UNCLE TOM’S CABIN

By:Harriet Beecher Stowe

 TOPIC OUTLINE
•Book basics
• Author Biography
•Characters
•Summary
•Qoutes
•Symbol
•Themes
Book Basics Author:Harriet Beecher Stowe
Genre: Drama
Years Published: 1851-52
Perspective and Narrator:
Uncle Tom's cabin is told mostly from the third-person point of view, but
sometimes the story is told is the second person. The narrator is often
omniscient, but in some cases the narrator is a real person giving
subjective observation on events.
Tense: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is written in the
past tense.
about the title: In the little Uncle Tom's Cabin refers to the nickname of
the story's main character- the hereoic enslaved Tom.
Author Biography
Born Harriet Elisabeth to Kererend Lyman and
Roxanna Beecher on June 14,1811, Harriet
Beecher Stowe grew up with 10 brothers and
sisters litch Field, Connecticut. Her father was a
well-known Presbyterian minister of his day.
Famous for his impassioned sermons against
alcohol consumption and slavery. Stowes mother
was highly educated, well read and Stowe’s
father remarried a year later. As a child Harriet
lived in a cultural society with lawyers, minister
and professors,as her orbituary in the New York
times describes it. She heard and participated in
many discussion about key issues of the day.
Characters
UNCLE TOM
Uncle Tom is the kind, heroic central
character of the novel who sacrifices
his own chance for freedom for the
sake of helping others. He remains
committed to his Christian beliefs no
matter how horribly he is treated.
ELIZA
Eliza is a beautiful, intelligent and
strong enslaved woman raised in Mrs.
Shelby’s household. Eliza has a son,
Harry by her husband (who belongs to
a different match), and she escapes to
freedom with him after learning he is
to be sold.
George
George Harris is Eliza’s husband. He has a
strong sense of the injustice and inhumanity
of slavery and is determined to escape it and
make a better life for his family.
Eva
The beautiful, angelic child
Evangeline St. Clare daughter
of Augustine and Marie,
mainly goes by the name of
Eva, Eva has an
overwhelming love of God
that binds her in friendship to
Uncle Tom.
CHARACTERS
Augustine st.clare
Augustine St. Clare buys uncle Tom from Haley after
Tom saves Eva's life. St. Clare is a wonderfully kind
master, but he is unhappily married and tends to escape
life's responsibilities through alcohol, he talks about the
right thing to do without ever doing it.
Simon Legree
Simon Legree is the sadistic slave owner
who buys Uncle Tom after Augustine St.
Claire's death. He is particularly intent on
beating Tom down to what he perceives as
the proper demeanor of an enslaved man.
Adolph
Adolph is an enslaved mulatto man- meaning he
has between three- eights and five- eighths
African American blood --who belongs to
Augustine St. Clare and models himself after his
elegant master while holding himself above the
other slaves.
Albert
Albert is Hagar's son-- the only child who
has not been sold away from her. A:14
Albert is sold to the indifferent Haley at
the Washington, Kentucky, auction.
Characters
Alf
Alf is a well-dressed young man who is
happy to buy Adolph as his valet after
the St. Clare household disbands,
claiming he will break his spirit.
Amariah
Amariah is a quaker who arrives after
the standoff with Tom Loker and helps
to carry him to his own home so his
wounds can be tended to.
Andy
Andy is the young enslaved man in the
Shelby household who discovers Eliza has
run away with Harry, he then works with
Sam to delay Haley's pursuit of her.
Anti slavery lady
An anti slavery lady and her son are among
the paying passengers on the ship Haley
takes to transport his slaves. The woman
expresses her opinions even though others
do not agree.
Characters
Bidder against Legree
Auctioneer in new Orleans
A bidder against Legree in the new
Keenly interested in getting top dollar at
Orleans auction buys Susan and tries his
his slave sale, the New Orleans auctioneer
best to aquire her daughter Emmeline as
for the St. Clare slaves is all business and
well, but Legree outbids him.
speaks in both french and English to drive
the bids higher.

Auctioneer in Washington,
Kentucky Bill Bird

The auctioneer in Washington, Bill Bird is one of the Bird's children,

Kentucky, where Haley acquires he relates a story illustrating his
some slaves, treats those being sold mother's kindness to all living things.
as nothing but merchandise.
Characters
Senator John Bird
Senator John Bird goes against
Henry Bird
politics and laws to help Eliza and
Henry Bird is one of the Birds
Harry, much to the delight of his
children, he dies before the time of the
wife.
novel. The Birds kindly donate his
belongings to Harry.

