《汤姆叔叔的小屋》中汤姆的人物分析(英文) 2

毕业论文

题目An Analysis of the Character Tom in the Novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin

学生姓名：

指导教师：________ ______________ 外语系英语专业班

2010年6月13日

毕业论文任务书

摘要

斯托夫人笔下的汤姆叔叔虽是奴隶制度下的一个牺牲品，但却是人类精神至高无上的楷模。他用基督教式的博爱温暖了无数穷苦人民，其伟大的牺牲精神使无数后人黯然落泪，更使无数上层统治者心惊胆怯。人们无法忘记诚实、忠心的汤姆叔叔如何竭尽全力的维护自己的主人；更无法忘记如此温顺的汤姆叔叔为了坚守信仰竟以死向敌人反抗。在物欲横流的当今世界，汤姆叔叔以其无私、纯洁、高尚的精神教化着人类的灵魂。

关键词：汤姆叔叔，诚实，忠心，反抗

ABSTRACT

Uncle Tom, the hero in the writing of Harriet Beecher Stowe, was a sacrifice of slavery. However, he was a supreme model of human spirit. With his Christian love, he comforted numerous people who were suffering poverty and misery. His spirit of sacrifice made many off-springs weep, and shocked and feared a lot of upper rulers. Nowadays, people always remember the honest and loyal Uncle Tom who makes every effort to protect his master. Also, people remember that in order to keep his Christian faith such an obedient Uncle Tom dared to resist his master. In this monetary world today, Uncle Tom?s spirit of selflessness, purity and nobility edify human?s soul.

KEY WORDS: Uncle Tom, honest, loyal, resist

Contents

Introduction (9)

Chapter One Uncle Tom?s Obedience (11)

1.1Uncle Tom?s Honesty (11)

1.2Uncle Tom?s Loyalty (12)

1.2.1 His loyalty to Mr. Shelby (12)

1.2.2 His loyalty to Augustine St. Clare (13)

Chapter Two Uncle Tom?s Christian Love for Humanity (15)

2.1 Uncle Tom?s Love for the Blacks and the Low (15)

2.2 Uncle Tom?s Love for the Whites (16)

2.2.1 His love for George Shelby (16)

2.2.2 His love for Evangeline (17)

2.3 Uncle Tom?s Love for His Enemies (19)

Chapter Three Uncle Tom?s Disobedience of Gentle Impulse (19)

Chapter Four Uncle Tom?s Tragic Ending (23)

4.1 Comparison Between George Harris and Uncle Tom (23)

4.1.1 George Harris?s struggle for freedom (23)

4.1.2 Uncle Tom?s sacrifice for freedom (24)

4.2 Introspection of Uncle Tom?s Death (26)

Conclusion (28)

Acknowledgements (29)

Bibliography (30)

Introduction

In 1861, the war between South and North broke out on American land; in 1861, the war of slavery emancipation which erupted in America and permeated into the rest of the world made the whole world shaking. The whole humanity was angry, and the whole negroes were crying… Harriet Beecher Stowe, the little woman who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was actually the person who waged the war in literal field. Influenced by Calvinism, and seeing salves?poor life and slave owners?cruelty in America, Stowe determined to write a book to expose the American law, to show her sympathy on the miserable slaves and to remind the whites?and the whole world?s humanity. The book was called Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin was mainly written into two parts. For one part, it narrated George Harris and her wife Eliza?s struggle for freedom. Hardly could they bear the American slavery system which would part them and sell their boy, they decided to escape and fled into a free country. Through all difficulties and dangers, they finally reached their ideal land, Canada. For the other part, the book described the protagonist, Uncle Tom?s ups and downs in his whole life. Unlike George Harris, Uncle Tom accepted all prosperities and adversities befalling upon him, he accepted them sedately and meekly by the support of his Christian religion. However, though the Lord could comfort his soul, he could not protect his body. Under the evil law and evil slavery, Uncle Tom was whipped to death by the cruel slave owner. Not only did the author Harriet Beecher Stowe exalt George Harris?s bravery, but also she sympathized Uncle Tom?s tragedy, and admired his Christian spirit. For the latter one, Stowe had poured out all her efforts and affection, and the topic of this thesis is to analyze Uncle Tom?s characteristics.

