The Role of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in American Literature

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Do you know who Harriet Beecher Stowe was and what she did, during her time on this earth and in America? “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you didn’t know, knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.”( The Politician: William Wilberforce) Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, focusing on the abolitionists movement? Harriet Beecher Stowe, through her childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and her literary impact, she has left a mark on American Literature.

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Stowe was born on, June 14, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut. She was raised by her dad, along with 12 siblings. Many of her siblings became social reformers and advocates for change. Her mother died when Stowe was four years old. Stowe’s Uncle Sam, moved in with her family, after her mother passed away. Her father was an evangelical Calvinist, and he provided Harriet along with her siblings a very strong devotion to God.

Stowe began to develop a lot of social views which, she learned from her father. He had a very strong opinion about his social views. Her father, Lyman Beecher, spoke very strongly against slavery and the effects of abusing alcohol. This influenced Stowe at a very young age and she took it as she began to grow up.

When Stowe was 21 years old, she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father become the head of the Lane Theological Study in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lane Theological Seminary, is one of the two places where she received her education.

She also attended the school her sister opened. Stowe also had the opportunity to be a teacher at the school her sister had opened years earlier. The school was called, Western Female Institute. Stowe also involved herself in a literary association. This was called the Semi-Colon Club, which she was very involved in. She made a great connection with one of her professors, Calvin Stowe, who was also a member of the Semi-Colon Club. Calvin and Stowe soon became friends, and then they grew very fond of each other. They shared the same interests, and got along quite well. Calvin was the husband who lost his wife, which happened to be Stowe’s very good friend, Eliza.

Stowe’s adulthood was a very interesting part of her life. She would be considered controversial, depending on the group of people you asked. Some people she inspired and others she upset because, of her views. After getting to know Calvin for a while, they soon formed a lasting relationship. A little after 5 years, Calvin and Harriet got married on January 6, 1836. Calvin then became a professor at Bowdoin College. They then moved to Brunswick, Maine. Calvin and Harriet both shared the same belief about abolition. Along with sharing the same beliefs, they would soon add to their family with the addition of seven children (they had three daughters and four sons).

During the birth of her children, their family was facing financial hardship. Soon after having her children, she took it upon herself to visit the South and make observations for herself. She observed the abolitionists and the secrets that were being held to help get slaves out of the South safely. After she came home, she decided that she would write a book entitled, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Stowe was doing all that she could to convince her husband that this could be a great career for her, and that this would help with their financial hardships. But even though Calvin wasn’t sure about this idea he decided to go along with it and trust Stowe. During 1851, one of her son’s that was only 18 months old passed away. Stowe felt deep grief and loneliness which she associated with how many slaves in the south felt at this time in history. She was very torn apart about it but she decided to make an impact on how this left her feeling.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of the most influential writers of the 19th century. When her son passed away it opened up her eyes. The only thing that she could think about is how the slaves felt when their children were ripped away from their parents, and then sold at a later time. Stowe then wrote a book that upset many, many people in the south. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, The book shades light on a few individual slaves who were ripped away from their families. This book touched on the point of slavery being a sin. This book reflected her christian faith and how slavery was such a bad sin. This book made a lot of people very upset, some people also felt happy that this situation was finally getting dressed. Many people in the south felt attacked by this book, this book even became illegal in some parts of the south. “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”(from Uncle Tom’s Cabin: Harriet Beecher Stowe)

This quote from her famous book spoke a lot. All the slaves that died and didn’t do enough slave work, but died at a young age, had a lot of their family members very upset. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” sold 10,000 copies in one week. She became so popular it was almost like it happened overnight. Stowe then proceeded to go on tour for her record selling book. She talked about her abolitionist views. Stowe’s best seller book would lead her to continue her career become a very talented writer. Over the course of her career she wrote a handful of more books. She was a very successful author. Some of her most famous books were Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Minister’s Wooing, Oldtown Folks, and Palmetto Leaves. Stowe was a very good author because she connected her writing to American problems.

Harriet Beecher Stowe through her childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and literary impact left a mark on American Literature. My opinion on Harriet Beecher Stowe is that she was very influential. I agreed with the way that she felt about slavery. I think that Harriet had a very good point and she wasn’t afraid to speak it. Her book made some people feel attacked which I think was a very good thing. They felt attacked because they knew what they were doing was wrong. I think that she made a highly good impact on American LIterature and without her I think that this situation would be unspoken of.

During this time many free blacks were afraid to speak their opinion, but Stowe shared her opinion which led many people to come out and speak their opinion on the issue of slavery and slaves. I am very glad that we have a women in our history like Stowe to look back on and thank for the impact that she made. Not only on America, but also on American Literature. The one thing I found most interesting about Stowe was her belief in God. She showed this through her Christian faith in her daily life, and through publishing her book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” which spoke out against pro-slavery. “I did not write it. God wrote it. I merely did his ditactation.” (from Uncle Tom’s Cabin: Harriet Beecher Stowe)