Uncle Tom's Cabin

Capitola and Gerty both had an awful childhood and an extremely tough time trying to survive. Their stories showed us the good side to American society. There were good and loving strangers that picked these poor kids up and literally saved their lives. In contrast to every text that we have studied and read so far, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is showing us the negative side to American society. It is going against the reoccurring theme of “good” and “hope” by showing us how dark this time period of slavery was.

Although this was a horrible time in American history, there were a few occurrences where “good” people came about and I felt a sense of hope. Eliza had no other option but to run with her boy. Though her master was good to her and she had a great place to be, her master was in debt and was forced to sell Eliza’s only baby boy still alive. Eliza and her boy miraculously made it across the icy river and I felt a sense of hope as she showed up at Mr. and Mrs. Bird’s home. We saw the common theme of good here when Mrs. Bird told Eliza, “Nobody shall hurt you here, poor woman, you are safe; don’t be afraid.”

John Van Trompe is another example of the reoccurring theme of “good.” He spent all of his money so that he could build a secret place in the woods for his slaves. As George came to see Tom right before he was sent away, he said to the trader, “I should think you’d be ashamed to spend all your life buying men and women, and chaining them like cattle! I should think you’d feel mean!”

Again, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is different from anything that we have read so far because it goes against the idea that our society is good. On the other hand, it does show a few different scenarios where hope is present with some “good” people who were trying to put an end to slavery.