Stowe

Stowe’s interpretation of slavery during her time is without a doubt captivating the human emotional struggle in “Uncle Toms Cabin”. Her use of rhetoric and careful observance of each character allows the reader to invest in the emotion of their lives. In essence, because Stowe’s book was such an influential and popular work it had to have hit a familiar chord with its readers. With Lincoln’s presidency it may be that the movement toward change was steadily on the rise, but Stowe’s book was definitely a catalyst that hasted the change of slavery’s perception as unethical. The most influential exchange happens in Chapter IX between senator Bird and his wife.

“You ought to be ashamed, John! Poor, homeless, houseless creatures! It's a shameful, wicked, abominable law, and I'll break it, for one, the first time I get a chance; and I hope I shall have a chance, I do! Things have got to a pretty pass, if a woman can't give a warm supper and a bed to poor, starving creatures, just because they are slaves, and have been abused and oppressed all their lives, poor things!” “But, Mary, just listen to me. Your feelings are all quite right, dear . . . but, then, dear, we mustn't suffer our feelings to run away with our judgment; you must consider it's not a matter of private feeling,—there are great public interests involved,—there is a state of public agitation rising, that we must put aside our private feelings.” “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.”

Here slavery is condemned as going against Christian morals vs the claim that it was better for society to have laws protecting slavery. Again, the idea of change, more specifically change of thought, re-emerges as individuals are encouraged to think for themselves and say slavery is wrong if they feel it in their inner conscience to be so. The fact that Mr. Bird’s wife was a person who like many good women lived the word of God felt the laws protecting slavery could not condemn her for treating slaves like human beings. In many ways, over time this perception of slaves being treated as people, gradually loosens the seem that kept slavery intact. I believe as more people began to read Stowe, her ideals became a part of cultural thought. Stowe gives slaves a name, a heart, and emotions we can empathize with and ultimately proves their incompatibility with the idea of slavery.