Character Analysis of Uncle Toms Cabin - Essay Example

Uncle Tom is the protagonist of Stowe’s novel. As an old slave, Tom is presented to the reader as a faithful and God-fearing character. He forgives many wrongs committed to him on several occasions confirming how faithful he is. Further, he is seen to turn to God on many occasions especially when crises find him. As presented by the author, he is a gentle character, devoted to God, and the most trustworthy of all slaves by how Shelby trusts him with large sums of money. The faith of Tom is tested on many occasions especially when fiendish Legree commits to ensuring that Tom is corrupted. The response he gives about his soul shows how committed as a Christian he is (Stowe, 260). To support the themes of the novel, the character of Tom can be considered as a symbol of the support and sustenance derived from Christianity even when circumstances seem to be dire.

Eliza Harris is another character who supports the themes of the novel. She is a maid in Mrs. Shelby’s place, married to George, and mother to Harry. She is presented to the reader as an intelligent and brave woman. This is supported by the action she takes in her spectacular escape on realizing that her madam, Mrs. Shelby plans to sell her son to Mr. Haley (Bloom, 25). How she crosses the Ohio River proves to the reader her bravery making it the most appealing theme in the entire novel. It is from her courage to escape that she later reunites with her husband.

Aunt Chloe is married to the protagonist of the novel, Uncle Tom. Being a slave, she is presented as the head and the best cook on Shelby’s plantation. Her husband is sold down south and thinks of a plan to get him back. With her cheery character, she uses her intelligence to sell pastries and accumulates money to buy her husband’s freedom back. Despite her effort, by the time the money is enough her husband is already dead (Stowe, 218). This shows the love she had for her husband at takes a risk to have her love back.

Mr. Shelby is the first master to Tom. From the start of the novel, he is seen to be uncaring since makes arrangements to have Tom sold to the slave trader Haley. However, the way he delays the plans and seems reluctant proves him a caring and kind master. It is from the love and care he portrays to Tom that he is called a kind master in the slavery world. However, the financial constraints he has to make him finally decide to have Tom sold.

Sam is a slave known for his comic public speaking and presented to the reader as tricky. Additionally, he can be looked upon as a caring character. This is evident in the way he plays tricks in efforts to chase Eliza who escapes on realizing that her child will be sold. In their efforts with Andy to help Haley catch up with Eliza, he tricks Haley to have the chase slowed down and give Eliza more time to escape (Baym, 901). This is because he understands the inhuman acts of being a slave and finds it better when one gets the opportunity to escape.

Haley is the coarse slave trader who buys slaves. He is very violent and merciless. Although he considers himself caring and humane, this is contrary to his character since he mistreats the slaves. For instance, when Eliza Escapes with her son, Haley uses his dogs to pursue them across the Ohio River without caring about the harm the dogs can cause to them. This shows how cruel he is to his slaves. It can be argued that it is unethical to buy and keep slaves.

In conclusion, the discussed characters and others from the novel make up the plot and the themes of the book. The characters are vibrant. The book, through the characters teaches effectively about slavery, a vice that affected thousands of Americans. It is a good historical book recommendable to reading.