As to Uncle Tom?s characteristics in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, many foreign and domestic scholars have expressed their viewpoints; among them, some appraised Uncle Tom and some criticized him. For example, in Uncle Tom’s Image of Xue Yufeng (2002), she thought that Uncle Tom was not only an affectionate Christian, but also a real man who always kept his promise, and stuck to his principles. He was a

brave, strong and integral hero who faced death unflinchingly. Another Chinese writer Lin Yuting (2008) set a “black Christ image”for Uncle Tom in her Resistance or Submission. She stated that Uncle Tom was the incarnation of “love” and “goodness”whose behavior complied with Christian theory completely. He demonstrated the Christian doctrine of “love is all” and “return good for evil” through his own deeds. The foreign abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison said that Uncle Tom was “the true moral representative of goodness with great and inconvincible spirit” (1854). Activist Mary Church Terrell also said “Standing before the poor old Tom, who would not wipe his eyes; although on identity he was a slave, in mind he was philosopher, and in the heart a sage, in death a martyrs” (1911: ). However, in the eyes of other critics, Uncle Tom was not a “Hard Hero”at all. Abolitionist Charles Whipple criticized “Long—term silently succumbing to the owner of slave is complicity… The duty of man or Christians is not only against it, but if had the ability, to stop it with the appropriate way… Whether from the aspect of man?s character or from the aspect of Christian personality, I don?t think Tom is the most sublime example, because he has close relationship with slave owners” (1860: ).

As the old saying goes, “Gold can?t be pure and man can?t be perfect”. Though Uncle Tom has his own personal failings and different critics have different opinions toward him, no one would deny that he is an honest, loyal and affectionate man. This thesis will depict Uncle Tom as a miserable, poor but sublimate, admirable slave. It is constituted of four parts. In chapter one, it describes Uncle Tom?s obedience of honesty and loyalty to his different masters. Chapter two is to represent Uncle Tom?s love for humanity through his Christian religion. And the next chapter is to disproof other critics?opinion of Uncle Tom?s cowardice through his gentle impulse against Legree. For the last chapter, the thesis will sublimate Uncle Tom?s greatness through George Harris?s adverse selection.

Chapter One Uncle Tom’s Obedience

When people speak of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the first thing they thought of is Uncle Tom’s Cabin; and when people speak of Uncle Tom, the first thing in their mind is Uncle Tom?s obedience. No matter the master is generous or not, Uncle Tom is always honest and loyal to them.

1.1Uncle Tom’s Honesty

Though some critics criticized Uncle Tom?s cowardice of sitting down under whatever might come, they could not deny his extraordinary honesty.

At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Shelby, the first and most generous master of Uncle Tom, recommended Uncle Tom?s honesty when discussing with his creditor, Haley, to whom he owed a lot sum of money that could not be paid off easily. Though Mr. Shelby was reluctant, he resorted to sell Tom to clear the debt, and he believed that Uncle Tom was absolutely worth the amount. Mr. Shelby said that Uncle Tom was his favorite pet and a “genuine article”, a pious, steady, sensible, uncommon fellow. He trusted him without question and let him come and go around the country freely, managing his money, house, and horse. Everything he had, he would ask Uncle Tom to deal with them, and many years? success and fruits found Uncle Tom true and square in everything, and his honesty won the highest place in front of Mr. Shelby.