Jim Bird
Jim Bird is one of the Birds
children, his mother scolds him
for climbing on furniture.
Mary Bird
Mary Bird is on of the Birds
children, her mother scolds her for
pulling the cat's tail.
Characters
Boat clerk
The boat clerk on the boat taking
George, Eliza, and Harry on their final
Tom Bird leg to Canada assures marks no one
Tom Bird is one of the Birds children, matching their description has boarded,
his mother scolds him for playing with a when George overhears this he believe
doorknob . they might finally make it.

Black Smith
Haley stops at a blacksmith's shop after
claiming Uncle Tom from the Shelby's,
Mr. Butler
he wants to have handcuffs enlarged to
Mr. Butler is the evil cousin of Cassy's
fit Tom. The blacksmith tells him it's a
lover, Henry, he causes an unfortunate
shame to fetter such a fine man and says
set of events that allows him to get
Haley should sell tom to a plantation
Cassy and her children for himself.
where he might not be well treated.
Characters
Cassy
Cassy is a beautiful quadroon woman-
meaning she has one-fourth African
American blood who was raised in the lap
of luxury but through a series of tragic
events ends up as the enslaved mistress of
Simon Legree, she turns out to be Eliza's
mother.
Aunt Chloe
Aunt Chloe is the sensible, God fearing
wife of uncle Tom, she holds together
their family as well as the Shelby
household and is revered by all for her
incredible cooking and christian ways.
Clergymen
A clergy man on the boat carrying
Haley and his slaves says
enslavement was predestined by
God and should not be challenged.
Coarse- looking fellow
The coarse- looking fellow at the
tavern where George encounters
Mr. Wilson says slaves should be
kept down by beatings and lack of
education.
Characters
Michael Cross
Michael Cross is the quaker with
a speedy horse who follows the
party helping George's family
escape, he warns them they are
being pursued and then assists
them after the stand against Loker.
Cudjoe
Cudjoe is the "black man-of-all-
work" who tells Mrs. Mary Bird
about Eliza and Harry's arrival.
Madame de Thoux
Madam de Thoux, who turns out to be
George's sister Emily, was bought by a man
from the West Indiest who set her free and
married her, George Shelby meets her on
the boat trip home after arriving at Legree's
too late to free Uncle Tom.
Aunt Dinah
Aunt Dinah is the Birds' paid servant who
helps Mrs. Mary Bird care for Eliza and
Harry.
Characters
Old Dinah
Old Dinah is the stubborn head cook of
the St. Clare household with whom Miss
Ophelia tussles as she attempts to bring
organization and accountability into the
kitchen.
Dodo
Dodo is the mulatto (three-eighths to
five-eighths African American blood)
slave Henrique St. Clare treats cruelly
while Eva shows him kindness.
Dorcas
Dorcas is the woman to whom the Quakers
take Tom Loker when he is shot, she
nurses him back to health and leads him to
convert to Quakerism.
Little Eliza
Little Eliza is George and Eliza's
daughter, she apparently looks just like
Eliza did as a child, which creates much
delight for her grandmother Cassy.
Characters
Emmeline
Emmeline is the beautiful 15 year old
quadroon (one quarter African American
blood) whom Simon Legree buys to become
his mistress.
Fanny
Fanny is one of the enslaved children on the
Shelby farm who helps to stir up chaos
following Eliza's escape with Harry.
First mate
The first mate on the ship carrying the Harris
family to France falls in love with beautiful
Emmeline and marries her as soon as they
land.
Phineas Fletcher
Phineas Fletcher is the shrewd Quaker who
overhears plans to capture George and his
family and then masterminds their escape.
Characters
Genteel woman
A genteel woman on the boat carrying
Haley and his slaves says enslaved
people are "better of than they would
be to be free."
Hagar
Hagar is Albert's elderly, feeble
mother, Haley coldly refuses to take
Hagar when he buys Albert.
Haley
Haley is the cold-hearted, crude, swaggering
slave trader who forces Mr. Arthur Shelby to
give him Uncle Tom and Harry to repay a debt
and who tries to capture Eliza and Harry after
their escape.
John Halliday
John Halliday is one of the Halliday
children.
Characters
Simeon Halliday
Simeon Halliday is an honorable Quaker
who easily shows his love for his wife and
Mary Halliday children and his compassion and moral
Mary Halliday is the Halliday daughter goodness to all.
who enjoys watching Ruth's Stedman's
baby and is always very helpful to her
mother in the kitchen.
Simeon Halliday
the secondSimeon Halliday the
second is one of the Halliday
Rachel Halliday children, when he says he hates
Rachel Halliday is a model wife and slaveholders his father gently
mother in the Quaker tradition, she is corrects him with a Quaker lesson on
unfailingly good-natured, sets a good treating all people with love, mercy,
example, and keeps a lovely home. and fairness.
Characters
Mr. Harris
Mr. Harris is the cruel master of
George and many other slaves, he
drives George to seek his freedom by
refusing to let him see Eliza and Harry,
work outside the farm, or show any
independent spirit.
Tom Harris
Tom Harris is Mr. Harris's son, he
learns to treat enslaved people just as
cruelly as his father does.
Harry
Harry is George and Eliza's son,
Haley is determined to have harry,
which leads to Eliza's flight to
freedom.
Henry
Henry is Cassy's first lover, they
have a son and Eliza together, but
Henry ultimately leaves Cassy for
another woman after being
corrupted by his cousin Mr. Butler.
Characters:
Hostess
The hostess at the small public house on
Henry Jr. the Ohio river where Eliza makes her
Henry Jr. is the son Cassy has with Henry, dramatic escape is very concerned about
who is taken from her and sold and whom Eliza and Harry's safety and tries to find
she sees being horribly punished by his them passage on a boat.
owner.

