TOM’S STRUGGLE TO GET FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY IN HARRIET BEECHER STOWE’S UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
A THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
by Datu Falah
Student Number : 031214085
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or
parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, August 24, 2009
The Writer
Datu Falah
031214085
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertandatangan dibawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Datu Falah
Nomor Mahasiswa : 031214085
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
TOM’S STRUGGLE TO GET FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY IN HARRIET BEECHER STOWE’S UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (jika ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan ke dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal 12 September 2009
Yang menyatakan,
Datu Falah
ABSTRACT
Falah, Datu (2009). Tom’s Struggle to Get Freedom in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis aims to analyze Tom’s struggle to get freedom in an American Classic novel entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It focuses on non-violent struggle that Tom experiences during his life as a slave. The study consists of two discussion areas, namely the analysis of Tom’s character and the analysis of Tom’s struggle to get freedom from slavery.
To find the basis in answering the problem formulation, the writer employs a library research. There are two kinds of source, the primary source and the secondary sources. The primary source is the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. While the secondary sources consist of books of literary theories, theory of ways of struggle, history of African American in America, racism and, and also from articles on the internet.
The analysis applies the socio-historical approach, which uses the social historical condition in America as the basis of the analysis. The analysis of the problem uses the theory of characterization by Murphy and non-violent struggle by Martin Luther King.
After analyzing the novel, the writer made two conclusions. The first conclusion is about Tom’s character. Physically, Tom is an African American who carries the physical features of his race. He is a slave in America belonging from one owner to another owner. Tom has five prominent characters, namely religious, trustworthy, honest, reliable, compassionate, and loyal.
The second conclusion is about Tom’s struggle to get freedom. Tom’s struggle is classified as violent struggle that matches the criteria of non-violent struggle by King. There are five criteria elaborated as follows: first, the struggle focuses on dynamic spiritual, emotion, and mind. Tom struggles by practicing his religion with all his heart and soul, holding a prayer meeting, and devoting himself to God, which eventually bring influence to his masters. Second, the struggle tries to win his masters’ friendship and understanding. Tom becomes a friend to the Shelby, gains Haley’s trust, and becomes Eva’s best friend and a shoulder to cry on for St. Clare. Third, the struggle is not against the person, but against the evil deeds, and the injustice. Tom practices the value of his religion to love his enemies and pray for them. Fourth, the struggler avoids not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. Tom’s behaviour is based on the principle of love. He loves his friends and masters simply because God loves them. The last is the universe is on the side of justice. Tom believes that every cloud has a silver lining. He believes that in God there is a happy ending to his suffering.
ABSTRAK
Falah, Datu (2009). Tom’s Struggle to Get Freedom in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini bertujuan menganalisa perjuangan Tom untuk memperoleh kebebasan dalam sebuah novel klasik Amerika berjudul Uncle Tom’s Cabin karya Harriet Beecher Stowe. Skripsi ini menitikberatkan pada perjuangan tanpa kekerasan yang Tom alami selama hidupnya sebagai seorang budak. Studi ini terdiri atas dua area pembahasan, yaitu analisa karakter Tom, dan analisa perjuangan Tom untuk memperoleh kebebasan.
Untuk mencari landasan dalam menjawab rumusan masalah, penulis menggunakan studi pustaka. Ada dua macam sumber, sumber utama dan sumber tambahan. Sumber utama berasal dari novel karya Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Sedangkan sumber tambahan terdiri atas buku-buku teori literatur, teory perjuangan, sejarah orang Afrika Amerika di Amerika, rasisme dan juga artikel-artikel dari internet.
Analisa novel ini menerapkan pendekatan sosial historical yang memanfaatkan kondisi sosial historikal di Amerika sebagai dasarnya. Analisa rumusan masalahnya menggunakan teori karakterisasi oleh Murphy dan perjuangan tanpa kekerasan oleh Martin Luther King.
