Analysis of Uncle Tom's Cabin and The American Promise, a History of the US by James L. Roark - Essay Example

Analysis of “Uncle Tom's Cabin” by Harriet Beeecher Stowe and “The American Promise, a History of the United s” by JamesL. Roark Introduction The books “Uncle Tom's Cabin” by Harriet Beeecher Stowe and “The American Promise, a History of the United states” by James L. Roark explore the history of American society from early 1500s to 1800s. This was a period in which there was complete transformation in the northern America continent. During this era, European powers competed over the control of the rich resources that were found in the Northern part of America. A new world of colonial society was created in which many people were displaced from their native land. In the early 1763, the British colony emerged as one of the imperial power in North America. However, some of the British in America rebelled against the British rule and joined together to form their new country known as United States. The United States as a young nation expanded to pacific and started creating tension to other nations around the world by promoting slave trade. The novel “Uncle Tom’s cabin” examines the slave trade that took place in United States. It reveals how American people involved themselves in the slave trade. This is revealed when Mr. Shelby the main protagonist in the novel and a slave trader discusses the number of slaves he needs to sell in order to settle his debt. This shows that slaves were regarded as commodities that could be found in the market freely. American large scale farmers bought the slaves to work in their farms where they were highly mistreated. On the other hand, the book “The American Promise, a History of the United states” explores the American people’s life from a traditional to modern society. It gives an account of the transitions and conflicts that have shaped United States. This paper is a critical analysis of the novel “Uncle Tom's Cabin” by Harriet Beeecher Stowe and the book “The American Promise, a History of the United states” by James L. Roark. Analysis of Uncle Tom's Cabin Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a classic novel that provoked the American civil war in early 1600s. It discusses the issue of the slave trade that prevailed in United States. In addition, it also reveals the cruel behavior of the white masters towards their slaves. The author of the novel has a negative attitude towards slave trade in the American society. His main concern is to show that African-American have feelings like any other people in the society. This is because, during this period, white plantation farmers viewed black people as degraded human species. In addition, slave sellers and auctioneers had no feeling for the African-American people. This is evidenced by their behaviors of separating children from their mothers without feeling of the loss (Stowe 7). Harriet Beecher Stowe writes this novel to show that African-American people are normal human beings and should be treated with equality in the society. In his writing, he approaches the issue of the slave trade in an unwavering Christian viewpoint. The novel narrates the story of Uncle Tom who is the main character. He is very intelligent and honest middle aged, black man in the American society. The author also introduces Mr. Shelby a slave trader and a master to Uncle Tom. He has a great trust of Uncle Tom and allows him to carry out various dealings in the house. In addition, he also entrusts him to take care of a large sum of money whenever he is on a business trip. Uncle Tom on the other hand is loyal to his master and does not want to violate the trust. This is evidenced with his act of not running away with the money even after getting a prime opportunity (Stowe 37). Uncle Tom enjoys the comfortable lifestyle in Mr. Shelby’s home. Due to his Christian values he is highly respected by Mr. Shelby. This makes him enjoy freedom in the house of a slave trader. However, the turning point of their relationship arrives when Mr. Shelby find himself in a debt of another slave trader known as Haley. As much as Mr. Shelby tries to avoid the debt he is left with only one option. He has to give out Uncle Tom to Haley in order to clear the debt. Haley refuses to accept the offer and demand for Eliza’s son. At this point, the plot in this novel split into two sections. Since Eliza does not want to be separated from his son Harry, she runs away from his master’s home. She later meets with her husband George who has also run away from his master who forces him into manual labor regardless of his skills in local businesses (Stowe 57). Haley tries to catch up with Eliza, but he is deceived by other slaves in Mr. Shelby’s farm. They set off his horse in the field and direct him in the wrong direction. Out of disappointment, Haley decides to Take Uncle Tom and sells him to the south. Everybody in the family is shocked with the news because many slaves in the south end up dying due to over working. In order to get to the south, they get into a riverboat and travels down Mississippi river headed to New Orleans. On their journey, a woman commits suicide by diving into the river from the boat (Stowe 70). Uncle Tom, on the other hand, is determined and decides to take his ride as an opportunity. He befriends Evangeline, a daughter of a slave owner. Fortunately, Eva falls into the river from the boat and Uncle Tom jump and save her. This makes Augustine, St. Clare, father to Eva, to buy Uncle Tom and serve as his horse driver. This marks a big change in Uncle Tom’s life. The author portrays Augustine St. Clare as a lazy man who does not support slave trade in the society. He buys slaves not because he wants them but because he does not want to be different from others (Stowe 104). Harriet Beecher Stowe uses different characters in the novel to show different views and attitude towards slavery in American society. This is because, despite some characters such as Haley and Alfred supporting slave trade, others such as Augustine and Miss Ophelia do not support it. The author also develops a heart breaking plot when Augustine and his daughter Eva dies leaving Uncle Tom in the hands of Marie St. Clare a very cruel woman. She ends up selling Uncle Tom to Simon Legree a slave master who is portrayed as an evil man. He has a different view of the slave compared to other slave owners. This is because he makes his slaves overwork to death. This is depicted when he says that if one of his niggers dies he will buy another one. The author uses Simon Legree animalistic character to show the