Jake
Jake is one of the young enslaved
Host
people on the Shelby farm who is
the host of the small country hotel where
fascinated with Eliza's escape but is
George encounters Mr. Wilson is careful to
scolded by Uncle Tom for wishing evil
keep his patrons from getting out of hand or
on Haley.
fighting.
Characters
Jane
Jane is the quadroon (one-quarter
African American blood)
chambermaid at the St. Clare house
who is described as "pert“.
Jim
Jim is the man traveling to freedom
with George, he poses as George's slave
and is not himself being sought as he
has been hiding and on the run for quite
a while.
Jinny
Jinny is the cook for neighbors of the
Shelby's, the Lincons, and George
Shelby teases Aunt Chloe with remarks
about people saying Jinny is the better
cook.
John
John is one of the three enslaved people
Haley buys at the Kentucky auction, he
is taken and sold without his wife's
knowledge.
Characters
John
the droverReaders first meet John the drover at
the country hotel where George meet Mr. Wilson
and then again on the boat carrying Haley's
slaves, he is a constant tobacco user and an
outspoken opponent of slavery.
John's wife
John's wife, learning he has been sold, jumps
aboard the boat on which Haley is transporting
the slaves and creates a heart-wrenching scene
of despair.
Mother Legree
Mother Legree tried passionately to
convert her cruel son Simon to a
Christian life, but he viciously denied
her until the end, he is now haunted by
her kind, forgiving spirit.
Tom Loker
Tom Loker is a well-known hunter of
escaped slaves whom Haley turns to
when Eliza and Harry make their
escape, the burly, violent man is shot by
George, nurse back to health by Dorcas,
and converted to Quakerism.
Characters

Lucy's son
Lucy
Lucy's son is 10 months old when he
Lucy and her young child are bought by
is sold by Haley for $45, leading
Haley when the boat stops at a Kentucky
Lucy to kill herself in despair.
town, when Haley then sells her son she
commits suicide by jumping overboard.

Lucy the mulatto
Lucy the mulatto (between three-
eighths African American blood) makes
friend with Emmeline as they travel by
boat to Legree's has bought her to be the
mistress of Sambo.
Mammy
Mammy, "a middle-aged mulatto
woman,) is Marie St. Clare's main
servant and serves her with decency
and obedience even though Marie has
separated her from her husband and
children and makes constant, selfish
demands on her.
Characters

Mericky
Mandy Mericky is the baby daughter of Uncle
Mandy is a young enslaved girl on the Tom and Aunt Chloe.
Shelby farm who tries to act as if she has
knowledge of events leading up to Eliza's
escape.

