Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin in order to bring attention to the horrific nature of slavery; however, it seems as though she also wrote one of the first feminist novels. As I read the first part of the novel, I was blown away by the courageous, cunning, and compassionate women that Stowe describes throughout the novel.
All of the women described, except Marie St. Clare, is compassionate and courageous towards the plight of the slaves. The women described, especially Mrs. Shelby and Mrs. Bird, openly acknowledge that what their husbands are doing is wrong and that slavery should be illegal. I was impressed by the outward disapproval these women should for their husband's actions. During this time period, women and African Americans had no rights or the ability to make the laws just. I admired how Mrs. Shelby did everything in her power, along with the slaves, to stall Haley so that Eliza would have the opportunity to get further away. Similarly, Mrs. Bird was courageous in telling her husband that the law he signed was immoral.
Not only did Stowe show women standing up for what they felt was right, but she also described heartbreaking stories of slave women that would do anything to keep their families together and most importantly protect their children. Eliza risks her life in order to protect Harry. I can't imagine how desperate she must have been to jump into icy water to avoid the risk of being caught. However, I found the story of Prue the most heartbreaking. Prue seemed so innocent and sweet; however, she has lead an incredibly tumultuous life. She confesses that she drinks away her pain, although I do not know anyone that would blame her after understanding the suffering she must have endured with the starvation of her child. I can not even imagine how it would feel to watch your child wither away and you could not do anything to help. Although her death was brutal, I felt a bit relived because I thought now she could be with her baby.
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a heartbreaking account of the lives of slaves; however, it also shows the difficulty of being a woman during this time period. I don't know if Stowe intended to create such strong female characters; however, her characterizations bring these women to life and as I reader all I wanted to do was reach in the pages and help them.+
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I too was amazed the strenght that the women had back then. Eliza was a loving mother that did what many mothers would do for her child. It was unfortuanate that the women did not have the power back then as they do now....I would hate (or love) to see what measures Eliza would have taken if she lived in today's world. Good point...although the book was about slavery did Stowe have anyu idea the impact she made by including such strong women. My guess is that the women were not ever looked upon as being strong. I think it is the women of today that can see the strngth of these women from the past. I also found myself wanting to cheer her on...you go girl!!!:)
Her female characters are amazing in their influence on the husbands.Today most women would say free the slaves or I'm leaving and taking the children. I suppose that wasn't an option then. Stowe concentrates on the emotional family ties of the slaves and the owners in her desire to expose the horror of slavery. This approach was most likely more effective than concentrating on the pure physical abuse and pain that slaves were subjected to. I agree that Prue's character was so sad. Nobody could possibly function normally after such a devastating experience.
You make an excellent point about the strong female characters. Not only are they strong, they make such an emotional connection with the reader, or at least with me. When Mrs. Bird opens the drawer to pull out clothes for Eliza's son, clothes from her baby who died, Stowe writes, "And oh! mother that reads this, has there never been in your house a drawer, or a closet, the opening of which has been to you like the opening of a little grave? Ah! happy mother that you are, if that has not been so," I had to catch my breath.
I was struck by Mrs. Bird, Eliza, and Mrs. Shelby and their start contrast with Mrs. St. Clare. Those three women fought to the extent of their power and ability and I also found it surprising that Stowe wrote such strong female characters into her book. I have to wonder if this was to address that not only was slavery a real issue, but that it was about families, children, and women, and that men were (possibly) not the only ones in control.
I like your ideas about a feminist novel. I agree that the women in the book are strong and speak what they believe. Great point!
I was amazed by the women in this novel and it also gave me a sense of pride instead of the women just sitting back and going along wit their husband's views. Mrs. Shelby is definitely one unique woman and only if there had been more like her.
I like your comments about the female characters. The women are strong in their gentleness. Mr. Shelby, a Christian man, does not have the moral fortitude of his wife, nor does the senator have the insight of his wife. It would seem that the slave trade was men's work, which puts "women's work" in a better light than we usually see it.
I also was struck by the strength of the women in this novel. The power of the woman, awesome!! The white women in the story influence their men and get them to either go along or allow them to actively change what they could.
I think the willingness to risk all by the slave women for the sake of the family is so universal that everyone could say, "Who could blame you." Our empathy has been deeply touched by this maternal instinct.
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