The Role of Mothers in "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

In 1852 one of the most famous slave-narratives and a best-selling novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was published. The book is steeped in history because it aroused 19th century American society to set against the institution of slavery. In Uncle Tom’s Cabin slavery disrupts whole families and can only be saved by the heroic mothers within the novel. The book is often regarded as an example of early feminism because it demonstrates the moral power of women within the novel. For that reason, this term paper deals with virtues of True Womanhood and the role of mothers in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It is concerned with the question how Harriet Beecher Stowe uses the selected mothers to argue against slavery.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Ideals of Women and Mothers in 19th Century America
• 3. Mothers in Uncle Tom's Cabin
  • 3.1. The Pitiful Mother: Eliza Harris
  • 3.2. The Exalted Mothers: Mrs. Bird and Mrs. Halliday
  • 3.3. The Uncaring Mothers: Marie St. Clare and Cassy
• 4. Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This term paper examines the role of mothers in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, analyzing how Stowe uses maternal figures to critique the institution of slavery. It explores the interplay between the idealized "True Womanhood" of 19th-century America and the realities faced by mothers within the context of slavery. The paper also investigates how different portrayals of mothers – compassionate, devout, and neglectful – contribute to the novel's overall message.

• The concept of "True Womanhood" in 19th-century America and its limitations.
• The varied portrayals of mothers in Uncle Tom's Cabin and their symbolic significance.
• The impact of slavery on families and the role of mothers in resisting or perpetuating the system.
• Stowe's use of maternal figures to convey her anti-slavery message.
• The social and cultural context shaping the experiences of mothers in 19th-century America, particularly those who were enslaved.

Chapter Summaries

1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by establishing the historical and literary context of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. It highlights the novel's impact on 19th-century American society and its enduring relevance as a critique of slavery. The chapter introduces the central focus of the paper: the role of mothers within the novel and how Stowe utilizes their different characteristics to advance her anti-slavery arguments. It also outlines the theoretical framework, referencing key scholarly works on 19th-century gender studies and motherhood, shaping the subsequent analysis of maternal figures.

2. Ideals of Women and Mothers in 19th Century America: This chapter delves into the concept of "True Womanhood," a cultural ideal prevalent in 19th-century America. It explores Barbara Welter's influential work on the "four cardinal virtues" – piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity – outlining the expectations placed upon women, particularly regarding their roles as wives and mothers. The chapter analyzes the impact of industrialization on gender roles, examining how the separation of home and workplace reinforced the idea of women's domestic sphere. Furthermore, it discusses the limitations of this ideal, considering how it disproportionately applied to white, middle- and upper-class women while excluding enslaved women and others.

3. Mothers in Uncle Tom's Cabin: This chapter constitutes the core analysis, exploring diverse maternal figures in Stowe's novel. By examining various examples – the "pitiful mother" Eliza Harris, the "exalted mothers" Mrs. Bird and Mrs. Halliday, and the "uncaring mothers" Marie St. Clare and Cassy – the chapter demonstrates how Stowe uses these contrasting portrayals to expose the moral failings of the slavery system. Each type of mother represents different facets of the societal impact of slavery, shedding light on the strength, resilience, and suffering of women navigating this brutal institution. The chapter analyzes how these contrasting portrayals highlight the inhumanity of slavery and its devastating consequences on family structures.

Keywords

Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, True Womanhood, 19th-century American womanhood, motherhood, slavery, maternal figures, anti-slavery literature, domesticity, piety, purity, submissiveness, Eliza Harris, Mrs. Bird, Mrs. Halliday, Marie St. Clare, Cassy.

Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Mothers in Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom's Cabin*

What is the main focus of this academic paper?

This paper examines the portrayal of mothers in Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom's Cabin*, analyzing how Stowe uses maternal figures to critique the institution of slavery and its impact on families. It explores the contrast between the idealized "True Womanhood" of 19th-century America and the realities faced by mothers under slavery.

What are the key themes explored in the paper?

Key themes include the concept of "True Womanhood" and its limitations, the varied portrayals of mothers in the novel and their symbolic significance, the impact of slavery on families and maternal roles, Stowe's use of maternal figures to convey her anti-slavery message, and the social and cultural context shaping the experiences of mothers in 19th-century America, especially enslaved women.

Which mothers are specifically analyzed in the paper?

The paper analyzes various maternal figures in *Uncle Tom's Cabin*, categorizing them into different types: "pitiful mothers" (like Eliza Harris), "exalted mothers" (like Mrs. Bird and Mrs. Halliday), and "uncaring mothers" (like Marie St. Clare and Cassy). The contrasting portrayals highlight the moral failings of slavery and its consequences.

What is the significance of "True Womanhood" in the context of this paper?

The paper examines the prevalent 19th-century ideal of "True Womanhood," characterized by piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity. It analyzes how this ideal clashed with the realities of slavery and how Stowe uses the contrasting portrayals of mothers to critique this societal expectation and its limitations, particularly for enslaved women.

How does the paper structure its analysis of *Uncle Tom's Cabin*?

The paper is structured into several chapters: an introduction establishing the historical and literary context; a chapter on the ideals of women and mothers in 19th-century America; a central chapter analyzing the diverse maternal figures in *Uncle Tom's Cabin*; and a conclusion. Each chapter contributes to the overall analysis of the role of motherhood in Stowe's critique of slavery.

What is the overall argument or conclusion of the paper?

The paper argues that Stowe utilizes diverse portrayals of mothers in *Uncle Tom's Cabin* to expose the moral bankruptcy of slavery and its devastating effects on families. By contrasting idealized images of motherhood with the harsh realities experienced by enslaved women, Stowe powerfully conveys her anti-slavery message.

What are the keywords associated with this paper?

Keywords include: *Uncle Tom's Cabin*, Harriet Beecher Stowe, True Womanhood, 19th-century American womanhood, motherhood, slavery, maternal figures, anti-slavery literature, domesticity, piety, purity, submissiveness, Eliza Harris, Mrs. Bird, Mrs. Halliday, Marie St. Clare, and Cassy.

Details

• College: University of Bonn
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Lisa Schreinemacher (Author)
• Publication Year: 2017
• Pages: 20
• Catalog Number: V496140
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346007421
• ISBN (Book): 9783346007438
• Language: English
• Tags: Uncle Tom's Cabin slavery Mother history literature female Harriet Beecher Stowe feminism heroines motherhood