AN ANALYSIS OF UNCLE TOM’S RELIGIOUSITY IN HARRIET BEECHER STOWE’S NOVEL UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
A THESIS
BY
NAME : ROIDA M SARAGIH REG. NO : 080721021
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA FACULTY OF LETTERS
ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT MEDAN
Approved by Supervisor,
Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.hum NIP. 1963 0216 198903 1 003
Submitted to Faculty of Letters University of North Sumatra in partial fulfillment of the requirements for S-1 in English.
Approved by,
Head of English Study Program
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum NIP. 1957 1002 1986 01 2003
Approved by the English Department
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, Roida Masriani Saragih, declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. Except where reference is made in the text of this thesis, this contains no material published else where or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.
No other person’s works has been used without due acknowledgements in the main text of this thesis. This thesis has not been submitted for the award of another degree in any tertiary education.
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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
Name : ROIDA MASRIANI SARAGIH
Title of Thesis : AN ANALYSIS OF UNCLE TOM’S RELIGIOSITY IN HARRIET BEECHER STOWE’S NOVEL UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
Qualification : S-1 / Sarjana Sastra
Department : English
I am willing that my thesis should be available for reproduction at the discretion of the Librarian of University of North Sumatra, Faculty of Letters, English Department on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law of the Republic of Indonesia.
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ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would to thank and praise God, Jesus Christ for His love and guidance in leading me during my study as well as the completion of this thesis.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciate to the Dean of Faculty of Letters, Drs. Syaifuddin, M.A., Ph. D and the Head of English Department, Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum.
I would like to express my best gratitude and special thanks to my supervisors; to Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum, as the first supervisor and Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M. Hum, as the second supervisor, for their advice, support, encouragement, patience and welcome counsel. And I would like to say thanks to all my lecturers for their valuable guidance, precious, thoughts and knowledge during my academic years.
In this special opportunity, I would like to thank my family: J. Saragih, R. Purba, Janelson Saragih, Natal Udin Saragih, Irene Febrina Saragih, Vernando Saragih for their love, patience, and praying.
My special thanks are also due to all my friends for being my great friends and giving me support to complete this thesis.
Medan, February, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
ABSTRACT………. i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……… iii
TABLE OF CONTENT……….. iv
CHAPTER I………. 1
INTRODUCTION……… 1
1.1The Background of The Analysis………. 1
1.2The Problem of The Analysis…………... 3
1.3The Objectives of The Analysis………... 3
1.4The Scope of The Analysis…………... 4
1.5The Significances of The Analysis……… 4
1.6The Method of The Analysis………….… 4
1.7The Review of Related Literature……… 5
CHAPTER II THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK 6 2.1 Fiction Structural aspects………. 6
2.1.1 Conflict……… 6
2.1.2 Plot………... 7
2.1.3 Character and Characterization…… 10
2.1.4 Setting……… 14
2.2.1 Religious of philosophy in Uncle Tom… 19
2.2.2 Uncle Tom’s Elements Religiosity…… 20
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY………. 26
3.1 Research Method of the Analysis………. 26
3.2 Data Collecting Method of the Analysis.. 26
3.3 Data Analyzing Method of the Analysis.. 27
CHAPTER IV THE ANALYSIS OF UNCLE TOM’S RELIGIOSTY………….. 29
4.1 Honest and reliable…..………... 29
4.2 Humble and Full of Love……….... 31
4.3 Faith ………... 34
4.4 Respectful ………. 35
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS…. 38 5.1 Conclusions……….... 38
5.2 Suggestions……… 39
BIBLIOGRAPHY………. APPENDIXES………..
Appendix
Uncle Tom’s Cabin synopsis
ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The Background Of The Analysis
Literature is one of fundamental means of communication. It conveys ideas, feelings, emotions, desires through medium language. In daily life human can’t be separated from literature, because by using literature human can express everything in mind, express feeling, and express intention. In this analysis I intend to talk about literature which is written in the form of novel. That’s why it’s important to tell about the definition about literature, so that either the writer or the readers can be easily understand abut literature itself. R.J Rees (1973:9), in his book English Literature stated that “Literature is a permanent expression in words of some thought or feeling or idea about life and the world”. It means literature offers a picture of reality through words provided in literary works.
Novel is an extended fiction, phrase narrative dealing with human character and actions of a period of time (Peek, 1984: 104). It means novel offer an important event in society and in a country. This analysis writes a story from a novel, which we know that novel is one of the kinds of literature. I intend to write about uncle Tom’s religiosity in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin that is tell us the other side of slavery occurs in the colonies. A slave, Uncle Tom, was happen to be the main character, had an extraordinary religious life.
At the first nineteenth century, there was a novel which raised up the life of slaves in America. Even though before it there so many literatures which raised up the themes of slavery but there weren’t as phenomenal as this one. This novel describe a life of a slave that must be faced his life in the plantation estate. Even, Uncle Tom, a slave, that became a central character in this novel must be experienced of having different employer for some time because of many factors. He also must be left his wife and his children.
The novel entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin opened the eyes of American and offered to see the slavery from another side, the side which is out of their mind before. Slavery is cruel thing. The thing that made minority people were like animals. This is very contrast with the religion which is hold by almost people in America.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, a child of missionaries in America, the writer of this novel, wrote this novel very well. The language style that wasn’t judged the white people even though supposed that the thing was bad. The descriptive and persuasive method that used can suggest the reader to catch out and agreed with the content of the novel itself.
made Uncle Tom different from others, when he was attempted to survive his life from the bad attitude of White peoples on him. His faith to his religion made him survive.
The obstinacy of Uncle Tom to survive his life in the slavery support the writer to observe and discuss his religiosity.
