“So you´re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war“ (Raabe 216)! With these words Abraham Lincoln is said to have greeted Harriet Beecher Stowe when she visited the white House in 1863. Without doubt, Uncle Tom´s Cabin, Stowe´s first antislavery novel, was one of the most controversial books when it was published in 1851/52. Although it certainly can´t be seen as the true reason for the Civil War that started in 1861, it nevertheless put the debate on slavery more strongly in the center of public attention.
This paper deals with this highly controversial book. First, the context of the writing as well as the publishing of Uncle Tom´s Cabin will be presented, and its sources will be outlined. For a better understanding of the circumstances, some biographical pieces of information about the author will be given beforehand. The next section will focus on the several stage adaptations of Uncle Tom´s Cabin, the one by George L. Aiken will already be treated in more detail. The mixed reactions towards Stowe´s novel in general will be delineated, too. After giving a summary of the content of Uncle Tom´s Cabin to establish the basis for a further analysis, the main part of this paper will deal with the comparison of the novel with Aiken´s most popular stage adaptation. Similarities as well as differences will be presented as far as the structure, the characters and the themes are concerned. This paper will try to show that Aiken´s version of Uncle Tom´s Cabin comes very close to Stowe´s novel, but that he incorporated his own ideas as well to partly produce other effects, too.
Table of Contents
0. Introduction
1. Harriet Beecher Stowe
2. The Writing and Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
3. Sources of Uncle Tom's Cabin
4. Adaptations of the Novel
4.1. George Aiken's Version of Uncle Tom's Cabin
5. Critique of Uncle Tom's Cabin
5.1. The North
5.2. The South
5.3. Anti-Uncle Tom Literature
6. Content of Uncle Tom's Cabin
7. Comparison of Stowe's Novel and Aiken's Drama
7.1. Structure and Plot
7.2. Characters
7.2.1. Characters Left Out by Aiken
7.2.2. Characters Added by Aiken
7.2.3. Characters in Both the Novel and the Drama
7.3. Themes
8. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper explores the literary and historical significance of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, specifically analyzing the impact of its transition from a controversial print novel to popular stage adaptations, with a primary focus on George Aiken's dramatic version.
- The biographical and professional development of Harriet Beecher Stowe as an author.
- The historical context and sources that influenced the creation of the novel.
- A comparative analysis of the narrative structure, character development, and central themes in Stowe’s text versus Aiken’s stage production.
- An examination of contemporary public reception, including criticisms from the North and South and the emergence of "Anti-Uncle Tom" literature.
Excerpt from the Book
7. Comparison of Stowe's Novel and Aiken's Drama
In the following main part of this paper, it will be the aim to compare the novel with its popular adaptation by Aiken according to the structure, the plot itself, the constellation of the characters as well as the presentation of them, and the themes. Which scenes or characters were left out or added by Aiken, which characters were presented in a different light, which themes were emphasized, which aspects were taken over, and finally why all that – all this will be analyzed.
One mustn't forget that Stowe and Aiken had a different audience in mind when writing the novel, respectively, the drama. At that time, in the middle of the nineteenth century, it was still mainly women reading novels and being addressed in them. Because of that, Stowe herself was of the opinion that in the case of Uncle Tom's Cabin it wouldn't be different (Wurst 2451). Especially sentimental novels were very popular evoking emotions and directly appealing to the hearts of the readers, making them feel for certain characters and even identify with them, and, on the other hand, despise other characters. Stowe's novel clearly shows features of a sentimental novel. The author again and again addresses the readers directly, makes them put themselves into the situation of one of the characters, e.g. into the situation of Eliza when she's about to lose her beloved child and in despair, and thereby suffer with them. All this was definitely not Aiken's intention. His drama was not primarily addressed to women, but to men.
Summary of Chapters
0. Introduction: Presents the scope of the paper, detailing the historical impact of the book and outlining the plan to compare Stowe’s novel with Aiken’s dramatic adaptation.
1. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Outlines the author's early life, her upbringing in a religious household, and the life experiences in Cincinnati that influenced her abolitionist writing.
2. The Writing and Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin: Explores the personal struggles Stowe faced while writing the book and the massive commercial success the novel achieved upon publication.
3. Sources of Uncle Tom's Cabin: Identifies the literary and observational sources, such as Theodore Weld's work and personal experiences, that contributed to the novel's content.