During Mr. Shelby?s talking with Haley, there is one thing that could testify Tom?s honesty to the utmost. It was one fall, Mr. Shelby asked Tom to go to Cincinnati alone, to do business for him, and bring home five hundred dollars. “…Tom?,” Mr. Shelby said to him, …I trust you because I think you are a Christian—I know you wouldn?t cheat?” (Stowe 1999: 2). Surely, Tom came back, with that sum of money, and some fellow said to him, “Tom, why don?t you make tracks for Canada?”, but Tom answered them “Ah, master trusted me, and I couldn?t” (Stowe 1999: 2). It was because of such a real thing of Uncle Tom that Mr. Shelby demanded to let him cover the whole balance of the debt.

Uncle Tom?s honesty, not only made him the most important negro before Master Shelby, but also before his new master, St. Clare, after he was sold to him. St. Clare was indolent and careless of money. Hitherto all the providing and marketing had been principally done by Adolph, the slave supervisor who was to the full, as careless and extravagant as his master. Both of St. Clare and Adolph had carried on the dispersing process with great alacrity. However, Uncle Tom had been accustomed for many years to regard his master?s property as his own. Thus when he saw, with an uneasiness he could scarcely repress, the wasteful expenditure of the establishment, he would sometimes make his suggestions in the quiet, indirect way which his class often acquired. At first, St. Clare adopted his suggestions occasionally. Later, being stuck with his soundness of mind and good business capacity and morality, he confided in him more and more, till gradually all the marketing and providing for the family were entrusted to him. Uncle Tom, trusted to an unlimited extent by a careless master, who handed him a bill without looking at it, and pocketed him the charge without counting it, had every facility and temptation to dishonesty, but an nature of impregnable honesty, strengthened by Christian faith, kept him from it.

From Mr. Shelby to St. Clare, though tempted by freedom and money, Uncle Tom stuck to his principles all the time. He testified his integral character by his own honesty and won others? trust.

1.2Uncle Tom’s Loyalty

Similar to his honesty, Uncle Tom?s loyalty was mainly reflected through Master Shelby and Master St. Clare.

1.2.1His loyalty to Mr. Shelby

When reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin, one could not forget how mindfully Uncle Tom protected his master when the master decided to sell him to South. “You have heard what she said! If I must be sold, or all the people on the place and everything go to rack, why, let me be sold” (Stowe 1999:38). Uncle Tom understood that had his master had any other expediency, he would not sell his favorite Tom. As a master, his liability was more to save other slaves in his house than to protect him, but Uncle Tom

had never complained or blamed. However, as a slave, Uncle Tom had already earned Mr. Shelby the money all he got for him, and even twice more; and Mr. Shelby ought to let him go two years ago, and should have given him the passport and guaranteed to return freedom to him. Now, though he couldn?t help himself, he meant to sell him. On the other part, Uncle Tom, loyal as he was, not only refused Eliza?s suggestion to escape, but also determined to stay and help his master and other negroes on the place. “Master always found me on the spot, —he always will. I never have broke trust, nor used my pass no ways contrary to my word, and I never will. It?s better for me alone to go, than to break up the place and sell all. Master is not to blame” (Stowe 1999: 38). That was the poor Uncle Tom?s choice, great Uncle Tom?s choice. Even when he was sold to other masters later, he never forgot his ex-master, especially his little master George Shelby, who taught him reading and writing, and whose penny he always kept under the liner no matter where he went, dreaming that one day his young master would bring him back home. For Uncle Tom, he who teaches him one day is his teacher for life, he will always be loyal to his masters.

1.2.2 His Loyalty to Augustine St. Clare

As St. Clare was an indolent and careless master, it was Uncle Tom who managed the whole house and marketing for him. Being more idealistic than practical, St. Clare knew that he was indulgent to his slaves, but he was too lazy to educate them. So he let them make him all sorts of trouble and never lifted a finger. Exactly did he know the evil of slavery, and more did he know that the problem of slavery was the problem of American laws, for which iniquity American Whites should be responsible. However, he just kept himself away from all of these matters, and acted as an outsider. But Uncle Tom, who knew all the thoughts of his master, including his profound ideas and helpless laziness, identified him as a non-Christian, for his master never went to church, always spent his Sunday evenings at the opera or theatre, and went to wine parties, and clubs, and suppers, oftener than was at all expedient. Nevertheless, Uncle Tom seldom expressed to anyone else, but founded many prayers on his master, when he was by himself in his little dormitory.