Mike
Mike is one of the enslaved children on
Marks
the Shelby farm who helps to stir up
Marks is the small, shrewd
chaos following Eliza's escape with
business partner of Tom Loker
Harry.
who abandons him in cowardly
manner after he is shot.
Characters:
Mose
Mose is one of the sons of Uncle Tom and
Aunt Chloe, he delight in stirring up
trouble with the other enslaved children
after Eliza escapes.
Miss Mosely
Miss Mosely is a dressmaker who
helps prepare Miss Ophelia for her
trip to live at the St. Clares'.
Miss Ophelia
Miss Ophelia is the rather dour cousin of Augustine
St. Clare, raised in Vermont but brought to New
Orleans to help manage the household Marie St.
Clare is too selfish and "ill" to deal with herself,
Miss Ophelia has trouble accepting Southern ideas
but gradually gains awareness of her own prejudices
and comes to view African Americans as fellow
humans.
Pastor of Amherstberg
The pastor of Amherstberg provides
shelter for George family when they
first reach Canada, and through him
Madame de Thoux and Cassy trace
the family to Montreal, the pastor
travels with them for the reunion.
Characters
Pete
Pete is one of the sons of Uncle Tom
and Aunt Chloe.
Physician
The physician who arrives after
Augustine St. Clare is stabbed knows
there is no hope but does his best to
make sure his death is comfortable
and peaceful.
Planter
A planter aboard the ship on which
Legree travels with his slaves tells an
appalled young man not all
Southerners treat enslaved people so
inhumanely.
Prue
Prue is horribly abused enslaved
woman in New Orleans who tries to
escape her life through alcoholism,
fails to respond to Uncle Tom's
appeals to reform, and is beaten to
death by her owners.
Characters
Quimbo Sally
Quimbo is one of two vicious enslaved men on Sally is a member of the Shelbys'
Legree's farm whom Legree puts in charge over all domestic staff whom Aunt Chloe
workers, Quimbo's cruel hatred for all spills over to dismisses as a terrible cook.
his fellow workers, but in beating Uncle Tom to
death and witnessing his heroism he is ultimately
reformed.

Sam
Sam is the crafty, self-important Shelby
Rosa
slave who delights in hampering Haley's
Rosa is a spirited quadroon (one-quarter
attempts to catch up with Eliza and
African American blood) enslaved by the
Harry.
St. Clares, she enjoys flirting with
Adolph and teasing everyone.
Characters
Samboo Mr. Arthur
Samboo is one of two vicious enslaved men Shelby Mr. Arthur Shelby is the kind master
on Legree's farm whom Legree puts in of Uncle Tom and many other slaves who
charge of all workers, Sambo's hatred for nevertheless allows slavery to separate
all spills over to his fellow workers, but families and profit owners.
when he beats Uncle Tom to death and
witnesses Tom's heroism he is ultimately
reformed.

Scipio
Scipio is the enslaved man Augustine St.
Clare holds up as an example of how to
"break" even the most belligerent slaves
with kindness, freedom, and Christianity, as
opposed to the cruelty and oppression
advocated by Maria St. Clare.
Mrs. Emily
Shelby Mrs. Emily Shelby lives a
Christian life and does not support slavery,
yet she must live with it as part of her
marriage.
Characters
George Shelby
The Shelby's son, George Shelby, takes his
mother's Christian view point towards
slavery, loves Uncle Tom with all of his
heart, and frees all the enslaved people
owned by the Shelby family as soon as he
is able.
Mr. Skeggs
Mr. Skeggs is the keeper of the
slave warehouse where the St.
Clare slaves are held the night
before they are auctioned off in
New Orleans.
Slave buyer on boat
A slave buyer on the boat Haley
has his slaves on convinces Haley
to sell him Lucy's son and
promises the child will be treated
well.
Slave buyer in New Orleans
A slave buyer in New Orleans has
a conversation with Alf, another
buyer, about how spoiled the St.
Clare slaves are.
Characters

Slave buyer in Washington, Kentucky

Mrs. Smyth
A slave buyer in Washington, Kentucky,
Mrs. Smyth is the Canadian who poses as
talks with Haley and reveals his
the aunt of Harry, who has been dress as a
discomfort with splitting up enslaved
little girl, during the family's crossing to
families.
Canada.

Slender young man
A slender young man on the boat
transporting Haley and his slaves
fervently appeals to Hailey to stop the
cruel practices of slavery.
Solomon
The concerned hostess at the
public house on the Ohio shore
where Eliza stops asks Solomon
about a boat to take Eliza and
Harry across the frozen river.
Characters
Henrique St. Clare
Alfred St. Clare Henrique St. Clare is Alfred's son
Alfred St. Clare is Augustine's who upsets Eva with his cruel
twin and the opposite of him in treatment of slaves.
every way, including his belief in
treating slaves cruelly.

