Contents摘要 (3)Abstract (4)1 Introduction (5)1.1 Social Background (5)1.2 The Author's Writing Intention (6)1.3 The Main Characters of the Novel (6)2 The Evil Roots for Uncle Tom's Tragic Fate (7)2.1 The Evils of Slavery (7)2.1.1 The Hardships for Labor Slaves (8)2.1.2 The Loss of Dignity as Slaves (8)2.2 The Miserable Death of Uncle Tom (9)2.2.1 Uncle Tom—the Representative of A Noble Hero (9)2.2.2 The Causes for Uncle Tom's Death (10)3 The Georges Fighting for Freedom (11)3.1 The Real Reasons for Eliza to Flee (11)3.2 The Revolt Against the Slaveholders (11)3.2.1 Verbal Protest Against Slavery (11)3.2.2 Action in Protest Against Slavery (12)4 Analysis on the Impact of African Americans under the CruelSlavery (12)4.1 The Fighting for Freedom (12)4.2 Contrast Between Social Status of the Present and the Past African Americans (13)5 Conclusion (14)Bibliography (15)Acknowledgement (16)分析小说《汤姆叔叔的小屋》中典型美国黑人代表在奴隶制度下的命运与抗争摘要1862年9月22日, 美国总统林肯发表了《解放黑人奴隶宣言》。
此后黑人在社会上的地位不断地提高,而在此之前,黑人都属于奴隶主的私有品。
他们被奴隶主当作物品一样买卖,像动物、机器一样的工作。
对他们而言,自由是莫不可及的。
黑人的地位是如何逐渐的提高与改善,他们是如何获取最初的自由。
在这里,将要分析一部对废除奴隶制度起到了巨大推动作用以及在一定程度上推动南北战争爆发的小说《汤姆叔叔的小屋》。
通过举例分析其中一主人工汤姆叔叔和其他奴隶的悲惨命运,和各色奴隶主丑恶嘴脸,揭发和控诉奴隶制的罪恶。
另一主人公乔治夫妇如何反抗残忍的奴隶主以及残暴的奴隶制,宁死不为奴,最终获取自由的胜利。
关键词:奴隶制;黑人奴隶;反抗;命运;自由Analysis on the Typical African Americans’ Destinies and Rebellions under Slavery in Uncle Tom’s CabinAbstractAfter the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation delivered by the American president Lincoln on September 22nd, 1862, the African Americans’social status was gradually improved,and before that the African Americans belonged to slave owners as private goods. And they were sold by slave owners who treated them as animals and machines to work day and night. Freedom was out of their reach. How black people improved their social status, and how they fighted for the original freedom, etc... Here, we are going to analyze the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin which plays an important role in promoting the abolition of slavery and the outbreak of the civil war. Through the analysis of one of the protagonist named Uncle Tom and other slaves’ tragic fate, and all kinds of slave owners’ ugly faces, we can disclose and accuse of the sin of slavery. Other protagonists like the George couples fight against the slaveholders in the cruel and brutal slavery, would rather die than be slaves, and they finally obtain the victory of freedom.Key words:Slavery; Black Slaves; Rebellions; Destinies; Freedom。
Analysis on the Typical African Americans’ Destinies and Rebellions under Slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin1 IntroductionAs we all know, the social status of African Americans have been gradually improved as time goes by. The novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin has played an important role in promoting the abolition of slavery, following the author will describe and analyze how the black people were exploited by the slaveholders under the fierce slavery and how black slaves revolted against for freedom according to the typical characters of the novel.1.1 Social BackgroundDuring the American Revolution, American southern slaveholders and northern business bourgeoisie joined hands against the British colonial oppression. Both of them were taking the capitalist road. After the war, the original thirteen colonies became the thirteen states, and the plantation economy had mushroomed. In the north, there was a boom in shipbuilding industry. Since the 1820s, the northern and the central states began the Industrial Revolution, while it was prevalent to use the black slave labors in the southern plantation economy. Although there was a prosperous development in the northern and southern economy, these regions still maintained their distinctive characteristics and contact. However, with the development of the capitalist, the North needed plenty of free labors, commodity markets and industrial raw materials which were constrained under the fierce slavery in the South, so the representatives from the North capitalist economy advocated the abolition of slavery, but the southern plantation economy needed a lot of slaves, so the southern slave owners claim to maintain slavery, they ran into a collision with each other.In the 19th century, the United States expanded its territory to the west. The northern capitalism claimed that the new area restricted the expansion of slavery and insisted the newarea as a free state. While the south slaveholders advocated slavery throughout the world and regarded the new area as slave statesIn the middle of the 19th century, there was an irreconcilable contradiction between the northern free labor system and the southern slavery system, so southern slavery became a main barrier to the development of social economy in the Unite states, the struggle between the north and the south became intenser than before.1.2 The Author’s Writing IntentionHarriet Beecher Stowe was born in a priest’s house and a puritan family. All her families supported the abolition of