cruelty behavior the American slave masters portray to their slaves (Stowe 134). Uncle Tom’s deterministic character is also used by the author to show how determined slaves were to free themselves from their captivity. Through out the novel Uncle Tom is determined to change his life and that of other slaves in the society. He is willing to help other slaves at his own expense. This is depicted when he transfer some of his cotton to an old woman’s bag who is struggling to meet her daily Quota (Stowe 156). In addition, he also helps other slaves meet their struggle and also uses his Christian values to preach about Jesus to them. His gives out religion theme in the novel. When Simon Legree forces Uncle Tom to flog a slave woman for failing to deliver her full quota, he rebels because he does not want to leave behind his Christian values. Simon Legree believes he has bought Uncle Tom’s soul and body and thus should be obeyed. Uncle Tom on the other hand, explains biblically that a master cannot buy slave’s soul and that can only be done by Jesus. Simon Legree is disappointed by the libel character of his slave and he thus orders others to beat him up until he obeys. He ends up dying despite his good personality. Despite his death, the author uses this death to show victory of the slaves in their effort to getting liberation (Stowe 240). Analysis of the American Promise, a History of the United States The book, “The American Promise, a History of the United states” by James L. Roark is a comparison of the African-American population in the northern and southern part of America in the early 18th century. It explores the historic-graphic representation of the two regions in their archival analysis. In addition, the book brings the history of American people from slavery to liberation era. The author writes the book to blend the cultural and social history of the American people. The book is set out on an ambitious social and political agenda. This is because according to the author, American premises can only be realized in political and social arena. Several cultural themes are presented in separate chapters that are independent of the political narrative in United States (Roark 82). James L. Roark presents his writing in a conservative manner. This is because he follows the American traditional chronology to the modern society. In his writing he pairs migration of people from the western continents such as Africa and Asia to show the kinetic energy during the post war period. Chapter eighteen of the book explores the efforts of American people such as Rockefeller, Morgan and Carnegie trying to create cooperates and political institutions that would employ people in united States (Roark 134). In addition, the political institution would sometimes exploit people in the society. This is evidenced by the slave trade that dominated most parts of America in 16th century. In an effort to make more output in their farms, the American people decide to ferry black people from the African continent. This resulted to the establishment of the slave trade in which white masters would buy slaves to work in their farms. Slaves face mistreatment and exploitation during this period. This is because they were overworked without payment and lived in poor conditions. In addition, the slaves were not regarded as human beings and thus were sometimes beaten to death. The book reveals the problems faced by African-Americans during the slave period (Roark 158). Chapter nineteen of the book illustrates the industrial revolution in which there is higher immigration of people into America from other continents. In addition, many people in the country were converted into the managerial class. This was the emergence of the capitalists and the proletarians in the American society. Many industries emerged in the country, and a lot of people were employed as manual workers. On the other hand, some people acquired jobs in the offices and other institutions in the country. This created different social classes between the "have" and the "have-not" in the society (Roark 212). Chapter twenty portrays the conflict that emerges in the United States due to the difference in social class. This shows the beginning of different movement such as the women suffrage that advocate for equality in the society. In addition, the movement started to fight toward achieving women’s right to vote and acquire jobs like men in the society. This is because, during this period, they were denied their rights since they were considered to be weak (Roark 302). The chapter also narrates the emergence of the movements led by Dr. Martin Luther king to fight for equality between whites and blacks in the American society. It shows their struggle in advocating for the African-American rights in the society. All these movement end up in success because there is equality in the society that does not segregate individual in relation to their color or gender. Chapter twenty one narrates the emergence of civil war between various countries in the world. This is evidenced by First World War that affected most part of the world. In addition, it also illustrates the involvement of America in the Vietnam War that made a lot of American young people demonstrate in various states. This is because they were against this war and did not want America to be involved in it (Roark 447). Conclusion The main idea in the two books is to explore the history of the American society. They both give the issue of slavery period under which African-Americans were mistreated by their white masters. They were not regarded as human beings, and their main role was to work in the plantations without payment. In addition, they were also subjected to poor conditions and sometimes brutally beaten to death. The novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin gives the idea that black people had a soul equivalent to that of the white people and thus should not be mistreated. The author uses the life of Uncle Tom to show that black people were not animals as viewed by the whites. On the other hand, the book “American Promise, a History of the United States” explores the transition of American society from the traditional era. The journey starts during the civil war between the southern and the northern people. This is because the northern people were against the slave trade while the southern people were the holders of the slave trade. Works cited Roark, James L. The American Promise: A History of the United States, Volume D. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom's Cabin. New York: Cricket House Books LLC, 2010. Read More