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Summary of Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin unfolds two main storylines, focusing on the Harris family and the character of Uncle Tom.

Mr. Shelby, despite being a kind master, faces financial troubles and is compelled to sell Uncle Tom to a slave trader named Haley. Eliza, a servant in the Shelby household, fears her son Harry will be sold too. To safeguard Harry, Mrs. Shelby and her son flee to Ohio with the help of Senator and Mrs. Bird and a Quaker community. Simultaneously, George Harris, Eliza's husband, decides to escape after realizing he won't be lent to the benevolent factory owner, Mr. Wilson. Despite being pursued by slave catchers, the Harris family successfully reaches Canada.

St. Clare acquires Tom from Haley after a friendship forms between Tom and Little Eva. Miss Ophelia, St. Clare's cousin, takes charge of the household and also assumes responsibility for Topsy. After Little Eva's passing, St. Clare plans to free Tom but is tragically killed before completing the process. Tom is then sold to Simon Legree in Louisiana, where he meets a tragic end for refusing to reveal the whereabouts of runaway slaves Cassy and Emmeline. Cassy eventually joins the Harris family in Canada before they relocate to Africa.

Initially published in installments in the National Era from 1851 to 1852, Uncle Tom’s Cabin gained unprecedented popularity as a best-selling book. While celebrated for its anti-slavery stance, the novel faces criticism for its depiction and characterization of Black people, leading to stereotypical imitations in various forms of media.

Stowe's portrayal of women is also criticized for confining them to moral issues within the domestic sphere. Additionally, the novel reflects an acceptance of Christianity's power that may feel distant to modern readers. These intertwined themes—women's roles, Black representation, and Christianity—form the novel's core, making it a significant literary and political document of the 1850s American experience.

Initial reception labeled the novel as simplistic, melodramatic, and primarily for women and children. Only later, with critical reexamination, did scholars recognize Stowe's endeavor to reshape society from a woman's perspective.

Uncle Tom's Cabin emerged amidst the escalating debate over race and religion, responding to the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law. While criticisms exist, the novel's lasting impact lies in its contribution to the discourse on slavery and its role in shaping perceptions during a pivotal period in American history.