slavery. She bred theology since she was a child and lived all her life in the religious atmosphere. As a teenager, she received a good education in Hartford, and especially had a passion for reading. In addition to study theology, she also read the two famous writers, Byron and Scott, whose passage had a great influence on her.When Stowe was a little child,her family moved to the south, and there was just a river between the slave states. She lived there for 18 years and witnessed that black slaves were beaten arbitrarily by slaveholders. The author herself also sheltered many slaves at home, and listened to them personally to explain some miserable experiences under slavery, and how cruelly the slave owners treated the slaves and the tragic fates of the slaves, and also some slaves unyielding for freedomHaving witnessed and listened to the tragic stories of slaves, she really felt great sympathy for their suffering, and her purpose of writing this novel was to inform people of the cruelty of slavery, the painful lives of slaves, and her deep hatred to slavery.1.3 The Main Characters of the NovelTom, who was born in Shelby’s plantation, served his master at Mr. Shelby’s plantation during his childhood and was favored by his master and other slaves. When he grew up, he became the main manager of slaves, Although, Shelby had to sell his beloved slave Uncle Tom for foreclosed to Hailey. When transporting aboard to the South, Tom rescued a little girl Eva, her father bought him from Hailey's hands and treated him well, but good time did notlast long, Eva died, and his father was murdered, Tom once again fell into the hands of cruel slave owners, Mr.Legree, who always whipped him, and did not treat him as man. At that time, he was badly hit by a car in order to save a woman Kathy, In the dying moments of his life, he was still loyal and would rather be killed than betray other slaves. His honest and kind-hearted personalities eventually didn’t make him escape his tragic destiny, and died miserably under the slavery.Another two major characters are Eliza and George, a slave couple. Eliza was also born in Mr. Shelby’s plantation. The couple of Shelby brought her up like their own child, fed her, clothed her, indulged her and taught her, so she was well-educated and they claimed her as their family. One day by accident, Eliza heard her master Mr. Shelby would sell her son, at last she took his son for escaping overnight. Her husband George was not lucky like her. His master was cruel-hearted, and thought George’s business ability was stronger than him, so he deliberately put him to do the hardest, meanest and dirtiest work. He couldn’t endure his master’s mistreatment and abuse, and fled in disguise. During the escape, Eliza and her husband George were lucky to meet by coincidence. With the help of people who went against slavery, they fled to Canada, and eventually gained freedom.2 The Evil Roots for Uncle Tom's Tragic FateDuring that period, the southern plantation economy was prevailing and needed a lot of labors. The main character Uncle Tom was a kindhearted black man who led his death under slavery.2.1 The Evils of SlaveryThe novel began with a trade negotiation, Shelby, the master of Uncle Tom,because of the debt and being hostage, had to sell his best and most reliable slave Tom. And Haley, a black dealer, was brutal and ugly. When Shelby’s wife Mrs. Shelby heard her husband would sell their most reliable slave, his wife said “This is God’s curse on slavery! A bitter a bitter, most accursed thing! A curse to the master and a curse to the slave! I was a fool to think I could make anything good out of such a deadly evil. It is a sin to hold a slave under laws likeours’, … I thought ,by kindness, and care, and instruction, I could make the condition of mine better than freedom—fool that I was!”(Harriet Beecher Stowe, 2001, p.49)[10]From Mrs. Shelby’s remarks, it is evident to show her dislike to slavery. She believes in god with the faith in Christ, but she hates slavery as she clearly knows the dangers of slavery and it can lead to the s laves’ miserable destiny. However, her husband Mr. Shelby still had to sell Uncle Tom to Haley. At that time, he met a woman who said “The slavery I have been on this place five years, body and soul, under this man’s foot; and I hate him as I do the devil! …if you were scalded, … and it’s no use resisting!” (Harriet Beecher Stowe, 2001, p.527)[11]. From her words, we can see the brutal scene and her despair, because she knew that cruelty was the pronoun of slave owners, so she never expected slave owners would have a little sympathy for her, and she just described her situation with resentment.2.1.1 The Hardships for Labor SlavesSlaves were forced to work 15 to 16 hours a day, “At harvest time. They work longer, 12 hours working in the boiler room; eight or nine hours of cane, put them to the factory, livestock, cut the grass and water”(约翰·霍普·富兰克林, 张冰姿, 1988年, p.60)[1]. the owner can arbitrarily beaten them, cut off limbs or kill, “The slaves were