Harriet Beecher Stowe′s widely acknowledged novel Uncle Tom′s Cabin (1852) in two volumes has been subjected to much controversy as regards its protagonist′s role as a Christian martyr. I found critics to hold the assumption that as Tom does not assume an active role against slavery but practices non-aggression according to the biblical Gospel of Love including love of one′s enemy, he does nothing, really, to change the slaves′ condition.
However, passive resistance is unanimously agreed to be an effective form of resistance, thus I venture to propose that saints and martyrs do in fact bring about a change by their incomprehensible consent to sacrifice for others or for a higher ideal. Tom does startle, irritate, penetrate, and shake up the people he comes into contact with: Significantly, all of them are reminded of their childhood, when the gospel was still close to their hearts, and they realize the wish to believe in God is preserved, ready to surface if permitted to. Tom′s sermon-like evocation of the universal love Jesus taught and incorporated, together with the promise of a destination in heaven has a subliminal effect on the white people, who need to interrelate their religious morality with the unjust social system they tolerate. Equality before God and man as well as a distinct discrimination between right and wrong are items that early religious education plants in each and every American, I should think.
The least effect thus achieved is a characteristic uneasiness, the urge to redefine one′s attitude towards the prevalent system of slavery, and the inescapable realization of the individual duty to use one´s position and personal strength for the sake of the oppressed. Tom′s style is that of Jesus and not of the violent revolutionaries that America would have dreamed to come and install true democracy. Stowe knows that to change the political and social conditions in the country would be far easier than to teach the people′s hearts not tolerance, not acceptance but love. Love of the simple race as it is often called and love of the oppressors. That is, in my estimation, Stowe′s incessant plea.
Table of Contents
1 The Spell of Martyrdom
2 Stowe’s Literary Technique
2.1 Narrating -- The Storyteller’s Voice
2.2 Preaching -- The Christian’s Voice
2.3 Teaching -- The Moralist’s Voice
2.4 Touching -- The Emotionalist’s Voice
3 The Holy Bible, A Primary Source
3.1 “For if not true, how could I live?“ (p.125)
3.2 “For he hath prepared for us a city.“ (p.101)
4 Evangeline, A Divine Manifestation
4.1 Gospel of Love
4.2 “I long to go.“
5 Tom, A True Christian
5.1 Uncle Tom
5.2 Father Tom
6 Stowe’s Muse? Thomas C. Upham
6.1 Purgation
6.2 Illumination
6.3 Union
7 Résumé
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This work examines the role of the protagonist in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" as a Christian martyr, analyzing how passive resistance and the biblical "Gospel of Love" function as powerful tools to protest the institution of slavery. The research investigates whether Stowe’s literary techniques effectively influence the reader's moral conscience or if the narrative's intense religious ecstasy limits its accessibility.
- The intersection of Christian martyrdom and active resistance against slavery.
- Stowe’s literary and stylistic methods, including the use of sentimental discourse.
- The influence of the Bible as a primary source for the characters' spiritual journeys.
- Application of Thomas C. Upham’s three-stage journey of faith to the novel’s structure.
- The tension between political aims and religious devotion in the narrative.
Excerpt from the Book
6.1 Purgation
At the starting point Tom descends from the relatively agreeable existence of his cabin bondage with the Shelby’s in Kentucky to the luxuries of St.Clare’s house in New Orleans. The pious man is openly devoted to personal earthly values such as home, family, and freedom. St.Clare’s treatment of his servants adds to the appreciation of good clothes, fair manners, and freedom, as Tom confidently relies on the Shelbys to buy him back home or on his wife Chloe to purchase his freedom. Another remarkable sign of his worldliness is that he starts to adore Evangeline like a Golden Calf - only after her death can he concentrate his zeal onto God alone.
From such a point of view, even Legree has a positive function in that he is the one to sadistically crush Tom in every possible way, though he finally destroys only (!) his physical frame but can not extinguish Tom’s faith in God, which he actually helps to increase beyond comprehension. It is Upham’s belief that true faith can only arise if an incident in a life induces a person helps to realize that earthly hopes are too weak a basis to live on. Reflections on a better basis may lead to a process that Upham terms “self-crucifixion“ which entails the liberation from those earthly hopes. Legree is the catalyst of Tom’s saintly self-denial that leads to perfection.
Summary of Chapters
1 The Spell of Martyrdom: Discusses the controversy surrounding Tom’s role as a Christian martyr and suggests that his passive resistance serves as an effective form of moral protest.
2 Stowe’s Literary Technique: Analyzes the author's narrative style, focusing on the influence of sermon conventions and the sentimental tradition used to evoke an emotional response.
3 The Holy Bible, A Primary Source: Examines how biblical references provide the foundational belief system for the characters and the novel's central motif of endurance.
4 Evangeline, A Divine Manifestation: Explores Evangeline’s symbolic role as an angelic figure and her embodiment of the "Gospel of Love" through her relationships with others.
5 Tom, A True Christian: Traces Tom’s transformation from an ordinary, pious slave to a spiritual figure who achieves a "superhuman" victory through his faith.
6 Stowe’s Muse? Thomas C. Upham: Links the novel's thematic progression to Thomas C. Upham’s three-stage spiritual journey of Purgation, Illumination, and Union.
7 Résumé: Summarizes the critical perspective that Stowe’s intense religious ecstasy in the novel may ultimately alienate the ordinary reader despite her philanthropic intentions.
Keywords
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Christian Martyrdom, Slavery, Gospel of Love, Passive Resistance, Sentimentality, Thomas C. Upham, Purgation, Illumination, Union, Spiritual Conversion, Religious Zeal, Abolitionism, Narrative Technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this study?
The study investigates Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" with a specific focus on the protagonist's role as a Christian martyr and the effectiveness of his passive resistance against slavery.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The work addresses the intersection of religion and politics, the use of sentimental literary devices, the role of biblical sources in the narrative, and the psychological dimensions of martyrdom.
What is the ultimate research goal of the work?
The research aims to determine how Stowe utilizes moral and structural techniques to awaken responsibility in the reader and whether her focus on religious ecstasy creates a persuasive political argument.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a literary and cultural studies approach, applying Thomas C. Upham’s theological theory of spiritual development to interpret the narrative structure of the novel.
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body covers Stowe’s narrative techniques, the symbolic roles of characters like Tom and Evangeline, the reliance on the Bible, and a detailed application of Upham's three-stage spiritual journey model.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by concepts such as Christian martyrdom, slavery, spiritual conversion, sentimentality, and the narrative construction of moral responsibility.
How does the author interpret Legree’s function in the plot?
Legree is interpreted not just as a villain, but as a necessary catalyst for Tom’s spiritual development, forcing him to move beyond earthly attachments toward complete reliance on God.
Does the author believe the book succeeds in its political mission?
The author argues that while the book has powerful philanthropic potential, Stowe's increasing reliance on religious ecstasy may ultimately limit the novel's effectiveness for a broad, non-mystical audience.
- Quote paper
- Diana Wieser (Author), 1998, Uncle Tom's Calling. On Stowe's Gospel of Love and Practical Holiness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/8943