Setelah menganalisa novel tersebut, penulis membuat dua kesimpulan. Kesimpulan pertama adalah tentang karakter Tom. Dilihat dari fisiknya, Tom adalah seorang Afrika Amerika yang membawa ciri-ciri fisik rasnya. Dia adalah seorang budak di Amerika Selatan yang berganti dari satu pemilik ke pemilik yang lain. Tom memiliki lima karakter yang menonjol, yaitu religius, dapat dipercaya, jujur, dapat diandalkan, berbelas kasih, dan loyal.
Kesimpulan kedua adalah tentang perjuangan Tom untuk memperoleh kebebasan. Perjuangan Tom diklasifikasikan sebagai perjuangan tanpa kekerasan yang sesuai dengan kriteria perjuangan tanpa kekerasan dari King. Ada lima criteria yang dijabarkan sebagai berikut: pertama, perjuangan tersebut menitik beratkan pada kedinamisan spiritual, emosi, dan pikiran. Tom berjuang dengan menjalankan agamanya denagn segenap hati dan jiwanya, mengadakan persekutuan doa, dan mengabdikan dirinya pada Tuhan, yang pada akhirnya membawa pengaruh terhadap majikannya. Kedua, perjuangan tersebut mencoba memenangi persahabatan dan pengertian majikannya. Tom menjadi teman bagi keluarga Shelby, mendapatkan kepercayaan Haley, dan menjadi teman baik Eva dan tempat bersandar bagi St. Clare.Ketiga, perjuangan tersebut tidak melawan orangnya, tetapi melawan perbuatan jahat dan ketidakadilan. Tom menjalankan nilai agamanya untuk mengasihi musuhnya dan berdoa untuk mereka. Ke empat, orang yang berjuangan tersebut tidak hanya menghindari kekerasan fisik eksternal, tetapi juga menghindari kekerasan spiritual internal. Tingkah laku Tom didasarkan pada prinsip cinta kasih. Dia mengasihi teman-teman dan para majikannya hanya karena Tuhan mengasihi mereka. Yang terakhir adalah alam
semesta ada di pihak keadilan. Tom percaya bahwa ada secercah asa dalam setiap penderitaan. Dia percaya pada Tuhan bahwa akan ada akhir yang bahagia untuk penderitannya.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Praise and thanks let us send to Allah S.W.T. the Almighty and most worthy of praise, for His guide, mercy and blessing, so that finally I can finish this
thesis. In addition, I would like to express gratitude to the following people who
have helped, guided and encouraged me to accomplish this thesis.
My deepest thanks goes to my major sponsor, Henny Herawati, S.Pd.,
M.Hum. for her guidance, encouragement, advice and patience from the beginning until I finish this thesis writing. My next appreciation goes to my
co-sponsor, Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y. M.Hum, who has willingly spent his time for reading, correcting, and giving some suggestions and improvements for
my thesis. I would like to thank all the Lecturers of English Language Education
Study Program of Sanata Dharma University for enriching me with valuable
knowledge.
My great honour goes to Bapak Priyo Waspodo and Ibu Martini Anggriani. I am thankful to receive their love, pray and support for all my life. I also thank to my brother, Duta Falah and my sister, Amalia Falah, for their
support.
I would give my sweetest thanks to Petra Sri Sukesti for her attention,
support and every moment we have spent together. She fills my life with many
precious life experiences.
I would like to express my appreciation for my caring best friends, TopX,
Jamal, Didik, Ferry, Kang Syarif, Nina, Anash and Priska, who always help and make me happy. I thank them for their loyal and compassionate friendship. I
also thanks to other PBI students of the year 2003 that I cannot mention one by
one.
Lastly, I thank those who have supported and encouraged me to finish this
thesis. May Allah bless all of them.