often treat brutal, immoral, overwork, malnutrition, ragged clothes, accommodation humble, Lack of sleep and so on is common . More terrible is the slaves are often forced to wear a neck of iron neck-fetter, feet dragging a heavy chains or carry heavy objects, wore bells and iron chair working in the fields, often for weeks been locked together with shackles day and night, often suffer severe beatings, often suffer hound hunt ...” (文辉, 1991, p.79)[2] .We can easily see that the slaves are just a kind of tools and the property of the slave owners, and they work for the slave owners and have no time to rest. They look like beasts of non-stop work. A stop would have been merciless blows by slavery. In short, they live a life just as a dog.2.1.2 The Loss of Dignity as SlavesNegro slaves were traded like goods,when they were going to be sold ,they must endure inner resentment, and show briskness, alertness and cheerfulness, hoping to get a good master, and fearing of being whipped by their slaveholders. if they were not taken away. Black slaves always live in hypocrisy. On the one hand, black slaves hate the slaveholder; on the otherhand, they have to pretend to please him. At that time, all the people thought that white symbolized goodness, purity, beauty, and black symbolized evil, decadence, ugliness. “Shallow color of skin which is a sign of the highest stage of evolution, is advanced species, advanced species are born to create highly civilized biological instinct, with darker nature stupid, can only become a subject of rule”(刘邵贤, 1987, p.64)[3]. In the 19th century, a British poet wrote a poem on the depiction of Africans as “black ugly ghost”(Jordan Winthrop D, 1982, p.20)[12] .The constitution of the United States claim“in one 5 of the population of the United States' black can't calculate as a whole person, just only three 5 of a man. "(中国美国史研究会, 1980, p.258)[4].All the people think blacks were“Superstition, stubborn lazy, love vanity, the arrogance, dishonesty, not clean, not actual, degradation” (马克尔*H*亨特, 1999, p.64-65)[5].and think that blacks have low status, and never have the chance to receive good education and other entertainments, someone describe “Where they slee p small than a person sleep in a coffin” (威旅*福斯特, 1960, p.19)[6] .slave owners never regard blacks as men, and they have no dignity of living at the corner of the dark light.2.2 The Miserable Death of Uncle TomShelby sold Uncle Tom for foreclosing to Hailey. When being transported aboard to the South, Tom rescued a little girl Eva, and her father bought him from Hailey's hands, Eva died, and his father had also been murdered by slavery. After the death of St. Clare, Tom once again fell into the hands of cruel slave owners. Because of saving a woman who was unwilling to act for slaves, Uncle Tom was deadly hit by a car. In the dying moments of his life, he finally recognized the truth that only by struggling could he gain freedom. He urged other slaves to leave this hell as soon as possible with the help of the white people. Legree was defeated by such sudden struggle and fled away. When Uncle Tom lay in his little room, he looked at many white people who stood on their side. He passed away with infinite gratitude and dignity.2.2.1 Uncle Tom—the Representative of A Noble HeroWhen Uncle was at Mr. Shelby’s plantation, he was loyal to his master. One fall, his master let him go to Cincinnati alone and did business for him, and Tom brought home five hundred dollars. Uncle Tom didn’t run away as he always remembered his master’s word s “I trust you, because I think you are a Christian. I know you wouldn’t cheat. ” (斯陀夫人, 1998, p.3)[7].When Tom was sold as a slave to Mr. Legree, he took a short time to familiarize his newlife. He was actually an efficient workman in whatever he undertook, and was prompt and faithful, quite peaceable in his disposition judging from his habits to his principles.Tom was kindhearted and believed in Christianity in nature. Before his death, he said to Mr. Legree “Mas’r, I know ye can do dreadful things; but … And O, there’s all ETERNITY to come!’’(Harriet Beecher Stowe, 2001, p.558)[13]After that, Tom, like a man disenthralled, spoke, in a clear and cheerful voice. From his words, his calm shows his fearlessness of death, before dying; he still sticks to his beliefs.In addition, Uncle Tom always showed his sincerity to others. At first, when he knew his master Shelby would sell him to the slave dealer, he chose to be loyal to his master but not to escape; I think if he escaped at that time, his life would not be so miserable.2.2.2 The Causes for Uncle Tom's DeathUncle Tom in this novel is a tragedy. The author analyses the cause of his death from the following three main reasons: First, his good quality, loyalty, kindness and compassion. When Shelby was going to sell him to the slave dealer and described Tom as a “steady, could, capable” person. When Eliza told Tom, he was going to be sold and ask him to escape with her. Tom said: “Mas’r always found me on the spot—he always will, I never have broken, nor used my pass no ways contrary to my word, and I never will” (Harriet Beecher Stowe, 2001, p.56) [14] When St. Clare was sick, he also prayed for him day and night. He had a warm heart. When he left home and thought about the people and objects, on the ship, without any hesitation, he saved the drowning girl, Eva, helped comfort other slaves, and helped Lucy to escape. These good qualities made him being whipped to death. Other slaves’numbness is also a reason for his death, when Tom was sell to Haley, another slave Sam said: “Now, dar, Tom’s down—wal,course der’s room for some nigger to be up—and why not dis nigger?”