Jenna Wang March 16, 2013 Period 5 UTC Socratic Seminar Notes Question #1: How do Stowe's use

of opposites and the technique of contrast in Uncle Tom's Cabin impact the themes and the storytelling? Opposing Plots: o Slave Narrative vs. Escape Narratives Tom goes deeper South, as a slave and dying as a martyr vs. George and Eliza Harris escape to the North (Canada) o Good Mother Narrative vs. Bad Mother Narrative Eliza Harris is a good mother vs. Marie St. Clare was a bad mother In Forshadowings Chapter: But, for a day or two, Eva was so unwell as to be confined to the house; and the doctor was called. Marie St. Clare had taken no notice of the child's gradually decaying health and strength, because she was completely absorbed in studying out two or three new forms of disease to which she believed she herself was a victim. It was the first principle of Marie's belief that nobody ever was or could be so great a sufferer as herself; and, therefore, she always repelled quite indignantly any suggestion that any one around her could be sick. The Mothers Struggle Chapter: The boy wondered and grieved that [his mother] could not eathe tried to wedge some of his cake into her mouthNo, no, Harry darling! Mother cant eat till you are safe! o Roles of Women Upright Mrs. Shelby vs. appalling Marie St. Clare On Pg. 15, Mrs. Shelby believes in abolitionism strongly On Pg. 40, Mrs. Shelby is strongly against selling Harry, Tom, and Eliza

On Pg. 66, Mrs. Shelby tries find ways to buy back Tom with Aunt Chloe

o Childrens Innocence vs. Adults Seriousness Eva vs. St. Clare and Marie On Pg. 167, Eva is always oblivious to the separation between whites and blacks and loves the servants like her own family On Pg. 207, Eva has completely conflicting ideas to her mothers On Pg. 199, Marie has never cared of thought about equality and believes it is nonsense and that a slave should be treated harshly or they will become lazy and useless o Evil Slave Owner vs. Good Slave Owner Simon Legree represents the evils of slavery and St. Clare and Mr. Shelby are nice slave owners and Mr. Shelby had eventually set all his slaves free. In Chapter 19, St. Clare tells of a slave who was caught trying to run from the plantation. He explains that the slave had a reputation for rebelliousness, but St. Clare, by tending to him and caring for him, had tamed him. He then made out free papers for the slave. But the slave felt so grateful toward St. Clare that he ripped the papers in two and pledged his life to him o Northern vs. Southern Beliefs Ophelia vs. St. Clare Ophelia believed that slavery was evil and wrong, while St. Clare believed it was necessary o In Miss Ophelias Experiences and Opinions Chapter: "Augustine! Augustine!" said Miss Ophelia, "I'm sure you've said enough. I never, in my life, heard anything like this, even at the North.

Jenna Wang March 16, 2013 Period 5 At the North!" said St. Clare, with a sudden change of expression, and resuming something of his habitual careless tone. "Pooh! your northern folks are cold-blooded; you are cool in everything! You can't begin to curse up hill and down as we can, when we get fairly at it." Ophelia vs. Dinah (St. Clares household cook) Ophelia was more organized and orderly in the kitchen, compared to St. Clares cook o In Toms New Master, And Various Other Matters Chapter: In her habits, she was a living impersonation of order. In punctuality, she was as inevitable as a clock, and as inexorable as a railroad engine and she held in most decided contempt and abomination anything of a contrary character o In Miss Ophelias Experiences and Opinions Continued Chapter: "Lor now! if dat ar de way dem northern ladies do, dey an't ladies, nohow," she said to some of her satellites, when at a safe hearing distance. "I has things as straight as anybody, when my clarin' up times comes; but I don't want ladies round, a henderin', and getting my things all where I can't find 'em." Ophelia vs. Marie In Chapter 16, when Marie grumbles that Mammy talks and thinks too much about her husband and children, Marie begins to complain to Miss Ophelia, who generally greets her remarks with blank silence.

Question #2: How does Stowe's portrayal of men and women in Uncle Tom's Cabin affect the themes? The storytelling? How does it reflect the author's values? Women o Take the actively moral role o Often idealized as almost angelic mothers, wives, and counselors o Examples include Mrs. Shelby, Mrs. Bird, St. Clares mother, and Legrees mother On Pg. 91, Mrs. Bird scolds her husband for voting for the law and is shown to be a good influence on her husband, on Pg. 96 You ought to be ashamed, John! Poor, homeless, houseless creatures! Its a shameful, wicked, abominable law, and Ill break it, for one, the first time I get a chance; and I hope I shall have a chance, I do! if a woman cant give a warm supper and a bed to poor, starving creatures, just because they are slaves, and have been abused and oppressed all their lives, poor things! Men o Portrayed as gruff, greedy, and morally weaker women Examples include Simon Legree, Tom Loker (before Quaker settlement happening), and Mr. Haley o Most of the men are not as willing to act on their beliefs St. Clare and Mr. Shelby are kind men who are against the cruelty but dont act against it (pg. 211, 252) Mr. Shelby has had many discussions with his cousin, Ophelia, in which he reveals that he is against slavery but cant stand up to it On Pg. 178, 256, 257, St. Clares mother seems to be a figure who has greatly influences St. Clare On Pg. 154 and 155, Rachel Halliday takes care of Eliza and the Quakers help Eliza and George escape

Jenna Wang March 16, 2013 Period 5 and doesnt think that slavery should be completely abolished because it might lead to chaos o Uncle Tom is an exception to how most males are portrayed in the book because he serves the role of moral guide, like the women. A possible explanation is that there is a similar disempowerment held by both white women and black slaves in the social system Authors Values o Feminist Makes women more favorable Makes women act as moral guides Examples include Evangeline St. Clare Makes readers feel more sympathetic towards slaves The Slave Warehouse Chapter: A slave warehouse! Perhaps some of readers conjure up horrible visions of such a place. They fancy some foul, obscure den, some horrible Tarturus. "The Martyr" Chapter, where it says, "Legree drew in a long breath; and, suppressing his rage, took Tom by the arm, and, approaching his face almost to his, said, in a terrible voice, 'Hark 'e, Tom!--ye think, 'cause I've let you off before, I don't mean what I say; but, this time, _I've made up my mind_, and counted the cost. You've always stood it out again' me: now, _I'll conquer ye, or kill ye!_-one or t' other. I'll count every drop of blood there is in you, and take 'em, one by one, till ye give up!'", there is an intense, horrid scene where Simon Legree tries and succeeds in killing the helpless, faithful Uncle Tom. Makes slaves more favorable Examples include Uncle Tom, Aunt Chloe, George Harris, Eliza Harris, and Emmeline

o Abolitionist