Book: Uncle Tom's Cabin

Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
First published: 1852, United States
Original Language: English
Topics: Slavery, human rights, Christianity, racism

In A Nutshell: Follows three threads: the life of Tom, a good-hearted and faithful slave sold downriver to pay his master's debts; the escape of George and Eliza with their son Harry to Canada and freedom; and, less prominently, the events on the Shelby farm whence Tom came, including efforts to find Tom and buy him back. On the way down river, Tom is bought by a Mr. St. Clare at the insistence of angelic Eva St. Clare and enjoys a relatively peaceful and pleasant life until Eva dies of illness, followed by her mourning father because of a bar fight accident. Tom is then sold to the villainous Legree, who treats his slaves cruelly and hates Tom; in refusing to tell what he knows about the escape of two other slaves, Tom is beaten to death, just before Mr. Shelby's son comes to redeem him. George and Eliza Harris are pursued at first by slave hunters, but through the kindness and generosity of various people along the way, escape safely to Canada and are eventually reunited with long-lost family. Finally, the younger Mr. Shelby sets all his slaves free and seeks to change the lives of as many slaves as he can reach.

Thinking Makes It So: I very much enjoyed this book, even though was difficult to read in some parts because of the ugliness, arrogance, and injustice of the slavery system and its defenders. Stowe presents throughout the course of the book several different types of slave owners: Mr. Shelby, who is just and usually kind, but still sells his most faithful slave to pay his debt; Haley, a slave trader, who is calloused to the misery his trade causes but not needlessly cruel; St. Clare, who indulges his slaves and opposes the system on principle but is too lackadaisical to do anything about it; and Legree, who is brutal, tyrannical, cruel, and antipathetic. Although their behavior towards their slaves and slavery in generally is commended or condemned in turn, Stowe makes clear that all of them are guilty of the evils of slavery because they support and perpetuate the system.
Throughout the book, Stowe makes her own opinions clear, and the whole book has an outspoken and often explicit anti-slavery message. Stowe often contrasts the nobility and heroics of the slave characters with the arrogant indifference or cruelty of the slave owners. Especially in the character of fiery and eloquent George Harris she sets forth the case for why all men should be free, and naturally desire to be so.

That You Must Teach Me: This book is a very colorful and lively sketch of life in the South (and North, as well, through Miss Ophelia) directly before the Civil War. Uses could include:

• Exploring the life of a slave in the antebellum US and how the slavery system worked
• Defining human rights and equality
• Analyzing the different representations of Christianity and Christian behavior
• Relating Civil-War-era slavery issues to modern-day slavery

Since the book is fairly thick and may be difficult to read, it may be profitable for less advanced students to focus on one storyline instead of all of them. Vocabulary help will definitely be necessary. Level: Intermediate to Advanced.

Resources:
Curriculum and resources from virginia.edu
Responses and Impact on American Culture
Lesson plans from Slavery in America
Related Links and Study Guide
Human Trafficking