(Harriet Beecher Stowe, 2001, p.56)[15]. In the plantation, slaves were interpersonal indifference, slaves saw his companions in trouble and did not help him. Sam’s words show his ruthless, about Tom’s fate, He did not show a bit of sympathy, but simply laughed. The last reason for Uncle Tom’s death is slavery. Slavery itself is cruel, if there is no slavery, Uncle Tom will enjoy the family happiness and other forms of entertainment. If there is noslavery, he will not be sold like a tool. If there is no slavery, he will not be tortured to death by brutal slavery.3 The Georges Fighting for FreedomIn this novel, Uncle Tom’s whole life is a tragedy. His kindhearted, honest personalities and faith made his brutal death. On the contrary, other two main characters the couple of George’s have a happy ending. Both of them are also kindhearted, and are brave enough to fight against slavery, and gain freedom.3.1 The Real Reasons for Eliza to FleeEliza is Mrs. Shelby’s beloved servant, and she is a beautiful, elegant multiracial. She put all her love at her son little Harry. When she overheard the owner want to sell his beloved son, she was pale and trembling, because she knew clearly the sin of the slavery. All mothers are unwilling to send their children to the devil, and deprive his liberty and happiness. And all life can not meet each other, the great maternal love winned over her loyalty to the owner. She bravely took her son Harry to escape overnight.3.2 The Revolt Against the SlaveholdersBefore she learned that his son would be sold, Eliza was in the care of Mrs. Shelby and grown under well-tuned, well-educated, Christian, she can be regarded as an advent servant, who has an obedient, gentle, timid character. When her husband ran to the front of her with anger and said that he wanted to run away and hurt them, Eliza was trying to persuade her husband not to run away, not to hurt anybody, and just to be patient, but when she learned that his son could not escape the fate of being sold, she decided to escape in the midnight alone with his son, and faced the fear and fate in front of her by herself. In order to escape the slave hunt, she took their children to skip the turbulent ice river in the darkness. Along the way, although she came across many difficulties and hardships, she never yielded to slavery.3.2.1 Verbal Protest Against SlaveryWhen George ran to the front of Eliza and said angrily, he had been carefully lived and thought that as long as the job was done, he could uneventful reading and learning, but hismaster saw him more capable, more tormented him, he shook his fist with anger, and r esentment say “either freedom or death”(Harriet Beecher Stowe, 2001, p.26)[16]George’s decision to escape is very brave and crucial, because at that time, unsuccessful escape and being arrested means being tortured to death,3.2.2 Action in Protest Against SlaveryAfter a chat with his wife, George returned to his own master and determined to escape, although the old man Wilson persuaded him, and said the trip would be dangerous, but George still chose to flee to Canada. When he left, he said two guns and a hunting knife are ok; he won't go to the south. If he stepped down to it, at least he could do for himself to six feet of free land; it was his first and last time in Kentucky land. He took his action to escape, and was full of self-confidence to fight for freedom. In fact, faced with the unknown fate, risking such a big risk select to escape, many slaves can hardly think, and only he, deeply understand the meaning of freedom for the people, and has the courage to do things other slaves do not dare to do, he eventually gained freedom4 Analysis on the Impact of African Americans under the Cruel SlaveryAt first, most of them worked in the southern states of cotton, sugar cane plantations, or as miners in the mine fooled, under the pressure of brutal slavery in the United States, their economic and political status was extremely low, without the political rights and economic opportunities the whites have, meanwhile, their descendants were simply not entitled to vote, they even did not have the legal status, not to mention the name of national culture will be respected and protected. Under the double pressure of slavery and the racial discrimination, the African Americans can only participate in political lives through continued fierce struggles.4.1 