1.2 Problem of the analysis
Trough this novel, the writer has some problems which needs to identify. The problem that the writer identified as having relation to how are Uncle Tom’s faith, love, humbleness, reverence, pious, trustable, and be a good prayer portrayed in this novel.
1.3 Objective of the analysis
The objective of this analysis is to explain Uncle Tom’s faith, love, humbleness, reverence, pious, trustable, and be a good prayer portrayed in this novel.
1.4 Scope of the analysis
The scope and limitation of this analysis focused on Uncle Tom’s religiosity (faith, love, humbleness, reverence, pious, trustable, and be a good prayer) in this novel.
1.5 Significance of the analysis
1.6 Method of the analysis
Method of the analysis plays such an important role in completing an analysis, because without having a method, it will be very difficult to find the source to support the analysis of the thesis itself.
In this thesis, the data are collected by using the library research. First of all, the novel was read. After that, the statements about the topic of the analysis were written down. Next, the data which was related to the topic were searched either by reading books or browsing through the internet, use the structural approaches like the intrinsic aspects, and also use the philosophy approaches like religion philosophy. Finally, the conclusions and suggestions were made through the novel which was read.
1.7 Review of related literature
The following books are the main sources in finding the data and information to analyze the novel, they are:
1. Stowe, Harriet Beecher. 1981. Uncle’s Tom Cabin. This book has been the main source for the writer to write the thesis.
2. Taylor, Richard. 1981. Understanding the Elements of Literature: Its Forms. Techniques And Cultural Conventions. This book help me to understand the elements of literature to support
this writing.
CHAPTER II
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Fiction Structural Aspects
Literature is concerned with all aspects of human life and the universe in their entirety, surely every work of literatures is about something, and the more of a person reads, the better stocked will his mind be with knowledge. There are some opinions about the aspects of novel. Wellek (1977:216) in his book theory of literature stated that novel differenciate in three main aspects such as: plot, characterization, and setting. While Forster(1974:31) divided the structural aspects in the novel in to seven part. They are: sequences, society, imagination, prediction, form, and rhythm. While Taylor (1981:48-49) divided the aspects in conceptual aspects, action, character, and setting. There are many other opinions and concepts in dividing the aspects of novel. But there are four important things that used in compiling a novel, they are: conflict, plot, character, and setting.
2.1.1 Conflict
present a conflict. Novel must be able to tell the readers about what has happened and what will happen then. Unless that’s not a novel. Forster also stated that a novel must have a certain time in telling a conflict like minutes, hour, or year (Forster, 1974:35). Then, how are the readers can find a conflict in a novel? The answer is if the readers want to know what will happen then. If the readers don’t want to know what will happen then so it’s failed to build a conflict. If a conflict was failed to built up, so it was failed to be a novel. In this novel the readers want to know after Dan Haley bought Tom, what will happen to Tom? Does He will escape, or He will make a fight with Haley? Or will He meet his family anymore?
2.1.2 Plot
In literature, a plot is all the events in a story particularly rendered towards the achievement of some particular artistic or emotional effect. In other words, it's what mostly happened in the story or novel or what the story's general theme is based on, such as the mood, characters, setting, and conflicts occurring in a story.
Actually plot divided in some elements.
“Stories that are written in a pyramid pattern divide the plot into three essential parts. The first part is the rising action, in which complication creates some sort of conflict for the protagonist. The second part is the climax, the moment of greatest emotional tension in narrative, usually making a turning point in the plot at which the rising action reverses to become the falling action. The third part, the falling action (resolution) is characterized by diminishing tensions and the resolution of the plot’s conflicts and complications”. (http://web.cocc.edu)
Taylor (1981:52) stated that “a well-made plot always contained an introduction, a development section of rising action, a crisis or catasthrope, a resolution or falling action, and a climax or unraveling of the original conflict that had set the plot in motion.”
The Plot of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Novel
The first plot in this novel is a hassle of a slave to face his life. His closely related with God make him to be a tough person to experience all the bad things happen to him by his employer. Part one (introduction) is the happy life of Uncle Tomin the house that built beside his employer house. Together with his wife and three of his children, Uncle Tom spend the dinner in that little house. In the beginning of this story the readers provided a sorrow for this family that Mr. Shelby actually had sold Uncle Tom to Dan Haley, a slave trader. This is the beginning of uncle Tom’s journey when he will leave all his lovely people.
The development plot when Dan Haley will bring Tom to the slave market. There Tom will be auctioned. Fortunately, before arrive at the market, tom had been sold out to a rich men from New Orleans. Here, Tom meet a new friend, a little girl, Eva, who has an angel heart and always tell Tom the stories in the Bible. Tom find his spirit again to run his life. Tom trusted to manage the financial of St. Clare.
But, Crisis started hen the happiness changes to be sadness when Eva, his little friend, getting ill and passed away. Then followed by his father not so long time after that. Tom’s life is getting bad, before after Augustine St. Clare, his employer had promised a freedom letter to Tom. But because he had passed away , the promise is canceled. Marie St. Clare, the wife of Augustine sold Tom to the owner of cotton plantation, Simon Legree.
Climax from this plot is when Tom was in pain after being whipped because he didn’t want to tell where the two slaves. George Shelby, the first son of his employer, Arthur Shelby, come to buy Tom again. But it’s too late because Tom had passed away.
2.1.3 Character and Characterization
The third element is character/characterization. What’s the meaning of characterization? What's the aspect in a characterization that can be discuss? Barnet (1997:62) said that characterization has two main definition : (1) character in literature and (2) individuality. Then, a simple way in identifying a character in a story is to see some one or somebody else. For example, Pinokio, is only a wood doll, but it was described that it can talk, walk, and has the same feeling like an ordinary boys. But what will we do after find someone/a character? We will discuss the characterization specifically.
