Uncle Tom's Cabin Thesis

Uncle Tom’s Cabin was much more than an informational book covering the hardships of slavery; it was a relatable story. There were more than enough statistics that could have been used to discuss the issue. However, Harriet Beecher Stowe went beyond simply reciting the facts that she knew. By using an emotional appeal and humanizing slaves, Stowe captured the hearts and attention of thousands with Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

It is known that when Abraham Lincoln met the extraordinary creator of this novel, he presented her by saying, “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war” (ushistory.org). This may have been a slight exaggeration. However, the book’s popularity in not only America, but Britain, Europe, and Asia as

Harriet Beecher Stowe felt a great amount of empathy for the slaves and the several losses that they were forced to face, for she also suffered from the loss of a newborn child (ushistory.org). She was also very close to workers of the underground railroad and was able to view slavery from a different perspective than most (historynet.com). After hearing many heartbreaking stories from runaway slaves that she had come in contact with while living in Cincinnati and some encouragement from her sister-in-law, Stowe made the decision to expose the horrors of slavery (ushistory.org).

Stowe strategically wrote the novel in such a way for many to comprehend. She wisely chose to associate the slaves with Christianity in order to humanize them (Waggoner). By doing this, the reader would be more likely to sympathize with the characters, thus understanding that slavery is cruel and

Critics were quick to attack, coming from all types of people. Unsurprisingly, people who were pro-slavery were eager to defend the traditions of the South, claiming that her book was inaccurate and one-sided (harrietbeecherstowe.org). Even some abolitionists disliked Stowe’s take on the novel, insisting that it wasn’t forceful enough to end slavery (harrietbeecherstowe.org). In response to all of the critical comments, Stowe wrote The Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which consisted of a bibliography of all of her reputable sources (harrietbeecherstowe.org).

Despite the few negative reviews, Uncle Tom’s Cabin undeniably made an impact on many individuals. In the words of Pulitzer prize-winning author Jane Smiley, “Stowe’s words changed the world” (harrietbeecherstowe.org). Today, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is known as a classic that is often used in classes to review “literature, history, and issues of race and gender”