The Fighting for FreedomThe phenomenon that Slavery beat his slaves often happen in the plantations, Frederick Douglas wrote “in order to ensure good behavior of slaves, master, relying on the whip, inorder to make the humble slave, he relies on a whip, lesson he considered disrespectful slaves, … in order to stimulate the slave to work hard, he relies on the whip, to bondage the spirit of the slave, he also relies on a whip” (Handlin, 1970, p.394)[17]Slaves escape would get lash, and some slaves visited their partner, learning and reading. Working slowly also would to be punished, even if a little fault, black slave owners would also whip. They drunk irrationally, which would often kick the pitiful slaves, burn them with a soldering iron, torture and make them disabled, or even cut off slaves brothers, even worse they sometimes beat pregnant slave, lock and burn them to death or the bodies of the slaves were eaten alive by a dog. In front of the brutal slave owners, the slaves can't stand and try to resist, but ultimately fruitless, the method that can completely get rid of the master is to fight for freedom, so there was like George couple that brave hero fights for freedom.4.2 Contrast Between Social Status of the Present and the Past African AmericansAfter the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation,Constitution "part or any area in any subject to their jurisdiction areas, slaves, or forced labor are not allowed to exist." (南开大学历史系, 1977. p.123)[8]Today, the social status of blacks does improve a lot in every aspect. First of all, they now have the rights to vote. The right to vote is the most basic rights of American political life. Gaining the rights to vote shows the advancement of social status of African Americans. During the slavery period, they did not enjoy any political rights. The person who served as the president had nothing to do with them. In 1866, the Civil Rights Act. mentioned that “Regardless of their race, color, and residence, and whether as slaves, all are considered citizens of the U.S. and its home state, level equal enjoyment of civil rights” (刘绪贻杨生茂, 2002, p.49)[9]. In 1973, a black policeman Brad Thomas won the election, and then became the first black mayor of Los Angeles. In 1983, Harold Washington to defeat white player and became the first black mayor of Chicago. In 2005, Rice become America's first black secretary of state. In 2008, it was known to everyone that Barack Obama was successfully elected as the 44th U.S. president. He is the first African American president in Americanhistory.Secondly, the right to education of blacks has improved. In the period of slavery, black people's education is just whipped by slave owners, and now the relevant law has gradually improved the educational rights for the blacks. As early as 1886, “the Civil Rights Act”claimed African Americans have equal citizenships, and their children and white children have the same right to the school.Once again, their quality of living standards has boosted. During the slavery period, they were deprived of food and clothing, and they wanted to have the same quality of life as whites which was far from them to reach. But nowadays, the black economic status has also been improved. In 1954, the average black family income was just 53 percent of the white households. In 1965, the number was promoted from 54 percent to 62 percent. On wages, the blacks and the white’s gap was narrowing gradually.5 ConclusionThe novel Uncle Tom's Cabin lets us see the evils of slavery: How slave owners treat slaves actually brutally, how miserably the slaves live, etc. In this social context, the fate of the slaves entirely rests in the hands of slave owners, as they can’t reach for freedom, and Uncle Tom is the typical black man who had been poisoned by slavery, but still there are some people who dare to struggle, such as the couple of George, through their own efforts, ultimately fight for freedom and access to the happiness of the society.Based on such a dark social background , although it is full of crucial, there still have a light, Eva, she looks like the sun that illuminates every dark corner of the society ,with her warm hearts. The publication of the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was under these circumstances such as the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery. It was indeed a turning point in their dignity and social status as slaves, and at present, blacks do improve greatly in many aspects, in spite of racial discrimination still exists. The author hopes this thesis can help people witness the initial sufferings and hardships of black slaves, and seek for equality and freedom like Eva. In return, everyone in the world, rich or poor, black or white, treats the people around them with the ways of peace, love and harmony.Bibliography[1] 约翰·霍普·富兰克林, 张冰姿.美国黑人史[M].北京:商务印书馆,1988年.[2] 文辉,大国梦丛书---走向21世纪的美国[M].河南:中原农民出版社,1991.[3] 刘邵贤,欧美政治思想史[M],杭州:浙江人民出版社,1987.[3] 中国美国史研究会.美国史论文集[M].北京:生活·读书·新知三联书店出版社,1980年.[5] 马克尔*H*亨特,意识形态与美国外交政策【M】。