Kennedy (1979:43) said that, “characters may seem flat or round, depending on whether a writer sketches or sculptures them.” Flat means that a character shown has just one character, see as a dominant or has the real character (Welleck, 1977:219). Different with Flat character, round character more difficult, more mysterious, and more real. This character raise a figure that always change and har to guess. This character can change according to the story, so this character often han different characteristic in the end of the story with the beginning of the story. I take an example at the character of Emma Lou Morgan of Wallace Thurman’s The Blacker The Berry…
A dramatic change happened to Emma Lou. Cheer young lady changed to be a depressed lady. Optimism change to be skeptics. One of the easiest way in differentiate flat and round character is to find whether the readers can see or want to see what is happened to the figure/character. The other way to determine whether the character has a flat or round character is to see the ability in giving surprise conveniently. If the character never give surprised its flat character. If the character inconvenient it is flat as if round character (Forster, 1974:85)
Uncle Tom’s new life with Augustine St. Clare is not only a big change in his life, but it also marks the start of a new writing theme in the book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Author Harriet Beecher Stowe uses this relatively peaceful interlude to allow her white characters to have intellectual and philosophical discussions about slavery. There are several key players in these arguments and discussions.
One principal character is Augustine St. Clare. He is a fundamentally lazy man, who doesn’t like slavery, but can’t seem to build up the strength to oppose it. He even purchases slaves for himself because he doesn’t want to appear different. In his mind slavery is an institution that he can do nothing to oppose, at least, nothing by himself.
to do her bidding. She take out her anger and frustration at her husband on the slaves. The third character is Miss Ophelia, Augustine’s cousin. Miss Ophelia is from the North, and as such she is fundamentally opposed to slavery. However, she also has a great loathing for the black slaves. She can not tolerate them touching her, an so she maintains a frigid distance from them. Miss Ophelia also does not like Marie St. Clare. She feels that Augustine could have done much better in choosing a wife, and indeed he could, and should, have.
The fourth character that Harriet Beecher Stowe introduces is Augustine St. Clare’s brother, Alfred. Alfred is the exact opposite of his brother Augustine. Whereas Augustine feels that slavery is wrong, Alfred’s opinion is that slavery is a necessary thing, and that there is nothing wrong with it as long as he is able to dominate the slaves. Augustine does nothing about his feelings, though. Alfred ridicules his brother for being a hypocrite and not doing something to advocate an end to slavery.
The fifth player in Stowe’s philosophical discussions is Eva, Augustine St. Clare’s young daughter. In the story Stowe portrays Eva as an angel of sorts. Eva does not approve of slavery, and she wants her father to free all the slaves. Augustine always laughs when he daughter makes this suggestion, but he admires her innocence.
Unfortunately, the very thing Aunt Chloe feared most happens: Uncle Tom is sold to Simon Legree, an evil man who has a very different view of slaves than Augustine or Mr. Shelby had. Simon Legree works his slaves to death. According to Simon Legree:
I don’t go for savin’ niggers. Use up, and buy more, ‘s my way;--makes you less trouble, and I’m quite sure it comes cheaper in the end….Stout fellers last six or seven years; trashy ones gets worked up in two or three…When one nigger ’s dead, I buy another, and I find it comes cheaper and easier, every way.
Harriet Beecher Stowe shows Simon Legree as an animalistic man, who sets his slaves against each other, even putting two of the slaves as task masters over the others. Legree encourages the slaves to snitch on each other.
2.1.4 Setting
The next element is setting. Setting usually means that background, environment, place and time when a story happened. Welleck (1977:221) stated that:
“Setting is environment; and environments, especially domestics interiors, may be viewed as metonymic, or methaporic, expressions of
character. A man’s house is an extension of himself. Describe it and you have described him.”
And,
“Setting may be the expressions of human will. It may, if it is a natural setting, be a projection of the will… Between man and nature there are obvious correlatives, most intensely (but not exclusively) felt by the romantics.”
“Again, setting may be the massive determinant –environment viewed as
physical or social causation, something over which the individual has little
individual control.”
Richard Taylor (1981:70), in his book entitled Understanding the elements of literature: Its forms, techniques and Cultural Conventions, said:
“In fact, setting need not even be physical in terms of time and space, but
may well be constituted of psychological of moral conditions which are
common to a given time, place, or set of circumstances.”
Therefore, the setting of Native Son story, for example, not only a big city in America in 1900, but also t he description that black people is criminal, white people is cruel. The other example, the setting from Hard Time is England, industrious country where at one time while utilitarianism viewed as opinion in main social life.
While, Panuti Sudjiman (1988:44) in his book entitled Memahami Cerita Rekaan, quote the opinion of William Kenney:
“Latar meliputi penggambaran lokasi geografis, termasuk topografi pemandangan, sampaik epada perincian perlengkapan sebuah ruangan; pekerjaanatau kesibukan sehari-hari para tokoh;waktu berlakunya kejadian, masa sejarahnya, musim terjadinya;lingkungan, agama, moral, intelektual, social, dan emosional para tokoh.”
By the statements above, setting is very important to the readers to understand and to catch out the picture of the story clearly.
social behavior, lifestyle, language, etc.While physical setting is place like building, area, and etc.
The Setting of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Novel a. Time setting
Although there is no clear explanation about he time in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, this novel explained the time implicitly. In the beginning of the story, written that the day was a winter day on February. “late in the afternoon of a chilly day in February (p. 1)
Besides, the next part in this novel, still in implicitly, described how Eliza Harris who escaped from Dan Haley and his body guard, crossing the Ohio River by hurdled ice floe on the river.
