a very big impact on Shelby’s life. Shelby looks at Uncle Tom’s Cabin where he was taken away from his family. He tells his slaves to look at Uncle Tom’s Cabin when they think of freedom. This book ends sort of on a happy note because the slaves get emancipation but Uncle Tom dies which isn’t good. But overall the book has a happy ending.

Slavery Is Not In The Bible

“And he showed how all the orders and distinctions in society came from God, and that it was so appropriate, you know, and beautiful, that some should be high and some low, and that some were born to rule and some to serve, and all that, you know. And he applied it so well to all this ridiculous fuss that is made about slavery, and he proved distinctly that the Bible was on or side, and supported all our institutions so convincingly. I only wish you’d heard him.” (Page 182-183)
In this quote Mrs. St. Claire is talking about her beliefs about slavery. She is saying that slavery is needed. She believes the Bible says that slavery is not an option and that God made slavery for a reason. Her husband however disagrees saying that slavery is just there for convenience. It isn’t really needed; it just makes white people’s lives easier. Miss Ophelia the maid of the St. Claire house has a different opinion about slaves. She doesn’t think slaves should not be a degraded race. She doesn’t love slaves but she doesn’t believe slavery is a good thing.

Seperating Families Through Slave Trading

“‘They want to sell the boy and the old woman together,’ said the man. ‘Find a tight pull-why, she’s an old rack o’ bones, not worth her salt.’ ‘You wouldn’t be then?’ said the man. ‘Anybody’d be a fool ’twould. She’s half blind, crooked with rheumatis, and foolish to boot.’” (Page 121, Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
In this chapter Haley is in his wagon with Tom going around buying more slaves. In this scene he is trying to buy a young boy named Albert without his mother coming with him. Haley seems to like to separate families apart. He doesn’t really care if he buys a son and leaves the mother behind. He sees black people as just property which is despicable. In this chapter Haley buys more slaves and separates them from their families. He buys a man named John and doesn’t give him a chance to say bye to his wife. He also buys a women and her infant and sells the infant to another slave trader. The mother commits suicide because of this. Haley shows no emotion and puts her name under the losses category.

Uncle Tom's Personality

“Tom was sitting very mournfully while this conversation was going on. Suddenly he heard the quick, short click of a horse’s hoofs behind him, and before he could fairly awake from his surprise, young Master George sprang into the wagon, threw his arms round his neck, and was sobbing and scolding with energy.” (Page 101, Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
In this chapter Tom is being taken away by Haley, the slave trader. Uncle Tom is very sad and depressed that he is being taken away from the Shelby’s plantation. In this quote George Shelby is chasing after Tom to tell him good bye. He finds Tom and a tavern and gives him a hug and starts crying. It seems as if the slave trader has grown attached to his slave like a friend. Their relationship is not slave owner and slave. They are actually friends and they respect each other. In the south there was no such thing as white people and black people being friends. There were slaves and slave owners. Uncle Tom seems to have a big impact on people because of his kind gentle nature. Uncle Tom is one of the nicest people in the book even though he is being forced to work for no pay. He doesn’t get mad at anyone he just says “let god have mercy on them”.

Anyone Could Save a Life or Two

“When they had gained the top of the bank, the man paused. ‘I'd be glad to do something for ye,’ said he, ‘but then there's nowhar I could take ye. The best I can do is to tell ye to go thar’ said he, pointing to a large white house which stood by itself, off the main street of the village. ‘Go thar. They're kind folks. Thar's no kind o' danger but they'll help you—they're up to all that sort o' thing.’ ‘The Lord bless you!’ said Eliza earnestly. ‘No 'casion, no 'casion in the world,’ said the man. ‘What I've done's of no 'count.’ ‘And oh, surely sir, you won't tell anyone!’” (Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Page 64)
In this chapter Haley the slave trader is searching for Eliza and Harry the runaway slave. After being told about the sale Mrs. Shelby doesn’t want Haley to own her slaves. She and Mr. Shelby are shown as very nice considerate people. In this scene Eliza is trying to escape Haley and she falls in a river. Mr. Symmes, a farmer, hears her cries for help. He says he can’t do much for her except tell her that she can go to a nearby house where the white people will help her. This quote shows the reader that not every person in the south was pro slavery. There were many people against slavery and helped runaway slaves. This kind of relates to the Jews when they needed help from people except people that helped Jews faced dire consequences where as in the south people that helped runaway slaves would not experience many consequences. By having helped Eliza and Harry escape Tom now has to be sold alone for 1000 dollars.

Jim Crow

“ 'Come here, Jim Crow,’ said he. The child came up, and the master patted the curly head and chucked him under the chin. ‘Now, Jim, show this gentleman how you can dance and sing.’ The boy at once commenced a wild, grotesque song common among the Negroes, in a rich, clear voice, accompanying his singing with many comic movements of the hands, feet, and whole body, all in perfect time to the music.” (Page 3, Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
Here is a talented young boy and he is being sold as a slave to another master. The name of this boy is actually Harry but he is called Jim Crow which is a very familiar name. This gives the reader an understanding of where the Jim Crow Laws originated from. It is said that Jim Crow was a dance that white people would do to make fun of black people. Here the boy’s nickname is really Jim Crow. The master has him dance and sing to impress the buyer. It seems cruel that the boy is being forced to act like a circus animal. Mr. Shelby is the slave owner that is selling him and Tom to another slave owner named Haley. Mr. Shelby has a heart and he is not a mean slave owner. He still is pro slavery but he doesn’t treat his slave with cruelty like Haley does. However in this one part he makes the boy dance to sell him to settle his debts. Slavery was wrong no matter how it is looked upon. The slave owner could be nice but he is still a slave owner which doesn’t make him a saint. This book shows the reader that there were differences between the slave owners in the south.