Uncle Tom's Cabin, By Harriet Beecher Stowe
Wrongly, yet Faithfully, Justified
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a provocative and controversial piece when it was published in1852. So much so, that President Abraham Lincoln met with the author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, in 1862 and presumably said, “So this is the little lady that made this big [Civil] war.” Stowe wrote this novel with a specific audience in mind: Northerners. She wanted to show the North the horrors of slavery in the South. She wanted to expel the notion that Slavery had religious backing through Christianity. Historically, slavery as an institution was justified by the claim that the slaves were descendants of Ham. Noah laid a curse on Ham’s son, and Noah’s grandson, Canaan in Genesis 9:25-27:
"Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japeth live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave'."
It was believed that Canaan had settled in Africa. Furthermore, slave owners were teaching savages brought over from Africa God’s word. They argued that the slave owners were taking these savages from their uncivilized cultures and giving them a proper civilized …show more content…
Tom’s resolve throughout his life as a slave is opposed by Legree’s life as a non-religious slave owner. The stark contrast illuminated by these characters shows that slavery cannot be defended by the religion that Tom holds so dear. Each time that Tom’s devotion faltered in the face of his environment, he was reminded that he must remain true, for it is the only way to mentally survive it. Moreover, as he was being beaten, Sambo and Quimbo saw Tom’s religious resolve and moved to help him instead of beating him more. In fact, they too accepted Tom’s beliefs. This climatic scene further exemplifies how incompatible the two institutions
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a provocative and controversial piece when it was published in1852. So much so, that President Abraham Lincoln met with the author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, in 1862 and presumably said, “So this is the little lady that made this big [Civil] war.” Stowe wrote this novel with a specific audience in mind: Northerners. She wanted to show the North the horrors of slavery in the South. She wanted to expel the notion that Slavery had religious backing through Christianity. Historically, slavery as an institution was justified by the claim that the slaves were descendants of Ham. Noah laid a curse on Ham’s son, and Noah’s grandson, Canaan in Genesis 9:25-27:
"Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japeth live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave'."
It was believed that Canaan had settled in Africa. Furthermore, slave owners were teaching savages brought over from Africa God’s word. They argued that the slave owners were taking these savages from their uncivilized cultures and giving them a proper civilized …show more content…
Tom’s resolve throughout his life as a slave is opposed by Legree’s life as a non-religious slave owner. The stark contrast illuminated by these characters shows that slavery cannot be defended by the religion that Tom holds so dear. Each time that Tom’s devotion faltered in the face of his environment, he was reminded that he must remain true, for it is the only way to mentally survive it. Moreover, as he was being beaten, Sambo and Quimbo saw Tom’s religious resolve and moved to help him instead of beating him more. In fact, they too accepted Tom’s beliefs. This climatic scene further exemplifies how incompatible the two institutions