The huge fragment of ice which she alighted pitched and Creackedas her weight on it, but she stayed there not a Moment,….she leaped to another and still another cake’sStrumbling- leaping- slipping- springing upwards again! (p. 67)
From the explanation above , I’m sure that event in this novel started on February toward the termination of winter time because the ice which closed Ohio River is getting molten.
b. Place Setting
parting of a young black mother from her child. During the course of the journey the mother commits suicide by throwing herself overboard. Uncle Tom, though also missing his family, perseveres with great courage and meekness. He uses the boat ride as an opportunity to befriend young Evangeline, a white girl who is the daughter of an affluent slave owner. When Eva falls overboard and Uncle Tom saves her life by jumping in after her, it leads to Eva’s father, Augustine St. Clare, buying Uncle Tom to serve as a horse driver. Augustine St. Clare bought Tom and brought Tom to their house in New Orleans.
Here, the third place setting to Tom, uncle Tom find a kind person, exactly a kind employer. Big house and built with Spanish and French style.
The carriage stopped in front of an ancient mansion, built in thatMixture of Spanish and French style, of which there are Specimens in some parts of New Orleans. It was built in the Moorish fashion,…….(p. 184)
But, no long after, Augustine St. Clare passed away. And the next place setting is in cotton plantation in Red River. Here, Simon Legree is Tom’s employer.
2.2 Religious of Philosophy
Religious philosophy is not a branch of theology. Religious philosophy raised around 18 century. The thing that would be analysis in religious philosophy is the truth of the religion itself, such as the experiences of human religiosity. That’s why religious philosophy doesn’t analysis faith, but give a question about the truth of the religion. Religious philosophy also analysis and try to explain religion phenomenon, especially the truth of relationship between human and God.
(Numen) make human feel frightened, respect, and fear. The famous Otto’s opinion is Mysterium Tremendum et Fascinosum: the Holy who make human being feel frightened, respect, and fear also that make human be interested to gather with Him.
2.2.1 Religious of Philosophy In Uncle Tom
At the beginning of Uncle Tom’s cabin Novel, told that Uncle Tom is a very religious person. His religious actions was confessed by his first employer, Arthur Shelby.
“No, I mean, really, Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow. He got religion at a camp meeting, four years ago; and I believe He really did get it. I’ve trusted him, since then, with everything I have, …” (p. 2)
Tom got his religion when He joined a camp.
When Augustine St. Clare asked how could Tom knew God while he never seen God yet, Tom answered that He had faced the presence of God in His life.
“Felt Him in my soul, Mas’r, -feel him now! O Mas’r, when I was sold away from my old woman and the children, I was jest a’most broke up. I felt as if there warn’t nothin’ left; and then the good Lord, He stood b y me and He says. ‘Fear not, Tom ;’ and He brings light and joy into a poor faller’s soul, - makes all peace, and I’s so happy, and loves everybody,…” (p. 343)
Many times Tom faced experiences that make him more convenient of his faith to God, just like when he was carried by Halley. Tom heard in his mind that:
As to Tom, He was thinking over some words of an unfashionable old book, which kept running through his head, again and again, as follows:
The same thing was happen when Tom was in Simon Lagree plantation in Red River. One night Tom was dreamt that he heard a voice when he was sitting on a chair with Eva. Eva read him a sentence.
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, …,When thou walkest through the fire; thou shall not be burnet,…,For I am the Lord thy God, …(p. 398)
2.2.2 Uncle Tom’s Elements Religiosity
The relationship with God make human take certain attitude, like religious action. Religiosity is true if human confessing the awesome God and the confession will be real if human prove respectful to the creator. There are some human attitude to communicate with God, such as : praying, commendation, faithfulness, surrender, love, and depend on God. This is the things that human may do to get near with God.
a. Praying
Praying is an important activity in religious life. As a religious person, Uncle Tom always praying in every occasion of his working. Even, he often led the prayer when the slaves gathered in Arthur Shelby plantation.
But it was in prayer that he especially excelled, …in the language of pious old negro, he” prayed right up .“ And so much did his prayer always work on the devotional feelings of his audiences,…(p. 33 34)
Even when Tom sold to Dan Haley and he just had a little bit time to gather with his family, Tom gave himself time to pray.
Praying activities and reading the Bible always did by Tom if he had spare time. As he did when he was on the boat when Dan Haley brought him to New Orleans.
When there seemed to be nothing for him to do, he would climb to a nook among the cotton-bales of the upper deck, and busy himself in studying over his Bible, - and it is there we see him now (p.163)
Tom not only praying for himself but also praying for everyone. One day Augustine St. Clare asked him for praying and asked to teach him praying.
“… but, come, Tom, you pray now, and show me how”…(p.345)Tom’s heart
was full; he poured it out in prayer, like water that have been long
suppressed (p. 345)
He did the same things when Augustine asked him to pray again when he was at the last gasp. Tom praying for Augustine.
And Tom did pray, with all his mind and strength, for soul that was passing,_ the soul that seemed looking so steadily and mournfully from those large, melancholy blue eyes. It was literally prayer offered with strong crying and tears (p. 361)
Then, when Tom sold to Simon Legree, he was keener in praying. Because in the place, the brutal and rude place, Tom experienced many persecution. “O, good Lord! Do look down,- give me the victory! Give me the victory over all!” (p. 408)
And when Cassey want to escaped from the plantation, Tom give her strength by his saying and he promised to pray for her.
“Him that saved Daniel in the den of lions, - that saved the children in the fiery furnace,-Him that walk down the sea, and bade the winds be still, _ He’s alive yet: and I’ve faith to believe He can deliver you. Try it and I’ll pray, with all my might for you”(p.452)
“Tom, therefore, remained behind, with a few who had learned of
him to pray, and offered up prayers for the escape of the
fugitives.”(p.465)
b. Commendation
The other Tom’s religiosity action is commendation the God. As he did when he was relaxed in his cabin. Together with his wife and children and George Sheby, he sing psalmody to God.