One evening, St. Clare was invited out to a convivial party, and was helped home at midnight, in a condition when the body had decidedly attained the upper hand of the mind, Uncle Tom lied awake the rest of the night, praying for his drunk master. The next day, he spoke his mind to him: “I feel very bad, Master. I always have thought that Master would be good to everybody… Master has always been good to me, I haven?t nothing complain of, on that head. But there is some Master isn?t good to. Master isn?t good to himself”(Stowe 1999:202). At that moment, St. Clare was much astonished with Tom?s words, being moved to great extent. He never thought of such a considerate and loyal Tom, and from then on, he determined to keep his promise to give up bad habits. Later, when St. Clare?s daughter died at an early age, Uncle Tom accompanied him day and night. Few conciliated words had he said, he just stayed with St. Clare silently and appeared anywhere he was needed by his young master, until the last minute of the latter?s life.

Chapter Two Uncle Tom’s Christian Love for Humanity

Honesty and loyalty were not only the simple nature of Uncle Tom, but also basic beliefs of a Christian. As a Christian, Uncle Tom possesses all the characters a Christian should possess, such as fraternity, faith, forgiveness and endurance, let alone honesty and loyalty. As the writer Lin Yuting (2008) said, Uncle Tom was the incarnation of “love” and “goodness”, disseminating the Christian doctrine of “love is all” through his own deeds, and people respected him as their priest. He loves all the people around him, no matter poor or rich, up or low, friends or enemies.

2.1 Uncle Tom’s Love for the Blacks and the Low

In that society of America, Uncle Tom?s fellow negroes—the lowest class, including their off springs，belonged to slave owners? personal property. Their lives were totally rested on their masters, and they were not entitled to own their wives and children but watched them being sold and killed. However, Uncle Tom believed that one day the negroes would be the master of the world, no longer being despised and trodden down. They would perhaps show forth some of the latest and most magnificent revelations of human life; and they would exhibit the highest form of the peculiarly Christian life. As God chastened who He loved, He knew that He had chosen poor negroes in the furnace of affliction, to make them the highest and noblest in that kingdom, which He would set up, when every other kingdom had been tried, and failed; for the first should be the last, and the last first.

Uncle Tom believed that they were God?s chosen people, and always would they be. So when Uncle Tom saw old Prue, the poor slave who addicted herself to drinking to forget all the miseries that befell on her, he tried to persuade her to leave off drinking, which in his eyes would be the ruin of human?s body and soul: “Oh, Lord have mercy on you poor creature. Haven?t y ou ever heard of Jesus Christ; that loved us poor sinners, and died for us” (Stowe 1999:125)? After being told her story that in order to please her master she had to listen to her baby crying to death, and for this she began to doubt God?s existence, Uncle Tom still consoled her of God?s fraternity:

“Oh, poor creature! Haven?t nobody never told you how the lord Jesus loved you, and died for you? Haven?t they told you that he?ll help you, and you can go to heaven, and have rest, at last” (Stowe 1999:216)? Though Prue died at last, Uncle Tom?s comfort was born in her heart.

Lucy, another inferior slave on Master Legree?s plantation, weak and strong-willed, was much tortured by the master for her loyalty to her husband and refused to be married to another one. So anything she did would be found wrong and any anger would purposely result from her. Seeing this, Uncle Tom couldn?t help giving his mercy on her; he helped her ground beans for dinner, and in order to pass the inspection, he crammed his own cotton to her basket. Though being whipped himself, he never obeyed the master?s order to give a whip on poor Lucy. It was not only Prue and Lucy that Uncle Tom poured his love into, but to all inferior ones he was kind and merciful. He was the priest of other slaves around him; he assisted the desperate Eliza to escape with her child; he exchanged his own life for Cassy and Emeline?s freedom; for those poor creatures he convinced them of God?s generosity and equality. He believed that only if they negroes work hard, would they be helped by God, and all their miseries in this world would be happiness in the next, for the Lord loved his ill children and would put his holy hand on their heads himself.

