(Kathryn Ch. 1-13) In the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, the author Harriet Beecher Stowe frequently displays the assumption that the reader is an individual that resides in the South. The antislavery literature was written in the first place to portray slaves as sympathetic men and women at the mercy of slaveholders. In other words, Stowe's novel was written to sway the citizens of the United States against slavery by presenting slaves as 'actual human beings' with opinions and feelings, on account of the fact that slaves were treated and viewed as only a fraction of a person during the mid 19th century. For instance, as Eliza and her son, two slaves who have absconded from their masters' home, appear at the Bird residence, Stowe addresses the audience while talking about Mr. Bird by saying, "And you need not exult over him, good brother of the Southern States..." (87). Here, Stowe speaks to the readers and identifies them as a "brother of the Southern States", therefore she is assuming that her audience lives in the South, where a majority of the people were in dire need of shift in viewpoint.
(Laura Ch.14-17) The common view of slaves, during Harriet Beecher Stowe’s lifetime, is that that are wild and untrained beings and all negative assumptions of the race are embodied in the new character Prue. She refuses any domesticated work, rebelling at any given chance, “The creature was as lithe as a cat, and as active as a monkey, and the confinement of sewing was her abomination; so she broke her needles, threw them slyly out of windows, or down in chinks; as she tangled, broke, and dirtied her thread, or, with a sly movement would throw a spool away altogether.” (Stowe 352). The living embodiment of such a slave provides evidence in favor of the assumption that slaves are merely a step above animals. Prue’s wild nature and mischievous actions bring proof that negroes are less sophisticated and behaved as whites, aiding the pro side of the argument that of the two races whites have a natural right to rule over the uncivilized negroes.
(Daria) So many times throughout slaves were compared to animals. Miss Ophellia who herself is an abolitionist, however, a big racist calls St. Clares slaves "creatures" all the time. Still removing all human characteristics about themselves. Slaves have feelings too, good points made Laura!
(Daria Ch.18-20) As Ap Lang is a class that comes with the assumption that students actually enjoy reading, In Uncle Tom's Cabin chapters 18-20 contain the assumption that readers know was slavery is and how they are all the same.
"The fact is, that the whole race are pretty generally understood to be turned over to the devil, for our benefit, in this world"
Marie makes the assumption that all slaves are less than human and are the same. However we know this is not the case, because Tom is kind hearted and even when he is at Casey's he refuses to give in to such cruel abuse. Nor is he mad when Mr. Shelby sells him.
Wow, there has never been so much truth as that first comment (just pertaining to really really old books). It is true that slaves were considered inferior to the white supremacy of the Saxon race. But, there is not a single person who is the same, and that goes for slaves too. There were kind and gentle slaves in the novel, like Tom and Eliza, and violent cruel slaves like the ones on Legree's plantation, particularly the snitch overseer slaves of Legree.
(Kathryn Ch.21-31) One assumption in Stowe’s novel is made by Mr. Shelby. Tom’s old owner who seemed quite frantic when his 'most pious slave’ had to be sold, all of a sudden seems to have brushed of the altercation as his impetus to retrieve Tom has reduced significantly. The man assumes that “Tom’ll have another wife, in a year or two” and Aunt Chloe should “take up with somebody else” (216). Mr. Shelby presumes that Tom will just move on with his life after being ripped away from his wife and children. It only seems natural, right? WRONG. Mr. Shelby, a man known to treat his slaves right, is unknowingly playing into the nation wide stereotype that slaves aren’t fully people (in fact they are three fifth of a person in the South), and therefore do not have feelings and sentiments as the white folk do.
(Laura Ch.32-End) Following Tom’s death George proclaims that he will charge Legree with murder but soon after mentioning the notion to the man the idea falls through with the question of, “witnesses?” (Stowe 596). George immediately after realizes, without even having to further discuss the matter, that unless a white man was witness to the crime it would not hold up in court. The assumption is negroes lack of rights even in the court system, unless you are white your voice does not matter.