Datu Falah
DEDICATION PAGE
This thesis is dedicated to:
My parents, Lover, Best Friends and myself
Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE...i
APPROVAL PAGES... ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ...iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ... v
ABSTRACT...vi
B. Problems Formulation ... 4
C. Objectives of the Study ... 4
D. Benefits of the Study ... 5
E. Definition of Terms ... 6
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE... 8
A. Theoretical Review... 8
1. Critical Approaches ... 8
2. Character... 10
3. Characterization... 11
4. Ways of Struggle ... 13
B. Historical Review of the Afro American People in America... 16
1. History ... 16
2. Racism ... 18
C. Theoretical Framework ... 20
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY... 22
A. Object of The Study ... 22
B. Approach ... 23
C. Method of The Study... 24
CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS... 26
A. The Portrayal of Uncle Tom’s Cabin ... 26
1. Pysical Appearance and Personal Description... 26
2. Personal Characteristic... 27
B. Tom’s Struggle to Get Freedom From Slavery in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin ... 37
1. Focusing on Dynamic Spiritual, Emotion, and Mind... 38
2. Winning the Opponent’s Friendship and Understanding ... 40
3. Fighting Against Injustice ... 42
4. Using The Ethics of Love, Sense and Morality... 43
5. Having Faith in God ... 46
CHAPTER V CONCLUSSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS... 48
A. Conclusions ... 48
B. Suggestions ... 50
1. Suggestions for Future Researcher(s) ... 51
2. Suggestion for Teaching and Learning Activities... 51
REFERENCES... 54
APPENDICES... 57
Appendix 1 ... 58
Appendix 2 ... 61
Appendix 3 ... 64
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
There are five chapters in this study. This chapter, as an introduction
chapter, consists of five parts. The first part is a background of the study which
gives background information about this study, including some reasons that serve
as a basis for writing this study and the importance of the topic of the study. The
second part, problem formulation, which consists of two questions, presents the
questions related to the issues being discussed in the following chapter. The third
part, objectives of the study, states the purposes of writing this study. The fourth
part, benefits of the study, presents the aims of the study. The last part, definition
of the terms, defines important terms that the writer uses in this study to clarify
meanings and avoid misunderstandings.
A. Background of the Study
Basically there are three basic genres of literary works. They are prose,
poetry and drama. The extensions of those basic genres include novel, play,
autobiography and short story. Literature asks the readers to explore their
imagination and to see many realities which are usually the experiences of
people’s daily real life situation. In line with the fact that a work of a literature is
about the reflection of life experiences, novel is one of the best reflections of
human life since novel presents life itself. Van De Laar and Schoonderwoend says
respect resembling the world we live in, but with an individuality of its own”
(163).
In this study, I decided to work in a novel because it can hold the reader
into a certain situation, place or period occurring in the society. The plot which is
acted by the characters in the novel makes the novel interesting to read. A novel
usually carries a message about a change in social condition as well as social
criticism. Many authors of novels present stories about life in their works because
they can give a support, strength, or reflection of the struggle for life for the
readers. Through the novel of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was published in 1852,
Harriet Beecher Stowe spoke her anti-slavery message. The experience during her
life encouraged her to write this novel. I choose this novel because it is an
interesting novel that is filled with anxieties, courage and desires of the characters
that give us knowledge of life and social condition during the time written in the
novel. It is in accordance with Roger B. Henkle who says, “Novels reflect
elemental facts and forces of life, our hidden anxieties, fears, and desires in our
rapidly changing world” (3).
As cited from Slave narratives and Uncle Tom's Cabin, the novel entitled
Uncle Tom’s Cabin actually was Stowe’s mind-speaking of her idea against
slavery. Stowe had a deep feeling of anti-slavery although she was not an active
abolitionist. She grew up in the society of abolitionist and saved runaway slaves.
In 19th century, it was very risky to write or publish an anti-slavery novel. After
even more accessible to a wide audience. The novel was sold as a bestseller novel,
was translated into many languages and was adapted for the theater.