Marie St. Clare

Marie St. Clare, the spoiled and
selfish wife of Augustine and the
Father St. Clare negligent mother of Eva, is a
Father St. Clare is the father of Miss hyphocondriac with firm ideas
Ophelia who is concerned about her about the need to keep enslaved
move to New Orleans. people in line through
punishment.
Characters

Ruth Stedman
Mother St. Clare
Ruth Stedman is the small, cheerful Quaker
Mother St. Clare is the mother of
women who joyfully celebrates all good
Miss Ophelia and is against her
news.
daughter moving to New Orleans, "an
awful wicked place."

Baby Stedman Stephen

Baby Stedman is the healthy, happy Stephen is one of the Quakers who arrives
son of Ruth Stedman and the apple of in the wagon to rescue everyone after the
her eye. standoff with Tom Loker.
Characters
Baby boy Stuart
After Cassy gives birth to a son with
Captain Stuart, she cannot bear to raise the
child in slavery, she uses laudanum to kill
baby boy Stuart when he is two weeks old.
Captain Stuart
Captain Stuart is the kind man who falls in
love with Cassy, buys her from Mr. Butler,
and tries but fails to buy back her children.
Susan
Susan is the Christian enslaved woman
who is separated from her daughter,
Emmeline, at auction, the man who buys
Susan tries to buy Emmeline as well but is
outbid by Haley.
Mr. Symmes
Mr. Symmes is the man Eliza
recognizes as a Shelby neighbor after
she leaps across the Ohio river with
Harry, he directs her to the Birds' house
as a safe refuge.
Characters
Topsy
Topsy is a wild young slave Augustine
St. Clare buys for Miss Ophelia to
civilize, Eva's sweet Christian love
ultimately transforms Topsy.
Van Trompe
Van Trompe is a former slave owner
who pledgeds to keep escapes slaves
safe at his home in an isolated area of
Ohio, Senator John Bird takes Eliza
and Harry there.
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Wilson owns the factory where George
invented a useful place of equipment before
his cruel master forbade him to continue
working there, Mr. Wilson helps George by
giving him money during his flight to
freedom, and he begs George to stay safe
and trust in God.
Young gentleman
A young gentleman appalled by what he
sees of Simon Legree while they travel by
boat together, talks with a Southern planter
about the horrors of slavery and says
planters who support slavery in any way are
as much at fault as the cruel Legree.
BOOK SUMMARY
Chapter 1

On a farm in Kentucky, during a cold February afternoon

in the middle of the nineteenth century, two white men sit
discussing a business transaction. Arthur Shelby, a
gentleman and slaveholder, is negotiating to sell some
slaves to Mr. Haley, a coarse slave buyer. Mr. Shelby
has fallen into debt and must sell several slaves to raise
money, or else he will lose all his land and property.
BOOK SUMMARY
Chapterll We learn that the beautiful Eliza married a
talented mulatto named George, but was
separated from him when he was hired out to
work in a factory nearby. He invented a machine
to speed the process of cleaning hemp, thereby
earning the admiration of the factory’s
proprietor. However, George’s master removed
him from the factory, saying that he only
invented the machine because he was too lazy to
work. He put George to work at menial labor,
which meant that he could see his wife only
infrequently. George and Eliza lost two young
children, making Eliza very protective of her
only surviving child, Harry.
CHAPTER 3
George comes to see Eliza soon after her
conversation with Mrs. Shelby and tells her that
he is going to escape because he can no longer
bear the miseries he has been suffering. Eliza
urges him to practice Christian restraint and to
trust in God, but George explains that his
master is urging him to take another woman as
his wife. Eliza protests, and George reminds her
that there are no lawful marriages among
slaves. As he leaves, he tells Eliza that he will
head north for Canada in a week; once there, he
will work to buy freedom for Eliza and Harry.
Chapter 4
In Uncle Tom’s cabin, Aunt Chloe is cooking dinner
for Tom and the children. Shelby’s son, young Mas’r
George, is teaching Tom how to write the letter G.
They laugh and talk, bantering about, then eating
griddlecakes and discussing pies. After dinner they
hold a prayer meeting at which the gathered slaves
sing hymns and Mas’r George reads the last chapters
of Revelation.While this happy scene takes place in the
cabin, Mr. Shelby agrees to sell both Tom and Harry.
He signs the papers, and Mr. Haley relieves him of his
mortgage. Shelby reminds Haley that he has promised
not to sell Tom to any but the kindest master. Haley
states unconvincingly that he will do his best.
Chapter 5
That evening, Shelby tells his wife about the
sale. Mrs. Shelby, appalled, tries to convince
her husband not to sell the slaves—after all,
he has promised to set Tom free, and she has
promised Eliza that Harry would not be taken
away from her. But Mr. Shelby tells her that
he must either sell those two slaves, or sell all
of his property. Mrs. Shelby declares that
slavery is a sin, that she hates slavery and
wishes that she could do something to stop it.
She offers to sell her watch to save Harry.
Shelby apologizes to his wife, but says that
the papers are already signed.
Chapter VI

