The Influence Of Slavery In Uncle Tom's Cabin?

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Throughout the course of history the general public is influenced, in one way or another, just about everywhere they go. Whether the influence is positive or not, it is tacit that now more than ever it has become easier to bring out information to the general public. However, this was not the case in the mid-1800s as the primal way to spread information to others was through some form of print. It was also during the mid-1800s where slavery began to grow exponentially as a moral issue across the United States causing tension between the North and the South. Then came the game changing novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe which would capture the attention of many Americans as well as various different people from across the …show more content…

The first and main storyline, deals with Uncle Tom’s life after he is sold from his original owner, Master Shelby. The second storyline is about Eliza and her journey in seeking freedom with her son Harry, and her husband George who has also escaped due to the wretched treatment of a different slave owner. Uncle Tom, is a valuable, trustworthy Christian who practices his Christian goodness throughout the novel and aspires to help those find comfort through the bible. Though being a witness to the abominable treatment of other slave’s trough the flogging, degradation, and separation of families by the slave owners, Tom continues to practice the word of God and encourage others to do the same. In the end, Tom dies a martyr as he is flogged to death for helping Emmeline and Cassy who have escaped from Tom’s worst and final owner, Simon Legree. On the other hand, Eliza, though confronts various complications throughout her journey, eventually gains her freedom in the final chapters of the novel after the continuous pursuit of slave finders trying to catch her. By the end of the novel Harriet is successfully able to present the abominable treatment of slaves as well as the tragic stories of slavery in a way that successfully reaches out to …show more content…

However, the truth of the matter is despite the novel influencing the president or not, it most certainly did influence and continues to influence thousands on end even to this day. Harriet Beecher Stowe helped bring to light something that should have been long before she did, and the response she received from doing so was fitting. Just as Harriet did in the 1800s, people will continue to do so now and in the future, in hope of spreading a message that will be heard by many and acted on by the brave. However, it is now up to the current generation and generations to follow to teach what has happened and see the problems it made and the wars it started. As George Santayana once said, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat

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