In the preface to Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe explained the purpose of her antislavery novel. She wanted “to awaken sympathy and feeling for the African race […]” (xiii). Stowe is more precise in her preface to A Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin where she defines her goal of writing “to bring this subject of slavery, as a moral and religious question, before the minds of all those who profess to be followers of Christ in this country” (Stowe qtd. in Nuernberg 44). Stowe was successful and her sentimental novel reached the hearts of millions of readers and brought “[…] grown men to their emotional knees” (Yarborough 62). The novel did not only touch of the heart of the readers, it had as well political effects which can be underlined by the fact that Abraham Lincoln claimed that Stowe had caused the Civil War. This is one of the reasons why Josephine Donovan describes Uncle Tom’s Cabin as “probably the most influential novel ever written” (Donovan 11).
This paper will deal with another level of the novel’s influence. In the Longman Dictionary the term “Uncle Tom” is defined as “a black person who is too respectful to white person”. This definition is an evidence for the fact that Uncle Tom “entered the stock of American cultural archetypes” (Yarborough 53). The label “Uncle Tom” has even become “an index for racial degradation” (Railton 104). This paper focuses on the contradiction between Stowe’s antislavery conviction and “her tendency to see characters as representatives types” (Donovan 49) of different races.
Table of Contents
- 1 INTRODUCTION
- 2 STRATEGIES OF CHARACTERISATION
- 2.1 IN GENERAL
- 2.2 TOPSY AND EVA ST. CLARE
- 2.3 UNCLE TOM AND GEORGE HARRIS
- 3 ROMANTIC RACIALISM
- 3.1 SOCIAL BACKGROUND: THEORIES OF RACE
- 3.2 STOWE'S PERSPECTIVE
- 4 CONCLUSION
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the character portrayals in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, exploring the contradictions between Stowe's anti-slavery stance and her tendency to present characters as racial types. It investigates how Stowe's characterizations reflect the social and racial theories prevalent during her time and examines the novel's lasting cultural impact.
- Characterisation strategies in Uncle Tom's Cabin
- Racial stereotypes and their representation in the novel
- The influence of social and racial theories on Stowe's writing
- The novel's cultural impact and enduring legacy
- Contradictions between Stowe's anti-slavery message and her character portrayals
Chapter Summaries
1 INTRODUCTION: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the paper, highlighting Uncle Tom's Cabin's profound impact on both the emotional and political landscapes of its time. It mentions Stowe's aim to awaken sympathy for the African race and the novel's subsequent influence, citing claims of its contribution to the Civil War and its status as a highly influential work of literature. The chapter then introduces the paper's focus: the contradiction between Stowe's anti-slavery message and her tendency to portray characters as racial types. It outlines the paper's structure, promising a character analysis followed by an exploration of the social background of the era.
2 STRATEGIES OF CHARACTERISATION: This chapter delves into Stowe's character creation in Uncle Tom's Cabin. It begins by acknowledging the novel's cultural influence and the argument that Stowe essentially "invented" American Blacks for a global audience. The chapter then moves to analyze individual characterizations, starting with a general overview of the diverse characters representing different social strata and responses to slavery. It notes Stowe's use of contrasting character pairings and the theme of homelessness among central characters, demonstrating her method of depicting American society's varied reactions to slavery. The use of dialects, ranging from proper English to a Negro dialect, is also highlighted as a means of creating authenticity and a connection to the Local Color movement. The chapter concludes by discussing the complexity of Stowe's characterizations, identifying some as flat or static and others as dynamic and round, highlighting the presentation of characters as representatives of different social strata and races, suggesting a blend of individualization and stereotyping.
2.2 TOPSY AND EVA ST. CLARE: This section focuses on the characters of Topsy and Eva St. Clare, contrasting their portrayals. Topsy, a young slave girl, embodies Stowe's belief in the "primacy of experience," her traumatic past evident in her physical state and lack of knowledge about her origins. Stowe emphasizes Topsy's impulsiveness and lack of self-control, interpreting these traits as characteristic of the "undomesticated African." Eva, in contrast, presents a different image and serves a contrasting purpose within the narrative.
Keywords
Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, characterization, racial stereotypes, romantic racism, abolitionism, slavery, American literature, 19th-century literature, social commentary, cultural impact.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Character Portrayals in Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom's Cabin*
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the character portrayals in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, exploring the contradictions between Stowe's anti-slavery stance and her tendency to present characters as racial types. It investigates how Stowe's characterizations reflect the social and racial theories prevalent during her time and examines the novel's lasting cultural impact.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include characterization strategies in Uncle Tom's Cabin; racial stereotypes and their representation; the influence of social and racial theories on Stowe's writing; the novel's cultural impact and enduring legacy; and the contradictions between Stowe's anti-slavery message and her character portrayals.
What characters are specifically analyzed in the paper?
The paper provides in-depth analysis of several characters, including Topsy and Eva St. Clare, Uncle Tom, and George Harris, comparing and contrasting their portrayals and exploring how they represent different aspects of Stowe's views on slavery and race.
How does the paper approach the analysis of characterization?
The paper examines Stowe's characterization strategies, including her use of contrasting character pairings, dialects (ranging from proper English to a Negro dialect), and the depiction of characters as representatives of different social strata and races. It notes the presence of both flat/static and dynamic/round characters.
What is the significance of Topsy and Eva St. Clare's portrayal?
The analysis contrasts Topsy, a young slave girl representing the "undomesticated African" according to Stowe's interpretation, with Eva St. Clare, who serves a contrasting purpose in the narrative. Topsy's portrayal highlights Stowe's belief in the "primacy of experience," while Eva offers a different perspective.
What is the role of social and racial theories in the paper's analysis?
The paper investigates how prevalent social and racial theories of Stowe's time influenced her characterizations and shaped her representation of slavery and race in the novel. It contextualizes Stowe's work within the broader social and intellectual landscape of the 19th century.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper regarding Stowe's work?
The paper examines the complexities of Stowe's writing, acknowledging her anti-slavery message while critically analyzing her use of racial stereotypes and the potential contradictions within her character portrayals. It explores the enduring impact of Uncle Tom's Cabin on both literature and the social understanding of race and slavery.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, characterization, racial stereotypes, romantic racism, abolitionism, slavery, American literature, 19th-century literature, social commentary, cultural impact.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lisa Sangmeister (Autor:in), 2009, The Subject of Race in Uncle Tom's Cabin, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/140183