The next morning, Eliza’s disappearance rocks the entire

household. Two young slaves called Sam and Andy form a
search party while secretly plotting to delay Haley’s
retrieval of Eliza. Mrs. Shelby wholly approves.
Chapter VII

After a day of travel, Eliza and Harry reach a town

beside the Ohio River just before sunset. However, the
river does not appear to be crossable, and she finds a
room where Harry can sleep for a while as she ponders
what to do next.Mr. and Mrs. Shelby tell Tom that he
has been sold, and he promises not to run away. Haley
finally leaves, but Sam tricks Haley into going along the
wrong route. Upon seeing them arrive, and in arguably
the most well known scene in the novel, grabs Harry,
bundles him up and jumps across the river, using the ice
floes to reach the other side.
Chapter 8

Haley enters the tavern, the shock of Eliza’s escape

still palpable. Inside the tavern he encounters Tom
Loker, a violent man whose profession is to track down
slaves who had escaped, in order to capture them and
bring them back to their owners. With him is Marks, a
small man who is the brains of the operation. They
come to an agreement upon where Loker and Marks
will hunt the pair, in order to return Harry to Haley, but
keep Eliza for themselves. The chapter ends with Andy
and Sam returning to the Shelbys, gleefully telling the
tale of Eliza’s escape.
Chapter 9

Eliza and Harry are taken to Senator John Bird’s home. Mrs.
Bird and Aunt Dinah help Eliza before bringing her to
Senator Bird. He quickly thinks of a safe place for Eliza and
Harry to go that night, deciding to drive them to Van
Trompe’s house, after giving them clothes and other
necessities.Helped by his servant Cudjoe, Bird arrives with
the stowaways, explaining the situation to Van Trompe and
giving him $10.
Chapter 10
Tom comforts Chloe the best he can as she
lovingly prepares his "farewell feast" and packs
his clothes. Mrs. Shelby comes to the cabin and
begins sobbing. She promises to one day buy him
back.Haley arrives in a foul mood to claim his
property. Every slave gathers to bid farewell to
Tom as Haley shackles his legs and drives
away.Haley stops at a blacksmith to enlarge
handcuffs to add to the shackling, and like those
on the Shelby farm, the blacksmith is indignant to
see Uncle Tom treated this way. Suddenly young
George gallops up on a horse, unleashing his grief
as he sobs in Tom’s arms.
Chapter 11
Mr. Wilson, the factory owner who had
employed George, discusses the institution
of slavery in a Kentucky hotel. A poster has
been printed seeking George’s arrest, and
while split attitudes were revealed, Wilson
vouched for George as "an ingenious
fellow."Then George, who is passing
himself off as a white businessman named
Henry Butler, enters the inn, accompanied
by another runaway, Jim, who poses as his
servant.
Chapter 12
Haley tells Tom he’s going to buy more
slaves to take to auction. When they arrive,
Tom spends the night in jail. The next
morning, families are torn apart, and the
buyers treat people as property. Haley buys
the young man Albert, coldly leaving behind
his aged mother, Hagar.The journey
continues by boat. Haley also bought John,
who has been sold without his wife knowing.
The sad group shares their stories of loss.
Chapter 13

