Navigating Morality in Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin

Abstract

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Introduction “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is an interesting and influential novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe first published in 1852. The novel played a significant role in abolitionist movement being an anti-slavery narrative that depicted the harsh realities of slavery in United States. While following the life of Uncle Tom, a devout kind hearted African American slave, the narration revealed the tensions between the North and South laying substantial ground for the Civil War. The novel features a wide range of characters, enslaved and slave-owners allowing the narrator to portray complexities and moral dilemmas regarding the institution of slavery. As portrayed in the novel, Uncle Tom’s character remains defined with dignity and humanity challenging racial stereotypes of the time. In general, the narration had strong impact on the American culture in that it revealed the positive and negative view of slavery as witnessed from the North and the South. While there is no specific chapter where narrator explicitly makes defined efforts to control access to the story as one may find in other literary works, Stowe writes the novel in a manner that allows the narrator guide the reader’s perception and interpretation of the events. For instance, one notable aspect in the novel is the use of omniscient narration which expresses the narrators’ defined knowledge on the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. It is an aspect that helps the narrator to shape the readers understanding of the characters as well as the moral implications of the story. To this effect, this essay will seek to analyze sections that dealt with moral dilemmas faced by Uncle Tom the protagonist in the novel among others to understand how the narrator seek to evoke emotional responses to align the reader with the anti-slavery sentiments that the author advocated. The narrator introduces Mr. Shelby, a kind and compassionate slave owner who is forced to sell his most loyal and valuable slave; Uncle Tom to pay off debts thus torn in a dilemma between choosing to satisfy the financial demands and ethical considerations of his act towards a loyal slave. The narrator characterizes Uncle Tom as a deeply religious man that has a kind heart. While trying to express how this protagonist controls his emotion even in challenging situations, the narrator confirms his faith and trust in God despite the injustices of being sold away from his family. There is a defined tension when Eliza, the protagonist mother learns that the son will be sold thus decides to escape with the son to spend their lives together. The narrator creates serious suspense on stage as Eliza crosses the icy Ohio River with the son to seek freedom. Basically, the narrator tries to control the reader’s perception of American slavery institution citing real-life experiences as...