Novel is a reflection of people’s daily life. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, an
anti-slavery novel, really reflects the condition of the society at that time. The Black
slaves suffered from their cruel White masters’ words and actions. Humanity and
freedom were expensive things for them. Stanley Harrold explains that American
Abolitionist Movement happened in the 18th and 19th centuries. It also often
called the antislavery movement (1). The movement finally reached its purpose
when the American Civil War happened and The 13th Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States on abolishing slavery throughout the United
States was ratified in 1865. However, the society where Tom lives, 1850’s in
South America, still manage to keep slavery. Tom as the protagonist character of
the novel is the mirror of the condition of the black slaves.
As a slave, Tom lives in a cabin in the farm. He is one of the slaves in
Shelby’s farm in Kentucky. He lives with his wife, Chloe, and their two children.
The interesting phenomena about him is that he is an African American man who
suffers from slavery in the Southern part of America and tries to survive and be
loyal to his master and friends while struggling to get his freedom, mainly is
triggered by his knowledge of his faith. Through the character of Tom, Stowe
spoke her minds. Tom is consistently trying to improve himself despite the limits
placed upon him by slavery. He knows that his position is less powerful (as a
equality, freedom and humanity. Ironically, he never gets his freedom until his
death and he never regrets all of his struggles.
The concerns of the content of the story and the struggles of the main
character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin have attracted me to
conduct this study. We can learn that nobody wants to be enslaved by others.
Freedom is the right for every human being, no matter what his/her race, skin,
religion, and nation is. The forms of slavery are continuing following each era,
starting from buying-selling people, child abuses, woman sex abuses and today it
appears in a workforce of the unfair-waged labors, thus it is our concern to erase
any kind of slavery from all over the world. Tom is one good example to follow
because of his spirit and struggles in facing an inconvenient life of slavery
condition.
B. Problem Formulation
There are two questions to be discussed in this study:
1. How is the character of Tom portrayed in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
2. How does Tom struggle to get freedom from slavery in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s
Cabin?
C. Objectives of the study
The aims of this study are to describe Tom as the protagonist or the main
struggle in achieving his freedom and surviving his life. We can also learn that
slavery is one of the worst social tragedies that happen in the society.
D. Benefits of the Study
This study gives benefits to the writer, the readers in general and the
students or further researchers who are going to conduct their research on Uncle
Tom’s Cabin. For the writer, this study widely opens his mind that slavery is very
cruel to human being and this cruelty has been happening from the ancient times
to the modern times in which we live now. The values of life which are shown
through the struggles of the main character of the novel give a good example to
the writer to follow.
For the readers in general they can gain a better understanding of the novel
and they can have a new perception toward this literary work from a new point of
view. Hopefully this study can also trigger their motivation to stop every kind of
dehumanize actions.
The last is for the students or further researchers who are going to conduct
their research on Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Hopefully they can use this study as an
inspiration for them to explore deeper on the novel. This study can also be a
E. Definition of Terms
To match the concept and avoid misunderstandings between the writer and
the reader, below are the definitions of some important terms which are used in
this study:
1. Struggle
According to Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English
Language Unabridged, struggle is defined as “a great effort or series of effort”
(1806). In the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus, struggle is defined as “to make a
violent or determined effort under difficulties” (1514).
In this study, struggle is a series of determined efforts that a human being
undergoes over period of time in difficult conditions to overcome problems,
challenges, and difficulties of life.
2. Slavery
According to The 1926 International Slavery Convention Article 1; slavery
is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching
to the right of ownership are exercised. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2006 also
describes the definitive characteristics of slaves as follows: their labor or services
are obtained through force; their physical beings are regarded as the property of
another person, their owner; and they are entirely subject to their owner's will.
Shortly, slavery is social institution defined by law and custom as the most
3. African Americans
In the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2006, Harris defines African
Americans (American Blacks or Black Americans) as a racial group in the United
States whose dominant ancestry is from sub-Saharan West Africa. A variety of
names have been used for African Americans at various points in history. African
Americans have been referred to as Negroes, colored, blacks, and
Afro-Americans, as well as lesser-known terms, such as the 19th-century designation
Anglo-African.
