Blog Post 2-Stowe

In the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, author Harriet Beecher Stowe uses emotion to influence and persuade her audience to take a stance against cultural norms. Stowe introduces the character Eliza who is a slave as well as a maid for Mrs. Shelby. Eliza is incredibly intelligent and very brave; she decided to escape from the south to the north after she learned about Mr. Shelby’s plans to sell her son Harry. On her voyage North with help from Mr. Haley, she is able to reach the Ohio River. When describing Eliza’s treacherous journey to the North across the Ohio River, Stowe writes: “Right on behind they came; and, nerved with strength such as God gives only to the desperate, with one wild cry and flying leap, she vaulted sheer over the turbid current by the shore, on to the raft of ice beyond. It was a desperate leap- impossible to anything but madness and despair; and Haley, Sam, and Andy, instinctively cried out, and lifted up their hands, as she did it,” (Chapter VII). Through this dramatic scene, it is clear that Eliza possesses a strong moral power to persevere through tragedy in an effort to gain freedom for her and her son. Stowe uses descriptive words emphasize how slavery is not justified through religion. In this passage religion gives Eliza strength to overcome oppression and gain freedom. This passage is important for two reasons, first it conveys the amount of power that women possess and second it conveys that religion values are at odds with slavery. This argument is particularly powerful considering it refutes the argument and the way that religion was used to justify the slave trade and the cruel acts of slave masters.

In chapter 9 Stowe uses emotion and the theme of religion to make a moral argument against slavery. In an attempt to convince her audience Stowe uses faith to argue that slavery and ignoring the needs of slaves is morally wrong. Since a large portion of Stowe’s audience is made up of Christians and women, making an emotional argument for religion and women is extremely persuasive. In this chapter Senator Byrd and Mrs. Byrd argue over slavery and a law that is similar to the Fugitive Slave Act. Senator Byrd supported the law while Mrs. Byrd passionately argues that the law is unjust. When describing the argument over slavery that Senator Byrd and Mrs. Byrd were having, Stowe quotes Mrs. Byrd as saying: “Now, John, I don’t know anything about politics, but I can read my Bible; and there I see that I must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the desolate; and that Bible I mean to follow,” (Chapter IX). Through self-reliance Mrs. Byrd is able to justify her views and argue that Christianity and slavery are contrary to one another. This argument was so intense because the end of slavery would create economic consequences for all slaveholders in the south. Thus, winning the moral argument is just a step in ending the slave trade and the cruel punishment used to oppress slaves. Using religion, as an argument for the abolition of slavery is incredibly powerful and persuasive considering that religion was a key part of most people’s lives during this time frame.