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Analysis Of Uncle Tom's Cabin By Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Harriet Beecher Stowe, an abolitionist, wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852. Her novel was meant as a statement against the Fugitive Slave Act which was enacted in 1850. The act said that no one could help slaves that were running away, and even if they were in a free state their masters could retrieve them. Though her novel is fiction, it is based on actual events. This novel brings to light what horrendous crimes accord to slaves when they were thought to not be fully human. Stowe mentions in her preface “to awaken sympathy and feeling for the African race, as they exist among us” (Stowe). While it does bring to light the negative side to slavery, the novel also seems to be for slavery. Stowe meant for this novel to be anti-slavery, she mentions …show more content…
She would have more freedoms, but she still would not be set free. Miss Ophelia also accepted the gift of a slave. This shows the reader that she is not completely against owning slaves. She owns one herself, and her brother owns many. It seems like she also cares more about their treatment than their constitutional rights, much like Mrs. …show more content…
She seems all too willing to use stereotypes with her descriptions. Stowe uses language that makes it seems like she prefers mulatto rather than fully African when it comes to skin color. She describes them as beautiful and they have a nice lighter complexion. When they are up for trade, the slaves that are half white often sell for much more money because they are prettier and thus become a house servant. When Eliza, her husband George, and their son Harry finally reach their destination in Canada, they fall to their knees. This is not from sadness, but they are so overjoyed at finally becoming free people. “Who can speak the blessedness of that first day of freedom? Is not the sense of liberty a higher and finer one than any of the five?”(Stowe 408). Though they were treated very well by the Shelby’s, they still were not fully happy. They could not do what they wished, sleep when they wanted, they were not fully free. Freedom means everything to

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