2.2Uncle Tom’s Love for the Whites

Rich or poor, weak or strong, the Lord loves his children equally, and so was Uncle Tom, who loved his masters as much as his fellows. His love for masters, with some what of respect and admiration, differed from his love for the blacks. Especially as to his young master George Shelby and Evangeline, who were angels and G od?s evangelists to him, he loved them more than anything.

2.2.1 His love for George Shelby

As George Shelby was the highest and most distinguished guest in Uncle Tom?s little cabin, so all of Aunt Chloe?s delicious food was prepared for him. His gentleness, simple knowledge, and beautiful voice of reading, were all obsessions to the family. Now and then, the family was attracted by his laugh in the little cabin; here and there

in corners, it could be found Uncle Tom learning from him; and many Sunday?s nights the family listened to his reading of Bible sincerely. For them, George Shelby was the angel that was sent by God to comfort them, and Uncle Tom loved him just as he loved the God. So when Uncle Tom was informed of his selling and leaving from Shelby house, never did he have any complaints but only one hope to see his young master again. His tears were down when he saw George Shelby?s horse after him on his way to South: “Oh, Master George! This does me good! I couldn?t bear to go off without seeing you! It does me real good, you can?t tell”(Stowe 1999:99)! On that moment of dispatch, George Shelby reproached his parents?cruelty of selling Tom, but Tom still admonished him to be a good son and good Christian, “And now, Master George, you must be a good boy. Remember how many hearts are set on you… Real gentleman, such as I hope you?ll be, never let fall no words that isn?t respectful to your parents” (Stowe 1999:100). Uncle Tom wished that when his young master grew up, he would be the proud of his father and mother, and all the people on the place. He wished him to be a good master, like his father; be a good Christian, like his mother. However, day and day went after their parting, year and year passed, the old Tom and his young master didn?t meet again until the last moment of Uncle Tom?s life. When George Shelby grew up, and eventually came for him, he was whipped to the last breathe by Legree. Death, he did not fear, but he couldn?t bear to leave off without seeing his young master, whose name he had spoken of many times in his heart when he was by himself. Seeing him, finally, he died smilingly. It was Uncle Tom that influenced George Shelby the most, and for whom George Shelby determined to be a slave emancipator.

2.2.2 His love for Evangeline

Eva?s appearance ha d dispersed Uncle Tom?s grief after he left Mr. Shelby?s place. With a benevolent master of St. Clare, and a lovely angel of Eva, Uncle Tom restored himself and was quickly immersed in happiness again. When Uncle Tom first saw Eva, whose form was the perfection of childish beauty, with an undulating and aerial grace, and who was always dressed in white, always with a half-smile on her rosy mouth, flying here and there as in a happy dream, he believed that he saw one of

the angels stepped out of his New Testament, and when he was finally brought to her house, being a protector, a companion of her, he thought it was the best life he had imagined.

