Slaves’ Christianity and Slaveholders’ Christianity in the United States were not the same - far from it. In many ways, they were opposites. Given the importance of Christianity in society at the time in general, but also specifically in discourse about the topic of slavery, this begs the question: How are these different ideas of Christianity depicted in slave novels of the time and what purpose do they serve?
This bachelor thesis examines how these very different ideas of Christianity are depicted in two select antebellum slavery novels: "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The thesis argues that both novels depict both sides of Christianity (pro- and antislavery), but do so in a way that highlights ‘True Christianity’ as fundamentally opposed to slavery and thus, both novels craft an abolitionist argument on the grounds of Christianity.
Over the duration of slavery in the United States, religion always played a large role in the discourse surrounding it. In an early example of criticizing the institution of slavery on religious grounds, Virginian planter William Byrd, in 1736, wrote a letter to an English correspondent stating that Parliament should "put an end to this unchristian traffick of makeing merchandize of our fellow creatures". A sentiment that was shared by others, such as the American Quaker John Woolman who was a traveling minister and, in that function, "urged his fellow Friends to emancipate their slaves and thus quit their involvement in an injustice that was irreconcilable with Christianity". This line of thinking, however, was far from being generally agreed upon.
Entirely converse arguments were also frequently made on grounds of faith. "Early theologians helped to create a justification for slavery along Biblical lines". They did so "On the basis of supposed differences in God-given intellectual and physical abilities [and] … argued that enslaved blacks simply lacked the necessary control over themselves, their thoughts, beliefs, and passions". This line of thinking allowed those in favor of slavery to understand slavery as something that is not an evil, but in fact good for slaves themselves as, therefore, the slave system was seen as "a benevolent tool that would actually help to improve on the morally, culturally, and intellectually depleted African".
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Clotel
a.) General info about the novel
b.) Depiction of Slaveholders' (pro-slavery) Christianity
c.) Depiction of 'True Christianity'
3. Uncle Tom's Cabin
a.) General info about the novel
b.) Depiction of Slaveholders' (pro-slavery) Christianity
c.) Depiction of 'True Christianity'
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this thesis is to examine how two distinct and opposing interpretations of Christianity—pro-slavery and anti-slavery—are depicted in the antebellum novels "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The research seeks to identify how both authors utilize religious rhetoric to construct an abolitionist argument and how they differentiate between what they present as a distorted, hypocritical "slaveholders' Christianity" and an authentic, liberation-oriented "True Christianity."
- Comparative analysis of religious rhetoric in Clotel and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
- Critique of the institutional and hypocritical interpretation of Christianity used to justify slavery.
- Examination of character archetypes as conduits for either pro- or anti-slavery ideologies.
- Investigation of the narrator's role in guiding the reader toward an abolitionist interpretation.
Excerpt from the Book
Depiction of 'True Christianity'
Building on the above-described plethora of information that informs the novel’s world (and thus describes the antebellum South), the novel, again, uses different strategies to make a clear argument for the 'true' Christianity – that one which is in direct contradiction to slavery and slaveholding. These two sides of the 'Christianity coin' are not merely contrasted. Instead, a clear judgment is made and argued for. This is also done both through remarks by the narrator, as well as by eloquent, lengthy, direct argumentations formulated by the character Georgiana Peck who serves a crucial role.
While describing how slaves are denied the institution of marriage, the narrator takes a first stand to assert Brown’s opinion on what Christianity really is. In addition to the aforementioned descriptions of marriage and its utmost importance to Christianity and life in general, the narrator also directly states his disagreement with slaveholders. "Although marriage ... is a matter which the slaveholders do not think is of any importance ... Marriage is, indeed, the first and most important institution of human existence – the foundation of all civilization and culture – the root of church and state."
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of Christianity in the antebellum United States and presents the research question regarding how religion is depicted in selected slavery novels.
2. Clotel: Analyzes William Wells Brown's novel, focusing on its non-linear structure and the use of characters like Reverend Peck and Snyder to depict pro-slavery arguments, contrasted by Georgiana Peck’s "True Christianity."
3. Uncle Tom's Cabin: Investigates Harriet Beecher Stowe's work, exploring how she utilizes the narrator’s voice and characters like Tom and Augustine St. Clare to critique the hypocrisy of the church and advocate for an empathetic, abolitionist faith.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting that both authors conclude that slavery and "True Christianity" are fundamentally irreconcilable, despite utilizing different narrative strategies to make this assertion.
Keywords
Christianity, Slavery, Abolitionism, Clotel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, William Wells Brown, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Antebellum South, Religious Rhetoric, Slaveholders, True Christianity, Scripture, Hypocrisy, Civil Rights, Moral Theology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the dualistic role of Christianity in the antebellum United States as represented in two major anti-slavery novels, investigating how religion was used simultaneously to justify slavery and to champion its abolition.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the manipulation of biblical scripture, the hypocrisy of the Christian church, the moral struggle regarding human rights, and the distinction between institutional religion and authentic spiritual belief.
What is the core objective or research question?
The objective is to analyze how "Clotel" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" portray the contradiction between "slaveholders’ Christianity" and "True Christianity" to craft an abolitionist argument.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining narrative structure, character development, direct commentary by the narrator, and the use of religious rhetoric to identify how each novel constructs its message.
What primary content is covered in the main body of the work?
The body covers an analysis of both novels divided into three distinct parts: general information, the portrayal of pro-slavery arguments, and the interpretation of "True Christianity," including a detailed look at key characters and their moral arcs.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Slavery, Christianity, Abolitionism, Religious Hypocrisy, and Antebellum Literature.
How does William Wells Brown utilize characters in "Clotel" to express his views?
Brown uses characters like the pro-slavery Reverend Peck to demonstrate how religious logic was bent to support tyranny, while creating characters like Georgiana Peck to serve as the voice of "True Christianity" that dismantles those arguments.
What role does Augustine St. Clare play in Stowe's "Uncle Tom’s Cabin"?
Despite his professed lack of traditional religious belief, St. Clare is used by Stowe to provide the most powerful and comprehensive critiques of the church's complicity in slavery, proving that outward piety does not equal true Christian sentiment.
- Citation du texte
- Lukas Bay (Auteur), 2022, Slaveholder's God vs. God of the Enslaves. The Dualism of Christianity in "Clotel" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1556585
