Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

The Realities of Slavery Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and Incidents In The Life of A Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs are two books which were written against slavery. Both authors are deeply against slavery and write these books to convince their audience that slavery is bad. They both want the reader to get an image of how slavery was about during the 1850's. Only difference is that Stowe writes about things that occur during the 1850's but are not based on a true story. In other words, Uncle Tom's Cabin is fiction where has Jacobs book, it is an autobiography, a slave narrative. Even though Uncle Tom's Cabin is fiction and Incidents In The Life of A Slave Girl is a life story, they both confirm the reality and viciousness of slavery by focusing in religion, mental and sexual abuse, and how slavery obliterates the moral principles of slaveholders. Religion played a major role during slavery. Not only was religion one of the main reasons as to way colored people (and the few white abolitionist there were) believed slavery was wrong but also because it was the only "good" there was during the 1800's. During the 1800's, it was jam-packed with inequality. Therefore, religion was the hope towards freedom, love, and equality amongst all. In Stowe's book, Uncle Tom was the most religious and noble character. In Jacob's book, Aunt Martha was the most religious and kind hearted. Both characters passed on the religious values to others. For example, after Uncle Tom's death was it then that Mr. Shelby, Toms slaveholder, realize that in the eyes of God, Slavery was immoral. Mr. Shelby states, "Witness, eternal God!....Oh, witness that, from this hour I will do what one man can drive out this curse of slavery from my land!" (Stowe, 479). Mr. Shelby had basically said that with the help and guidance of God, and his determination, he was going to put a stop to slavery. He realized how slavery was not right and was determined to work against slavery from that