It would be hard to say in which place of Uncle Tom?s soft, impressible heart little Eva held. Uncle Tom loved her as something frail and earthly, yet almost worshipped her as something heavenly and divine. He gazed at her as the Italian sailor gazed at the image of the child Jesus, —with a mixture of reverence and tenderness. Every morning in the market, Uncle Tom?s eyes were always on the flower-stalls for Eva, and the choicest peace or orange was slipped into his pocket to give to her when he came back; and the sight that pleased him most was that Eva?s sunny head looked out of the gate for his distant approach, and her childish questions, —“Well, Uncle Tom, what have you got for me today”(Stowe 1999:256)? However, day by day, though their friendship had grown with the child?s growth, her decaying health and growing pre-mature mind worried Uncle Tom more and more. Bible, the best bond of their hearts and minds, was talked by them oftener and oftener as the true heaven was approaching Eva nearer and nearer. “Where do you suppose New Jerusalem is, Uncle Tom,”said Eva one day. “Oh, up in the clouds, Miss Eva.”“Then I think I see it”(Stowe 1999:257). And when Uncle Tom was singing the well-known Methodist hymn “spirits bright”for her, she said that she had already saw those spirits who always came to her in her sleep. Uncle Tom had no doubt of it at all; for it didn?t surprise him in the least. If Eva had told him she had been to heaven, he would believe it entirely. The child?s increasing illness and maturity of mind and feelings were all known by Uncle Tom, sometimes he clasped her in his arms, as if that fond clasp would save her and keep her; clearly did he know that his angel would be gone, for her true Father was calling her. “Uncle Tom, I can understand why Jesus wanted to die for us. I?ve felt so, too. When I saw those poor creatures, —some had lost their mothers, and some their husbands, and some mothers cried for their little children, —and when I heard poor Prue, —Oh, wasn?t that dreadful!—and a great many other times I?ve felt that I would be glad to die, if my dying could stop all this misery, I would die for them, Tom, if I could” (Stowe 1999:372). Nobody could understand but

Tom that such words were spoken out from such a girl, whose words were exactly what was in Uncle Tom?s heart. And eventually, Eva died; sorrowful as Uncle Tom was, he knew his angel was returning to her eternal world.

Eva died, but in the eyes of Uncle Tom, she died for her poor creatures. As the evangelist of God, when her responsibility was performed in this world, she should go back home. And in the eyes of readers of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Uncle Tom was also a sage like Eva; he was another …Jesus Christ” that loved all creatures in the world, for whom he sacrificed himself at last. So, when Eva died, it was also a portent to Uncle Tom?s death; and when he had fulfilled his duties, he would also go back to the Father.

2.3 Uncle Tom’s Love for His Enemies

The most evaluable quality of a Christian is love, and the highest level of love is the equality of love. Uncle Tom, whose love balanced from racial discrimination and hostility, fulfilled all these principles. Not only did he love the blacks and whites, but also he loved his enemies as well. This could be best shown by his forgiveness to Master Legree, the evilest slave owner that treaded his slaves inhumanly, and towards Uncle Tom he buried his deep hatred. Uncle Tom?s Christian love, which influenced many other slaves in the place, dispersed the dark clouds always hanging over Legree?s plantation, and this fundamentally offended Legree?s interests, the king of the evil. So from everywhere and everything Legree would found troubles on Uncle Tom, since his final aim was to discipline Uncle Tom as an evil man as he himself. When Uncle Tom helped others, he himself would be punished; when he fixed his righteous, firm eyes on Legree?s face, his own face would be boxed instantly. Though Uncle Tom was tortured to a degree that one could no longer bear, and even whipped to death at last, he never lowered his head to Legree or hated him; he forgave him and showed his Christian love for him, “Master, if you was sick or in trouble, or dying, and I could save you, I?d give you my heart?s blood; and if taking every drop of blood in this poor old body would save your precious soul, I?d give them freely, as the Lord gives his for me. Oh, Master! Don?t bring this great sin on your soul! It will hurt you

more than it wills me! Do the worst you can, my troubles will be over soon; but, if you don?t repent, yours would never end” (Stowe 1999:404)! And the last sentence he said to his enemy was: “Your poor miserable creature! There are no more you can do!

I forgive you, with all my soul” (Stowe 1999:405).

There is no such a loyal Christian but Uncle Tom, no such a real human but Uncle Tom, and no such a loyal child of Jesus but Uncle Tom. He harbored his love for the whole humanity and the whole world!

