Essay On Slavery In Uncle Tom's Cabin

In Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, there are many characters who argue against slavery. Two of these characters are Mrs. Shelby and Mrs. Bird. These two women, while both opponents of slavery, exhibit some differences in their attitudes, their actions, and in the way that they promote Stowe’s views. The reader’s first impression of these women is of Mrs. Shelby’s opinion of slavery. In chapter five, Stowe describes Mrs. Shelby as “a woman of high class, both intellectually and morally” (pg. 12) with “high moral and religious sensibility and principle” (pg. 13) and gives the impression that she is a kind and caring mistress. However, it also seems that Mrs. Shelby supports the paternalistic belief that blacks are better off being taken …show more content…
Shelby says herself that she finds slavery to be a “deadly evil”, many of her actions seem to contradict this belief. She marries a plantation owner, never even talks about freeing their slaves even after her husband dies, and when Tom, their most trustworthy and loyal slave, is sold she only promises to buy him back, not to free him, a promise which she fails to keep. Even so, Mrs. Shelby does a few things that support her beliefs. When Harry, the son of her personal slave, Eliza, is sold, she helps them both escape and eventually they reach freedom. Mrs. Shelby also allows Tom’s wife to go out and work for wage to help buy back Tom, and she does truly intend to buy back Tom, however Mrs. Shelby allows herself to be distracted by the estate and debts of her late husband, a pressing matter, but a choice that ultimately results in Tom’s death. Mrs. Bird, meanwhile, is true to her word and does break the law to help Eliza, who happens to stop at the Bird’s house during her journey. Mrs. Bird shelters her and provides her with clothing and even some of her late son’s belongings for Harry. So, while Mrs. Shelby has some shortcomings when compared to Mrs. Bird, this is an integral part of Stowe’s