The chorus of one of them, which runs as follows, was sung with great
energy and unction:“Die on the field of battle,Die on the field of battle,Glory
in my soul.”(p. 32)
Then, when Tom was sitting down with Eva St. Clare in their garden and they read a part verse of the Bible, Tom also sang a song which told about the content of the Bible.
“O, had I the wings of the morning,I’d fly away to Canaan’s shore; Bright
angles should convey me home,Too the new Jerusalem.” (p. 296)
And when Simon Legree asked his slaves to sing on the way back to plantation, Tom directly sang his psalmody to God.
“Jerusalem, my happy home,Name ever dear to me! When shall my sorrows
have an end,Thy joys when shall---“(p.390)
c. Faithfulness
worried about his husband will never come back anymore. Uncle Tom tried to remind his wife that God always bless him.
“ There’ll be the same God there, Chloe, that there is here.” (106)
Uncle Tom also reminded his wife to believe in God. Tom also urged her to give thanks for all they have got.
“Nothin’ can go no furder than He lets it; thar’s one thing I can thank Him for. It’s me that’s sold and going down, and not you nur the chil’en.”…”Let’s think on our marcies!” he added…(p. 107)
When Tom argued about his faith with Simon Legree, Legree said that there was no God in his plantation except he himself. He is ‘god’ and he asked Tom to give in and life like the other slaves, defenseless to the condition. But Tom answered:
No, Mas’r” said Tom; “I’ll hold on. The Lord may help me, or nothelp; but I’ll hold to Him, and believe Him to the last!”(p.444)
d. Surrender and Depend on God
Tom also always depend on God and surrender his life in God’s protection. Tom realized that as a human being he was able only to hold out if he depended his whole life on God: “I’m in the Lord’s hands.”(p. 107), when Mr. Shelby sold him and must be separated from his wife
and children.
“O Jesus! Lord Jesus! Have you quite forgot us poor critters?”burst forth, at
last;-“he;p, Lord, I perish!” (p. 410)
In his pain, Tom begged God to give him a power:
“Lord Jesus!”, “ You will take care of my soul? O Lord, do! – don’t let me
give out!” (p. 412)
The last time when Tom wanted to tell where did Cassey and Emmeline, the two slave who escaped, went, Simon Legree asked Sambo and Quimbo to rough him up until Tom avow. Before being whipped, Tom uppered his head and surrender all to God.
He set his basket don by the row, and, looking up, said, “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit! Thou hast redeemed me, oh Lord God of Truth!” and thenvquietly yielded himself to the rough, brutal grasp with which Quimbo seized him (p.468)
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Method of the Analysis
In completing this thesis, I am performing the descriptive qualitative method. The method is applied by describing the data and analyzing them, related to the focus of analysis. According to Bogdan and Biklen in their book entitled Qualitative Research for Education: an Introduction to Theory and Method (1982:2), Qualitative research may be used either as the primary strategy for data collection, or in conjunction with observation, document analysis or other techniques.
There are several steps in applying this method. The first step is collecting the books which relate to the religiosity. The second step is reading the collected books, including journals, notes and relevant sources to the thesis. The next step is quoting the data and describing them into the analysis. The analysis will be performed by explaining the religiosity which can be found in a novel entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe .
3.2 Data Collecting Method of the Analysis
The beginning of thesis procedures is to collect the books related to the title of thesis. The focus of analysis is about religiosity which can be found in a novel entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The books are collected from several sources such as library, book store and internet.
3.3 Data Analyzing Method of the Analysis
This procedure is the process of describing the data and analyzing them into the thesis’s analysis. The data are including the religiosity, such as: faith, love, humbleness, reverence, pious, trustable, and tough prayer as it is portrayed in the novel of Uncle Tom’s Cabin .
In accomplishing this thesis, I do several steps, they are: 1. Collecting the data about:
a. Religiosity of Uncle Tom. b. Religion Philosophy approaches 2. Selecting the data about:
a. The religious experiences and religious aspects related to the theme of the thesis. b. The structural approach considers and analyzes the novel from intrinsic aspects
namely, plot, character, and setting.
3. Describing the religiosity, such as: Honest and reliable, Humble and Full of Love, Faith, and Respectful in aspect of meaning and the examples.
CHAPTER IV
THE ANALYSIS OF UNCLE TOM’S RELIGIOSITY
4.1 Honest And Reliable
Uncle Tom is a middle aged black man who is very honest and intelligent. It is rare to find in slavery life at that time an honest and reliable person like Uncle Tom. Mr. Shelby, his first employer confessed his honesty and his piety.
“…, Tom is an uncommon fellow, …, steady, honest, capable, manage my whole farm like a clock.” … “Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow, … and I always found him true and square in everything.” (p. 2)
Uncle Tom’s master, Mr. Shelby, entrusts him with many of the dealings of his house, even trusting him to take large sums of money of business trips for his master. For Uncle Tom this could be a prime opportunity to escape. However, Uncle Tom always returns because he cannot violate Mr. Shelby’s trust by running away with his master’s money. Given Harriet Stowe’s religious background it isn’t surprising that Uncle Tom’s story mirrors the biblical story of Joseph’s enslavement in Egypt. Even as the Joseph’s Egyptian master Potiphar chose to entrust Joseph with all his belongings, so Mr. Shelby entrusts his dealings to Uncle Tom.
“ Tom, why don’t you make tracks for Canada?” “Ah, master trusted me, and I couldn’t,”… (p. 2)
impossible for him to escape. All the people in the city had know about the honesty of Uncle Tom. Therefore so many people didn’t believe that he will be sold.
“Now, ye don’t! well, reely,” said the smith, “who’d a thought it! Why, ye needn’t go to fetterin’ him up this yer way. He’s the faihfullest, best critter---“(p. 112)
Tom’s piety put to a test when Haley asked Him where did Lucy go, the slave he had bought that her son was sold without told Lucy. Even though Tom hate haley and actually there was no relation between lost of Lucy with him, Tom told Haley where did Lucy go.