4. Adaptations of the Novel: Discusses the numerous unauthorized stage productions of the novel and the significant impact they had on popular culture.
4.1. George Aiken's Version of Uncle Tom's Cabin: Focuses specifically on the history, production, and success of George Aiken's dramatic adaptation.
5. Critique of Uncle Tom's Cabin: Details the varied public and critical responses to the book from both Northern and Southern perspectives.
5.1. The North: Summarizes the reception in the North, highlighting support from abolitionists and criticism regarding religious and colonial themes.
5.2. The South: Explains the defensive and outraged response from the South, focusing on perceived insults to Southern society and morality.
5.3. Anti-Uncle Tom Literature: Discusses the literary backlash and the volume of pro-slavery novels written in direct response to Stowe.
6. Content of Uncle Tom's Cabin: Provides a comprehensive plot summary of the novel to serve as a foundation for the subsequent comparative analysis.
7. Comparison of Stowe's Novel and Aiken's Drama: Introduces the methodological approach for comparing the novel with the play.
7.1. Structure and Plot: Analyzes the structural differences, including how Aiken rearranged and condensed the narrative for the stage.
7.2. Characters: Examines which characters were central to the novel and how their roles were transformed or removed in the adaptation.
7.2.1. Characters Left Out by Aiken: Identifies key figures omitted from the drama and explains the dramatic reasons for their exclusion.
7.2.2. Characters Added by Aiken: Discusses new characters created by Aiken, specifically for enhancing humor and audience appeal.
7.2.3. Characters in Both the Novel and the Drama: Analyzes the consistency and shifts in characterization for major figures like Topsy, Ophelia, and St. Clare.
7.3. Themes: Compares the treatment of major themes like Christianity, motherhood, and the moral status of slavery in both formats.
8. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that while Aiken stayed close to the novel, his focus on mass entertainment significantly altered the work's original intent.
9. Bibliography: Lists the sources and literary references cited throughout the paper.
Keywords
Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, George Aiken, slavery, abolitionism, literature, drama, theater, 19th century, sentimental novel, adaptation, minstrelsy, social criticism, American history, race relations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the literary and cultural phenomenon of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, specifically looking at its transition from a widely read anti-slavery novel to a highly popular, albeit often modified, stage performance by George Aiken.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The core themes include the impact of the abolitionist movement, the role of sentimentality in 19th-century literature, the adaptation of complex narratives into commercial theater, and how racial and moral issues were interpreted differently by Northern and Southern audiences.
What is the main goal or research objective of the study?
The goal is to analyze the similarities and differences between Stowe’s original novel and Aiken’s stage version, investigating how changes in plot, character, and theme reflect the different motivations of an author addressing a reading public versus a playwright aiming to entertain a live theater audience.
What scientific or academic methods are employed?
The paper utilizes a comparative literary analysis method. It systematically deconstructs the structural and thematic elements of both the original text and the play to evaluate how narrative choices in the drama altered the original message of the book.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the biography of Stowe, the publishing history of the novel, an overview of contemporary critiques, and a detailed chapter-by-chapter comparison of the novel and the play, specifically focusing on structural changes and character modifications.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best characterized by terms such as Uncle Tom's Cabin, abolitionism, 19th-century drama, George Aiken, literary adaptation, and the socio-political impact of anti-slavery literature.
How does George Aiken’s adaptation differ in terms of audience intent compared to the original novel?
The research concludes that while Stowe wrote primarily for a female readership with the intent to evoke emotional and moral reflection on slavery, Aiken adapted the work to be a commercially viable piece of mass entertainment for a mixed audience, which necessitated the inclusion of comedic elements and the simplification of complex political arguments.
What role did "Anti-Uncle Tom" literature play in the discourse surrounding the novel?
Anti-Uncle Tom literature served as a defensive literary response from the South, aiming to justify the "peculiar institution" of slavery by challenging Stowe’s depictions of the system and, in many cases, adopting her style of direct address to the reader to promote pro-slavery arguments.
Why were certain characters, like Gumption Cute and Deacon Perry, added by Aiken?
Aiken added these characters to inject humor and broaden the play's appeal to a mainstream theater audience, creating subplots that allowed for comedic relief and increased stage excitement, which were features not present in Stowe’s more somber original text.
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- Alexandra Griesing (Autor:in), 2009, Harriet Beecher Stowe´s Uncle Tom´s Cabin: The Creation and influence of a masterpiece, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/197323