ReplyDelete(Kathryn Ch. 1-13)
In the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, the author Harriet Beecher Stowe frequently displays the assumption that the reader is an individual that resides in the South. The antislavery literature was written in the first place to portray slaves as sympathetic men and women at the mercy of slaveholders. In other words, Stowe's novel was written to sway the citizens of the United States against slavery by presenting slaves as 'actual human beings' with opinions and feelings, on account of the fact that slaves were treated and viewed as only a fraction of a person during the mid 19th century. For instance, as Eliza and her son, two slaves who have absconded from their masters' home, appear at the Bird residence, Stowe addresses the audience while talking about Mr. Bird by saying, "And you need not exult over him, good brother of the Southern States..." (87). Here, Stowe speaks to the readers and identifies them as a "brother of the Southern States", therefore she is assuming that her audience lives in the South, where a majority of the people were in dire need of shift in viewpoint.
(Laura Ch.14-17)
ReplyDeleteThe common view of slaves, during Harriet Beecher Stowe’s lifetime, is that that are wild and untrained beings and all negative assumptions of the race are embodied in the new character Prue. She refuses any domesticated work, rebelling at any given chance, “The creature was as lithe as a cat, and as active as a monkey, and the confinement of sewing was her abomination; so she broke her needles, threw them slyly out of windows, or down in chinks; as she tangled, broke, and dirtied her thread, or, with a sly movement would throw a spool away altogether.” (Stowe 352). The living embodiment of such a slave provides evidence in favor of the assumption that slaves are merely a step above animals. Prue’s wild nature and mischievous actions bring proof that negroes are less sophisticated and behaved as whites, aiding the pro side of the argument that of the two races whites have a natural right to rule over the uncivilized negroes.
(Daria) So many times throughout slaves were compared to animals. Miss Ophellia who herself is an abolitionist, however, a big racist calls St. Clares slaves "creatures" all the time. Still removing all human characteristics about themselves. Slaves have feelings too, good points made Laura!
Delete(Daria Ch.18-20)
ReplyDeleteAs Ap Lang is a class that comes with the assumption that students actually enjoy reading, In Uncle Tom's Cabin chapters 18-20 contain the assumption that readers know was slavery is and how they are all the same.
"The fact is, that the whole race are pretty generally understood to be turned over to the devil, for our benefit, in this world"
Marie makes the assumption that all slaves are less than human and are the same.
However we know this is not the case, because Tom is kind hearted and even when he is at Casey's he refuses to give in to such cruel abuse. Nor is he mad when Mr. Shelby sells him.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWow, there has never been so much truth as that first comment (just pertaining to really really old books). It is true that slaves were considered inferior to the white supremacy of the Saxon race. But, there is not a single person who is the same, and that goes for slaves too. There were kind and gentle slaves in the novel, like Tom and Eliza, and violent cruel slaves like the ones on Legree's plantation, particularly the snitch overseer slaves of Legree.
Delete(Kathryn Ch.21-31)
ReplyDeleteOne assumption in Stowe’s novel is made by Mr. Shelby. Tom’s old owner who seemed quite frantic when his 'most pious slave’ had to be sold, all of a sudden seems to have brushed of the altercation as his impetus to retrieve Tom has reduced significantly. The man assumes that “Tom’ll have another wife, in a year or two” and Aunt Chloe should “take up with somebody else” (216). Mr. Shelby presumes that Tom will just move on with his life after being ripped away from his wife and children. It only seems natural, right? WRONG. Mr. Shelby, a man known to treat his slaves right, is unknowingly playing into the nation wide stereotype that slaves aren’t fully people (in fact they are three fifth of a person in the South), and therefore do not have feelings and sentiments as the white folk do.
(Laura Ch.32-End)
ReplyDeleteFollowing Tom’s death George proclaims that he will charge Legree with murder but soon after mentioning the notion to the man the idea falls through with the question of, “witnesses?” (Stowe 596). George immediately after realizes, without even having to further discuss the matter, that unless a white man was witness to the crime it would not hold up in court. The assumption is negroes lack of rights even in the court system, unless you are white your voice does not matter.