Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
numerous instances of dichotomy that help to show the contrast between good and
evil. This dichotomy although prevalent in many aspects of the novel, really shines
through when you look at the slave owners George Shelby and Simon Legree.
characteristics that define each individual morally and allow the reader to clearly
see the different political and social arguments. What are the major differences
that Stowe uses to separate Shelby and Legree to provide the reader with a clear
image of each character? There are many traits that are vital to creating this
distinction but, I feel that focuses on some of the more important ones such as
religion, political stance, physical interaction, house structure and childhood will
From the start of the novel we are introduced to the Shelby farm which
seems like a peaceful and quiet place. Stowe does a good job of making the reader
feel the happiness of all the characters that live and work on the farm. The start of
chapter 4 introduces the reader to the living quarters of some of the Shelby slaves:
“The cabin of Uncle Tom was a small log building, close adjoining to "the
house," as the negro par excellence designates his master's dwelling. In front
it had a neat garden-patch, where, every summer, strawberries, raspberries,
and a variety of fruits and vegetables, flourished under careful tending. The
whole front of it was covered by a large scarlet bignonia and a native
multiflora rose, which, entwisting and interlacing, left scarce a vestige of the
rough logs to be seen. Here, also, in summer, various brilliant annuals, such
as marigolds, petunias, four-o'clocks, found an indulgent corner in which to
unfold their splendors, and were the delight and pride of Aunt Chloe's heart.”
(66)
As you can see from the description the House of Uncle Tom and Chloe is far
superior to many slave houses of this time. The harmonic atmosphere that we find
plantation. The plantation is a dark and dreary atmosphere that Legree says “is
well suitable for knocking down niggers”. From these two opening scenes that
introduce both farms we are able to distinguish the kind of atmosphere that each
provides for the slaves. Back on the Shelby farm we find a strong bond between
the slaves and Shelby. Stowe has Shelby and the slaves interacting closely with
one another, whether that is when they are eating or Mas’r George is teaching Tom
how to read and write. On the Legree plantation there is a great divide from the
owner and the slaves. Legree does not interact with the slaves except when he is
punishing them or barking out orders. It is clear here that Stowe is trying to show
the drastic differences that represent the Shelby farm from the terrors of the Legree
plantation.
The atmosphere of both settings isn’t the only difference that Stowe uses in
the novel to develop her characters. Looking closer at family upbringing we find
that Shelby was treated far more kindly by his father than was Legree which could
depicted as a man that was taught well by his parents to treat every human being
with respect no matter the color of their skin. If we look at Legree on the other
hand we find that his father was a drunk that neglected him from the essential
do know that his mother was gracious women that gave her last breathe to try and
raise Legree proper. This however appears too irrelevant as Legree takes after his
father and ends up becoming just as twisted. Here Stowe shows the major impacts
that each character up bringing has on their morality in the novel. It becomes
increasingly more clear that the family orientated upbringing that George Shelby
experienced created a far more morally sound person than Legree’s dysfunctional
childhood.
One of the major aspects that Stowe enforces on the reader is religion and
background and we see this through many interactions where he is reading the
bible or teaching others about it. From early on in the novel we find Georges
religion a crucial importance to his relationship with the slaves and how he treats
them. A specific example of this religious base is seen when Uncle Tom talks about
“Mas'r George, by request, read the last chapters of Revelation, often interrupted by such
exclamations as "The sakes now!" "Only hear that!" "Jest think on 't!" "Is all that a comin'
sure enough?"
George, who was a bright boy, and well trained in religious things by his mother, finding
himself an object of general admiration, threw in expositions of his own, from time to
time, with a commendable seriousness and gravity, for which he was admired by the
young and blessed by the old; and it was agreed, on all hands, that "a minister couldn't lay it off
better than he did; that "'t was reely 'mazin'!".(78)
heavily in his attitudes toward others. At the Legree plantation there is an absence
of religion which Stowe helps to strengthen the evilness of Legree. Not only is there
purchased Tom he noticed that he was holding a prayer book. He quickly took it
away from Tom saying that there will be no religion tolerated on his plantation. The
good or evil that each one posses. The most blatant contrast that exists between
the two houses is shown in Stowe’s descriptive nature about the physical interaction
between owner and slave. At the Shelby farm there is no physical confrontation
between George and the slaves. They seem to coexist together and if something
Legree plantation shows a different side of the social spectrum, which is riddled
with beating and torture. This is shown clearly in the scene where Legree
commands Tom to whip his fellow slaves and he refuses. As punishment Legree
tells his overseers to whip Tom until he understands who is in charge. Tom is
beaten so badly that he almost dies. This is not the only time that we see an
altercation that leads to physical violence. At the end of the novel Tom’s character
eventually drives Legree over the edge and Legree beats Tom so bad that he ends
up killing him. The dichotomy of the two houses shown through physical means
distinguishes the social differences of the time. Legree views his slaves as property
and not as human beings and thus shows the strong argument of many people
during this time period. On the other hand we have the Shelby farm that sees each
Although the previous differences are important for showing the social stance
of each house they don’t illustrate the political differences that existed at this time.
Stowe wants to bring the political contrast of the civil war area out in her novel and
that is why we see the contrast between Shelby and Legree. At the Shelby farm we
find that George isn’t really fund of the concept of slavery and says that he will
eventually free all his slaves. In chapter 44 George makes good on this promise,
“To the surprise of all, he appeared among them with a bundle of papers in his hand,
containing a certificate of freedom to everyone on the place, which he read successively,
and presented, amid the sobs and tears and shouts of all present.
Many, however, pressed around him, earnestly begging him not to send them away; and,
with anxious faces, tendering back their free papers.” (616)
This is a important quote because it really symbolizes the changing times and the freedom that
slavery is starting to be subjected to across the country. At the Legree plantation there are no
freedom papers, but instead a strong proslavery atmosphere exists. Legree doesn’t seem to be
feeling any sympathy for his slaves despite the changing of times. The greatest testament to this
political difference is seen when George comes to buy Tom back from Legree and finds him
dying because of physical abuse. George tells Legree that he is going to have him tried for
murder and Legree responds by saying that the only witnesses are slaves which can’t testify.
Here we finally see the impact that the slavery laws have on African-Americans. After seeing
one of his best friends, Tom, dead George pledges to fight to end slavery. This scene can be
interpreted as propaganda for the freedom of slaves or the cruel hearted nature of Legree. Either
way the ending results are influential on how slavery is depicted at this time.
Overall I feel that the numerous contrasts that exist between Legree and Shelby help to illustrate
the social and political arguments of this time. On one side we have the whole hearted Shelby who is
against the mistreatment of slaves and then we have Legree who views them as property that he can do as
he desires with. The above dualisms showed help to enforce the problems that existed during the civil war
era and how each side whether it is proslavery or antislavery viewed African-Americans. The
implications of each individual character in the storey are important to understanding the different