Eliza and Harry have received safe shelter at

the Halliday home. The home environment
seems ideal, with all who live and visit
seeming healthy and happy. As Ruth Stedman
visits with her baby and Simeon Halliday
returns home, readers learn that George
Harris has reached the settlement as well and
that Quakers have arranged for a visit that
evening.When Rachel shares the wonderful
news with Eliza, she faints and awakens to
find George by her side.
Chapter 14
The chapter opens with Stowe’s sentimental musings
about the Mississippi River and the freight of
enslaved persons it carries along with the fruits of
their labor—cotton. Among the bales on one of the
ships, Tom is tucked with his Bible, heading to New
Orleans to be sold.Also aboard are the handsome and
wealthy Augustine St. Clare, his daughter,
Evangeline, and a woman somehow related to them.
Uncle Tom quietly observes the beautiful Evangeline
as she explores every inch of the boat. When he
finally speaks to her, friendship is cemented minutes
later when Eva falls off the ship, and Tom dives to
rescue her. When Tom leaves the ship, he is in the
company of his new master, Augustine St. Clare, and
little Eva, who insisted that her father buy Uncle Tom
because "I want to make him happy."
Chapter 15
The son of a wealthy Louisiana planter, Augustine was
a true romantic and sensitive by nature; he seeks
pleasure and drinks to forget the one true love of his
life while remaining married to his unaffectionate,
spoiled, selfish wife.Augustine was on the ship
because he, Eva, and his cousin Ophelia were
returning to New Orleans from Vermont. Ophelia
moved to help run the St. Clare household because
Marie St. Clare, the wife, is a wholly self-interested
hypochondriac who refuses to attend to her daughter
or the typical duties of a wealthy Southern wife.As
they arrive home, Augustine’s main servant, Adolph,
is there to greet them. Eva rushes to her mother, who
hardly bothers to leave a reclining position, and
introductions are made as little Eva runs around
greeting all the servants.
Chapter 16

A few mornings after the homecoming, a

breakfast conversation features Marie’s
complaints about the slaves, her husband,
her child, and a host of other topics.
Chapter 17

Final preparations are underway at the

Halliday house for the next stage of
George, Eliza, and Harry’s flight to
freedom. This last push will bring them
into Canada. Sensing the freedom within
his reach, George finally believes he can
live as a good man and pledges to live at
the same level of Christianity as Eliza.
Chapter 18
In the St. Clare household, Uncle Tom slowly
takes on more and more responsibility,
eventually taking over the finances of the house
for his master. His Christian faith keeps him
honest and leads him to worry for St. Clare, who
spends his nights at parties in drunken revelry.
After a talk with Tom, St. Clare promises to stop
this behavior. While Tom attempts to reform his
master, Miss Ophelia tries to reform the house.
Dinah, the cook, demonstrates a culinary genius
but keeps no semblance of order. Miss Ophelia
cleans up the kitchen, organizes the house, and
attempts to instill a Northern sense of efficiency,
with some success.
Chapter 19
A few days later, the members of the St. Clare
household learn that Prue’s master has whipped
her to death. Miss Ophelia reacts with shock,
and asks if no laws exist to protect against such
deeds. St. Clare explains that the law considers
slaves to be property, and people may destroy
their own possessions at will. Ophelia accuses
St. Clare of supporting slavery; he denies this
but says, “in a community so organized, what
can a man of honorable and humane feelings
do, but shut his eyes all he can, and harden his
heart? . . . the most I can do is to try and keep
out of the way of it.”
Chapter 20

St. Clare buys a young slave named

Topsy, who has never received any
education, and gives her to Miss
Ophelia to tutor. Miss Ophelia
protests, but St. Clare tells her that
Topsy’s previous owners have abused
her.
Chapter 21

Back on the farm in Kentucky, Aunt Chloe

receives Tom’s letter. Though Mr. Shelby’s
business remains fraught with debt, Mrs.
Shelby wants to try to raise enough money to
buy Tom back. Mr. Shelby begins to shout and
tells her not to meddle in his affairs. Chloe calls
Mrs. Shelby outside, ostensibly to look at the
chickens, and asks to be hired out to make
cakes and pies to help earn money for Tom.
Mrs. Shelby agrees.
Chapter 22

Two years pass while Tom serves

the St. Clares. He gets a letter from
Mas’r George telling about life in
Kentucky and about the studies he
has undertaken. Tom and Eva grow
increasingly close; he gives her little
gifts, and she reads the Bible aloud
to him.
Chapter 23

St. Clare’s brother Alfred visits with his

son, Henrique. Eva and Henrique enjoy
playing together, but, one day, Henrique
strikes his slave, Dodo, because he has
allowed Henrique’s horse to get dusty. Eva
reacts with sadness, asking Henrique how
he could act so wickedly. He responds with
incomprehension, and, after Dodo saddles
the horse, he gives the slave money so that
he may go buy candy for himself