Chapter Three Uncle Tom’s Disobedience of Gentle Impulse

Since ancient times, many critics had defined Uncle Tom as the representative of those who sat down under whatever adversities might come. “Uncle Tomism”had ever been the derogatory word for those blacks who depreciated themselves to flatter white rulers. Even there were people who criticized Uncle Tom as the opposite representative of blacks, for he was only a slave entirely submissive to his master. All those criticism of Uncle Tom was mostly due to the fact that he had had chances to escape twice: for one chance when he was told to be sold by Mr. Shelby, he could use the passport to escape, and for the other chance when he was tortured by Legree, he could choose to escape with Cassy and Emeline, but he relinquished these chances and stayed to wait for God?s determination. However, it was not for Uncle Tom?s cowardice but greatness that he sacrificed his freedom. The reason for his resolution to stay on Shelby?s place was to save other slaves there, and why he refused to escape with Cassy was to keep his faith in Lord. Uncle Tom was not a coward in the least, but a brave and strong hero. Though Uncle Tom?s was obedient and full of gentle love to humanity, he has his own principles and disobedience too. Such gentle impulse was mainly shown from his disobedience against Legree.

Uncle Tom loved his enemy, Legree, but it didn?t mean that Uncle Tom was tame and docile. He loved him because he wanted to edify him with love; once there was something going against his principles and faith, he would never submit, and never had he. When his assistance to poor Lucy incurred Legree?s hatred and revenge, and was ordered to whip Lucy, he didn?t obey but answered: “I beg Master?s pardon, and hopes Master won?t set me at that. It?s what I?m not used to, —never did, —and can?t do, no way possible. I?m willing to work, night and day, and work while there?s life and breath in me; but this thing I can?t feel it right to do; and Master, I never shall do it, —never”(Stowe 1999:350). Such stubborn refusal ignited Legree?s wrath to the utmost, for he thought that the slaves should bow themselves to their masters completely, and he had paid down twelve dollars for all there was inside Uncle Tom?s old cussed black shell; in his eyes, Uncle Tom?s whole body and soul belonged to him,

but now he was resisted by his slave. Even so, Uncle Tom was not frightened; he retorted and denied his soul belonging to Legree as he declared: “No! No! No! My soul isn?t yours, Master! You haven?t bought it, —you can?t buy it! It?s been bought and paid for, by one that is able to keep it; —no matter, no matter, you can?t harm me!” (Stowe 1999:351); and the one that was able to keep his soul was the holy Lord.

Though Uncle Tom was an obedient, “yes”slave on appearance, in his heart, nothing could, and would make him betray his principles and faith. He was a genuine “Hard Hero”.

Chapter Four Uncle Tom’s Tragic Ending

Hard hero as Uncle Tom, he died at last. No matter they appraised or criticized him, people felt sad about his death. And compared with George Harris? happy ending, Uncle Tom?s tragedy lied in history as a forever scar in peopl e?s heart.

4.1 Comparison Between George Harris and Uncle Tom

As the novel ended, Uncle Tom died. His death was the consequence of slavery in that society. But there was also an opposite ending of American slavery; it was George Harris, another slave depicted by Harriet Beecher Stow in the novel; he was in everything the opposite image of Uncle Tom. Both being slaves, Uncle Tom and George Harris were representatives of two entirely different types of slaves. For one type of Uncle Tom, endurance was his best trick against adversities; and for the other type of George Harris, in order to protect his family and obtain freedom, he would struggle to the last minute of his life. Someone said that it was their distinctive characters that resulted in their opposite endings, and here, the thesis will analyze both of their characteristics, to show why they had different fates, and why Uncle Tom was bound to be a tragedy.

4.1.1 George Harris’ struggle for freedom

As an egalitarian believer, George Harris could n?t understand why Lord classified His children and chastened the poor ones. As much a man as the whites, George Harris wondered who had made the whites his masters, and what right the whites had to him; perhaps, he was even a better man than they were; he maybe knew more about business than they did; and could read better and write a better hand than they, and was even a better manager than some of them. It was all by himself that George Harris learned all these skills, and there was no thanks to his master. He wondered what right his master had to make him a dray horse, to take him from his wife and child, and put him to the hardest, meanest, and dirtiest work. He didn?t believe in God, for God was always on the whites? side; He had seen all the miseries