Anna Olsson March 4, 2012 English 8 Compare and Contrast Essay-Uncle Toms and Narrative of F.

Douglas
After reading Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin and The Narrative of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass write a well-developed essay comparing and contrasting how theme of abolitionism emerges from social and cultural contexts of each of the works.

Slavery was of great concern as the newly freed United Nation entered the mid1800s. The abolishment of slavery was a reoccurring theme found in two remarkable works of literature--Harriet Breecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin and Fredrick Douglass biography, A Narrative of Fredrick Douglass. In both books, the perils of slavery were revealed; the idea that Christianity does not make slavery right, the exploitation of slave women, and the damage slavery causes to both the slave population and the white community. In Stowes novel, the pathotic and ethotic strategies played a role in sending the message of the book. In Contrast, The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass is built upon a foundation of knowledge-based messages, the idea that ignorance was a tool to slavery, and knowledge being the way to freedom was revealed. Fredrick Douglass was born the son of a slave owner who had abused the mother-an African slave. The time period he was born into was the era of slavery--he was predominantly considered black and treated like a slave. Mr. Douglass shares his own stories and personal opinions of each matter concerning slavery in his memoir, The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass. By doing so, the theme of abolition is taken more seriously, by some, over the fictional novel, Uncle Toms Cabin, written by a young white woman, Harriett Breecher Stowe. In Stowes novel, a slaves journey was told--one of Tom, George, and Eliza.

Multiple slave owners, Mr. Shelby, Mr. St. Clare, and Simon Legree were among other characters in the novel. Harriett Breecher Stowe molded the story based on her little knowledge of slavery, and the menace reality of the treatment of slaves. Stowe used the natural progression of Toms journey to the south to show the perils of slavery, also included was the treatment of women as a feministic theme in the novel. Fredrick Douglasss memoir pertained to his own opinions and experiences, while Harriett Breecher Stowes fictitious novel is based off of her view of slavery and the abolitionisms message that she attempted to alert the Nation of in result of writing the book. Uncle Tom receives brutal beatings during his time working on Simon Legrees plantation, however is able to withstand such brutality due to his strong belief in God and his strong heart. Even in his last days he continues to change peoples lives, including the two overseers, who caused his death, when he tells them that he forgives them, and hopes they will begin to have faith in God even after he is gone (page #). Fredrick Douglass introduced the idea that all slaves were kept ignorant in order to maintain the slave trade and prevent the abolition of slavery. On multiple accounts, a young Mr. Douglass had to hide his literary skills in order to protect his life. On pages 60-65 in his book, he tells of repeatedly sneaking into his owners house to read and transcribe books in the study. In Douglasss memoir, the damage that slavery caused to slave owners is brought into discussion. Douglass found that slave owners felt the urge to rape or physically abuse female slaves, resulting in the fathering of mixed children. Chapters 35 to 38 in Uncle Toms Cabin portray Simon Legree abusing Cassy on nightly bases, forcing her to sleep

with him and do fulfill obscene requests. As the abuse of slaves was revealed, the theme of abolition rose. The final theme presented in both texts suggests the prevision of Christianity is demonstrated in slavery. In both pieces of writing, slaves are continuously beaten, sold, and mistreated by white men, who are under the assumption that slaves are property, rather than moral human beings. They claim their actions are in no way a violation to the Christianity, as the bible often references slavery. Even at a young age, Fredrick Douglass witnesses brutal beatings to fellow slaves (page 27), and in UTC, almost all the slaves mentioned had been beaten more than once. A new era of independence also ignited new complications for a new Nation. One of these problems was the abolition and morality of slavery. In The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass and Uncle Toms Cabin, two exceptional novels of the time period, different perspectives have an impact on how the theme was revealed. Harriett Breecher Stowe was a white woman of the time, and the characters in her novel were based off her limited understanding of a slaves life. Fredrick Douglass was born a slave and wrote his memoir based on personal experiences and the indiscretions witnessed that would be carved into his memory forever. However, in the end, both novels communicated the theme loud and clear, for the Nation, and continuously into history.