“well, Mas’r, “ said Tom, “towards morning something brushed by me, and I kinder half woke; and then I learn a great splash, and, then I clare woke up, and the gal as gone. That’s all I know on’t.” (p. 150)
When Tom was bought by St,\. Clare family, his honesty more put to a test. Almost two years he worked for this second employer, he has trusted to manage the St. Clare financial.
Trusted, to an unlimited extend, by a careless master, who handed him a bill without looking at it, and pocketed the change without counting it, Tom had every facility and temptation to dishonesty; and nothing but an impregnablsimplicity of nature, strengthen by Christian faith, could have kept him from it. But to that nature, the very unbounded trust reposed in him was bond and seal for the most scrupulous accuracy.(p.231)
Even, by Tom honesty, Eva, the only one daughter of St. Clare that she was at the last gasp, telling Tom about what does her feeling and telling about hat will happen to her when she pass away then. Only with Tom Eva share her feeling.
The friend who knew most of Eva’s own imaginings and foreshadowings was her faithful bearer, Tom. To him she said what she would not disturb her father by saying. To him she imparted those mysterious intimations which the soul feels, as the cords begin to unbind, ere leaves is clay forever. (p.333-334)
4.2 Humble and Full of Love
Uncle Tom’s piety also seen when he show his respectful and his lowly to everybody, although the people is youngest then him and even to white people. When Uncle Tom learning writing from George Shelby, the son of his employer, he always show his respectful and his lowly.
“La sakes, now, does i?” said Uncle Tom, looking with a respectful,admiring air, as his young teacher flourishingly scrawled…, he patiently re-commenced. (p.24)
In this novel, Stowe, said at least twice that Tom is a lowly person.
We must look some time among its crowded decks before we shall find again our humble friend Tom. (p. 162)There is danger that our humble friend Tom be neglected amid the adventures of the higher born:…(p. 267)
Because of his humbleness, Tom feel free in sharing love to everybody. His humbleness made him has a good relation with everybody. Whoever he met , Tom always try to show his love. When he went with Dan haley and left his family and his employer, The Shelby, he sent message to George, at that time wasn’t in home:
“I’m sorry,” said Tom, “that Mas’r George happened to be away.”… “ Give my love to Mas’r George,” he said, earnestly (p.112)
“I’ll carry your basket a piece, “said Tom, compassionately (p.246)“You seems to be sick, or in trouble, or somethin’, said Tom (p.246)
His friendship with Eva, the daughter of his employer, more close day after day. Tom love Eva very much just like he love his own daughter.
He loved her as something frail and earthly, yet almost worshipped her as something heavenly and divine (p. 294)
He show his love when the young lady experienced a trouble, she as in pain and laid down on her bed. Nobody except Tom who always be ready beside her.
Uncle Tom was much in Eva’s room. The child suffered much from nervous restlessness, and it was a relief to her to be carried; and it was Tom’ greatest delight to carry her little frail from in his arms, resting on a pillow, now up and down her room, now out into the verandah; … he would sometimes walk with her under the orange-trees in garden,…(p.332)
Eva herself realize that Tom loved her so much, Tom always be there to help Eva. so when her father want to do the same thing like Tom do, Eva said:
“O, papa, let Tom take me. Poor fellow! It pleases him; and you know it’s all he can do now, and he wants to do something.” (p.332)
Moreover at night, Tom didn’t sleep in his room, but he slept in veranda of Eva’s room. He kept on her there at that time that his young master need his help.
“Tom, at last, ould not sleep in his room, but lay all night in the outer verandah, ready to rouse at every call” (p.334)
didn’t answered. In his deepest heart Tom determined to do everything so that both of his friends get the freedom even though he must die.
“I hasn’t got nothing to tell, Mas’r, “said Tom with a slow, firm, deliberate utterance….” I know (where they go), Mas’r; but I can’t tell anything, I can die! (p.469)
Heard Tom said like that, with his adjutants, Simon Legree started to flagellate Tom. Tom kept quiet and even there was an occasion for him to say when flagellanted and before he unconscious, he said:
“Ye Poor miserable critter!” there an’t no more you can do! I forgive ye, with all my soul!”(p. 471)
4.3 Faith
Tom is a very religious person. Mr. Shelby, his first employer acquainted him a religion for the first time. By joining the camp, Tom was aware of the presence of God. And ever since that time he always use every moment to learn and to practice the contents in the bible. Day after day, Tom also believed that God is real and take part in his whole life. Although his wife, Chloe asked him to abscond when Mr. Shelby sold him to Dan Haley, Tom was left on and believe that every moment that happened in his life is God’s plan on him.
“There’ll be the same God there, Chloe, that there is here.”…“I’m in the Lord’s hands, “said Tom; “nothin’ can go no furder that He lets it; and thar’s one thing I can thank Him for. It’s me that sold and going down, and not you nur the chil’en. Here you’re safe’ – what comes will come only on me; and the Lord, He’ll help m, - I know He will.”(p. 106-107)
“Yer ought ter look up to the Lord above- he’s above all – thar don’t a sparrow fall without him.” (p. 108)
When Tom was in Simon Legree’s cotton plantation in Red River, a place full of rudeness, Tom defended his conviction to God. Even though there was sadness and horribility found there, he believed that the justice of God will be obvious. Tom tried to do his work toughly.
Quiet and peaceable in his disposition, he hoped, by unremitting diligence, to avert from himself at least a portion of the evils of his condition. He saw enough of abuse and misery to make him sick and weary; but he determinded to toil on, with religious patience, committing himself to Him that judgeth righteously, not without hope that some way of escape might yet be opened to him (p. 399)
4.4 Respectful
Tom is a respectful person. Although he never got the formal education, Tom can only write and read after taught by George Shelby, Tom understood about decency. He learned it from the life surround him and from his employers and also from his religion. He knew the good things to do. Just like when Augustine St. Clare asked him after bought him from Dan Haley whether he is drunkard or not. Looked blank, directly Tom answered back.
