Uncle Tom's Cabin Religion

In Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin addresses the situation of slavery back in the 1850’s. The book is about Tom and Harry, two slaves who are sold when Shelby, their master, falls into debt. Harry’s mother, Eliza, decides to run away to Canada, so she is not separated from her son and where they will finally be free. Rather than running away, Tom decides to stay and be sold to the St. Clare family. After a tragic death in the St. Clare family, Tom is sold again, but to a cruel master. Even though the book may have a great story, it gives a look into the past. The novel shows how religion helped people see past slaves’ differences and build hope amongst slaves, in what way slaves lived, and the evil of slavery.
Harriet Beecher Stowe relied heavily on …show more content…
Slaves did the best they could do with what they were given, most didn’t dare to complain in fear of a punishment (Black Peoples of America - How Slaves Lived par. 1). In the beginning of the story it is shown that Tom had an incredible lifestyle with the Shelby’s and St. Clare’s. Both families provided him with comfortable clothing, a suitable place to sleep, and enough food to eat. Then at last, he ends up with Simon Legree, his final master. When he arrives at the Legree plantation it is different from the others, it has a very foul smell and isn’t kept very clean. Unlike his other homes, Tom has to sleep in a crowded hut, with no room to sleep and a tattered blanket that gives him no warmth (Stowe 375). The owner would provide clothing, but they were ill fitting and made out of rough materials (Black Peoples of America - How Slaves Lived par. 3). Before Tom arrives at the Legree plantation, Legree throws Tom’s belongings into the river and makes him wear coarse stout shoes, which were common for slaves (Stowe 361). At this part of the book it can be seen how slaves lived and the way they were