The Theme of Humanity Uncle Tom’s Cabin,
The First Seven Chapters
By Shelby Hammonds
In the first seven chapters of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe the novel shows slave-owning families who think they are being humane, but in reality, no business with owning human beings is in any way humane.
“I was a fool to think I could make anything good out of such a deadly evil...” says Mrs. Shelby. As she said this, she was coming out of her denial, and finally realizing how slavery can destroy families. She continues in saying, “... I thought I could gild over it. I thought by kindness, and care, and instruction, I could make the condition of mine better than freedom. Fool ...view middle of the document...
Again, they did not want to admit it to themselves. Mr. Haley says of slaves in general, “These critters an’t like white folks, you know; they gets over things (Stowe, 7),” referring to the situation of the purchasing of Harry and him being taken from Eliza and her from him. Mrs. Shelby seems to see the slaves differently than many people in her situation. Even though she may not see her slaves as equals, she does have some empathy toward their feelings as human beings; although she is not an abolitionist, per say. As it was previously stated, it was this predicament that brought Mrs. Shelby to her senses of realizing what slavery can do to families. Mr. Shelby says to her that he had no choice. It was to sell these two or everything they owned. Mr. Haley will not stop until he gets what he wants; he is that kind of person. But were there other roads that Mr. Shelby could have gone down? What is the humane choice here?
Since Mrs. Shelby is incapable of reversing the situation at hand, Eliza takes matters into her own hands to protect Harry. She overhears the Shelby’s talking of Harry and Tom’s being sold...