Tom looked surprised, and rather hurt, and said, “ I never drink, Mas’r.”(p.173)
Tom also has an excellent skillfulness from another slaves. Although he’s a newcomer in St. Clare family, Tom was able to adapted and gave good services to the family. Tom’s style is simple but well mannered. Tom carried through his style to make people comfort around him.
therefore, in his well-brushed broadcloth suit, smooth beaver, glossy boots, faultless wristbands and collar,…looked respectable enough… (p.203)
Tom is a smart slave, he could directly adapted with his environment. Although the situation in plantation of Simon Legree was very cruel and brutal, different with the situation in New Orleans in Augustine St. Clare that full of composure, tom was able to do his work very well.
It took but a short time to familiarize Tom with all that was to be hoped or feared in his new way of life. He was in expert and efficient workman in whatever he undertook; and was, both from habit and principle, prompt and faithful. (p. 399)
Besides, although he is a slave, he always take care of the existences the people around him. Especially for the people who lives in suffering and sadness, Tom always support them to be strong to run the living. Before separated with George, Tom noticed him and motivated him to do the best things.
“And now, Mas’r George,” said Tom, “ye must be a good boy; ‘ member how many hearts is sot on ye. Al’ays keep close to your mother. Don’t be gettin’ into any of them foolish ways boys has of getting’ too big to mind their mothers. ….(p. 115).
And when on the boat on Mississippi river, then he met Jhon, another slave that bought by Dan Haley, he felt the sadness of Jhon. After Jhon told him about his wife and his children, Tom tried to calm him down.
“Tom drew a long breath from a sore heart, and tried, in his poor way, to comfort him.”(p. 138)
When Lucy bewailed her fate who has lost her baby because Dan Haley has sold the baby out quietly. With his own way, he tried to give amusing and reinforcement to Lucy.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusion
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” by Harriet Beecher Stowe is a classic novel that was said to have provoked the American Civil War. By discussing the issue of slavery and showing the cruel aspects of it Harriet Beecher Stowe motivated people to take sides over the issue.
From the explanation above, it can be found that Uncle Tom’s Religiosity reflects his way of life facing his life as a slave. His religious knowledge makes him try to struggle and survive in his slavery life to face so many problems, such as to face different employer and live far from his family.
The different action from each employer makes his life strong and always take the positive things of something happens to his life. It’s clear that his religious knowledge increases from day to day that makes Uncle Tom run his life simple. The explanation above also found that the religious side of Uncle Tom is Horizontal religiosity. He applied His faith to God by sharing his love to everybody. By his religious knowledge, Uncle Tom attempt to make people that live in suffering feel comfort, whether to black people or white people.
5.2 Suggestion
There are suggestions of the thesis:
And for the best result, it is suggested for applying the message of Uncle Tom’s religiosity in human daily life.
2. It is also suggested for potential readers whom interest in a vast study of religiosity to use more reliable sources to make a better analysis of religiosity.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a good novel to discuss. It’s found that so many interesting things that can be discussed. Especially in discussing more about the main character. Besides, in this novel also found that besides the main character, another characters and even the writer of this novel also have a good study value to discuss.
I don’t think that “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” as a book is particularly amazing. Neither the plot, nor Uncle Tom’s heavenly escape hatch, are very satisfying. Fortunately, the characters are extremely rich and vibrant, and this makes up for many of the book’s shortcomings. I also feel that “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is important because it teaches about the slavery that effects thousands upon thousands of Americans in the past. I would definitely recommend “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” as a historical book that all people should read at least once.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Appendix 1
Uncle Tom's Cabin synopsis
Appendix 2
BIOGRAPHY OF HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), American author, social reformer, and philanthropist wrote one of the classic works in the American literary canon, Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852).
While giving a human face to slavery and remarkably addressing the oppression of African Americans “Who so low, who so poor, who so despised as the American slave?”—(The Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe pub.1889, ch. 1.) it has also proven to be a lasting and influential literary work for political, spiritual, and humanitarian causes. First published in the anti-slavery newspaper The National Era in 1851, it soon became a best-seller and launched Stowe as an internationally recognized celebrity. Stowe was an intense though modest woman who would devote her life to education and good, honest, and compassionate works for others.
specific memories of her, she had the overall impression from the rest of her siblings, her father, friends, and the community that she was well-loved and admired by all. She had also bestowed her patience, compassion, and love of doing good works for others onto her daughter.
The loss of Mrs. Beecher was a dark time for her husband and children. Harriet was sent to stay with her High Church Aunt Harriet Foote who lived in Nut Plains, near Guildford, Connecticut. Under her tutelage young Harriet learned the catechism, read her prayer book, the Bible, works by Samuel Johnson, and Arabian Nights. When she was six, her father remarried. An extremely pious woman, Harriet née Porter soon gained the affections of all the children. With Lyman she had a son Frederick (1818-1820), who died of scarlet fever and a daughter Isabella (1822-1907). Young Harriet was often entrusted to care for her when she was not attending classes at the Litchfield Academy under Mr. Brace. Harriet was becoming a voracious reader and competent writer, while also learning the practical arts of knitting and sewing. The Beecher household was bustling and happy once again.
the Lane Theological Seminary. Their home, located on Gilbert Avenue, is now a National Historical museum.
In 1834 Harriet won a writing contest in the Western Monthly Magazine. Soon she was writing articles, essays and stories for it; other publications she wrote for were The Atlantic Monthly, Western Monthly Magazine, New York Evangelist, the Independent, and the Christian Union. In 1836 Harriet married widowed clergyman Calvin Ellis Stowe (1802-1886), a professor
at her father's theological seminary; they would have seven children: twin daughters Eliza Taylor (1836-1912) and Harriet Beecher (1836-1907), Henry Ellis (1838-1857), Frederick William (1840-1870), Georgiana May (1843-1890), Samuel Charles [Charley] (1848-1849), and Charles Edward (1850-1934).
It was while living (from 1832-1850) in Cincinnati that Harriet and her husband encountered first-hand the reality of slavery; bordering the slave state Kentucky, they met escaped slaves and heard stories of their appalling treatment and desperate plight for freedom. There was much public outcry against slavery, the Underground Railroad was formed, pamphlets were published, riots broke out, and mobs tried to wield their power politically, either for or against. In 1839, when Harriet and Calvin learned that their own servant girl, whom they thought was a freed slave, was being hunted by her Kentucky owner, Calvin and Harriet’s brother Henry Ward drove her through the night to a friend’s home to hide.
Catherine she had co-authored An Elementary Geography (1833), but her first novel The Mayflower was published in 1843.
Memories (1854) was followed by her story of slave rebellion Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (1856), and Minister’s Wooing (1859).
When the American Civil War broke out in 1861 Stowe wrote “It was God’s will that this nation—the North as well as the South—should deeply and terribly suffer for the sin of consenting to and encouraging the great oppressions of the South”—(The Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe ch. 16). In 1864 the Stowes were living in Hartford, Connecticut and spending
winters in Mandarin, Florida. Harriet entered a prolific period of writing. Pearl of Orr’s Island (1862) was followed by Agnes of Sorrento (1863), House and Home Papers (1864), Little Foxes (1865), Nina Gordon (Formerly ‘Dred’, 1866), Religious Poems (1867), Queer Little People (1867), The Chimney Corner (1868), Men of Our Times (1868), Old-Town Folks (1869), Little Pussy Willow (1870), Pink and White Tyranny (1871), Old Town Fireside Stories (1871), and My Wife and I (1872).
In 1873 the Stowes moved to their home on Forest Street in Hartford, Connecticut where Mark Twain and his family were neighbors and they soon became friends. Later publications of Stowe’s include Palmetto Leaves (1873), We and Our Neighbors (1875), Betty’s Bright Idea (1876), Footsteps of the Master (1877), Bible Heroines (1878), Poganuc People (1878), and Dog’s Mission (1880).
Byron. When she found out about Lord Byron’s incestuous relations with his half-sister she wrote Lady Byron Vindicated (1870) and The History of the Byron Controversy (1871).
Harriet Stowe was admired by, friends with, and corresponded with many famous figures of her day including then American President Abraham Lincoln, Prince Albert, the Duke of Argyll, authors John Ruskin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Charles Dickens, and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. She either sent them copies of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and expressed her hopes that they would support the anti-slavery cause, or they wrote to her letters of support and encouragement after reading her famous novel. On her seventieth birthday, 14 June 1882, she was fêted at a garden party held by her Boston publishers Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. It was attended by over two hundred guests, the cream of America’s literati. Toasts, speeches, letters, and poems were read in honour of Stowe, her life and works.
Harriet Beecher Stowe died on 1 July 1896, at home in Hartford, Connecticut and now rests in the Academy Cemetery of Andover, Massachusetts. Her son Charles Edward wrote The Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe (1889).
Harriet Beecher Stowe - Writings
Writings by Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, American woman writer. Harriet Beecher Stowe Quotations
A letter to her husband with details of the "dark side of domestic life" -- "I am sick of the smell of sour milk, and sour meat, and sour everything...."
1849: "The Twelve Months. A New Year's Dream"
Early poem by Stowe. Originally published in The Christian Keepsake, and Missionary Annual, for 1849.
1849: Excerpts of Letters to Calvin Stowe
Sad excerpts from several letters, detailing their son Charley's illness and death in a cholera epidemic.
1851: Uncle Tom's Cabin
The first installment was published June 5, 1851, in National Era. This etext version of the second edition is at the University of Virginia.
Uncle Tom's Cabin (Gutenberg text) The Gutenberg text version.
Uncle Tom's Cabin (Gutenberg text)
Alternate locations for the Gutenberg text version. Uncle Tom's Cabin Editions
Color illustrations of many editions; the Second Edition now includes a link to an etext rendition. 1851: The Two Altars
The Two Altars; or, Two Pictures in One: another response to the Fugitive Slave Act, published in New York Evangelist, June 12 and June 19, 1851
1852: Letter to Eliza Cabot Follen
1853: Letter to Garrison
Reproduction of a letter from Stowe to famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, discussing Frederick Douglass.
1854: Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin
Stowe's "prickly" best-seller, explaining and defending the original book. 1854 or 1855: The Christian Slave
Dramatic readings written by Stowe, based on Uncle Tom's Cabin. 1856: Dred; A Tale of the Great, Dismal Swamp
Another anti-slavery novel by Stowe, depicted at this University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee site with just a snippet of the appendix.
November 27, 1862: Reply to...
A REPLY To "The Affectionate and Christian Address of Many Thousands of Women of Great Britain and Ireland to Their Sisters the Women of the United States of America", originally published in The Atlantic Monthly.
1863: Sojourner Truth, the Libyan Sibyl
Originally printed in The Atlantic Monthly, two stellar women of abolition meet, and talk of slavery, religion and women's rights.
1869: House and Home Papers
Stowe's discussion of home life in America -- for instance, a discussion of "help" in New England versus "servants" in Europe versus slavery in the South. Page images.
1873: Woman in Sacred History
1873: The New Housekeeper's Manual
Written with her sister Catherine E. Beecher. A reproduction of the title page and the facing illustration, plus a little information on the Beecher sisters.