Referring to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English language,
Afro-American is of or relating to Americans of African ancestry. Afro-American
often called as black people or blacks also refers to people relating or belonging to
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of three parts. They are theoretical review, historical
review of the Afro American people in America, and theoretical framework. In
the first part of this chapter, theoretical review, the writer discusses critical
approaches, theory of characters, theory of characterizations and ways of struggle.
The second part is historical review of the Afro American people in America. In
this part, the writer discusses the historical background of the Afro American
people, when their first time coming to America and how they were enforced to
be slaves. This part also discusses racism. It contains principle of racism and how
racism influences human’s life, especially the Afro American. The last part is
theoretical framework. In theoretical framework, the writer explains the
contributions of theories and reviews in solving the problems of the study.
A. Theoretical Review 1. Critical Approaches
According to Rohrberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about
Literature, there are five critical approaches which can be used in analyzing a
work of literature. They are: the formalistic approach, the socio cultural-historical
approach, the biographical approach, the mythopoeic approach, and the
The formalistic approach gives an idea of examining the work of literature
by looking the idea of the work itself. The formalist assumes that in evaluating the
work, the readers do not need the facts of the author’s life, genre of work, and any
reference to its social milieu. The formalistic approach does not need any
reference at all. The only point is the idea of the piece of work.
The biographical approach asserts the necessity of understanding the piece
of literary work by studying the background of the author because the reader
shares the author’s consciousness and personality to understand his or her
writings. In the biographical approach, the history tendencies, of the author in
creating his work are necessary.
The socio cultural-historical approach is an approach in examining a piece
of literary work using reference of the civilization of which the attitudes and
actions of a specific group of people become the subject matter. Rohrberger and
Woods state that critics whose major interest is the socio cultural-historical
approach insist that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the
civilization that produced it. So, the socio-cultural and historical evidences
become more important. This approach cites the importance of knowing the socio
cultural-historical facts behind the work. Those facts reflect the condition of the
people and society at the past time, the time when the literary work was being
written. Without knowing the hidden evidences of certain socio culture and
history, the reader will find difficulties in understanding the work because literary
work may be based on certain cultures and histories. In this thesis, this approach is
approach to interpret the socio historical aspects of the condition when Uncle
Tom’s Cabin was written.
The mythopoeic approach seeks the need of finding certain universality
recurrent patterns of human thought, such as death and rebirth, guilt and
sacrifices, primitive rites, which the critics believe to find in expression in
significant work of art. The mystical relationship found in a story can be
explained by using this approach.
The last approach is the psychological approach which tries to locate and
demonstrate certain recurrent patterns from the knowledge of psychology. The
critics who apply this approach would explore literary works using psychological
theories to explain human motivation, personality, and behavior patterns written
in literary objects. In other words, the character’s thoughts and behaviors can be
traced more deeply (14). Thus, the knowledge of psychological ground is
important in order to understand some kinds of work.
2. Character
Character is one of the important elements in a novel. Abrams defines
character as a person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, which are
interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities
that are expressed in what they say and what they do (Abrams 9). Thus, a
character has different characteristic from the other characters, whether it is on
personalities or on physical appearance. Each of them creates a unique quality and
a. Main or major character
Abrams states that a major character is the central character of the
story. On the other words, he must be the most important character in a story.
He or she becomes the focused character from the beginning to the end of the
story. Harvey states that protagonist is a character whose motivation and
history are most fully founded and steadily in a way more dramatic than other
characters in the novel (56).
b. Minor Character
According to Abrams, minor characters appear in certain setting just to
become the background for the major character. Their roles are less important
than the major character, because they are not fully developed and their roles
in a story are just to support the major characters (Abrams 20).
3. Characterization
After we know the existing characters in the novel, we need to know
another element such as characterization to describe the characters, either
physically or psychologically. To make the readers know what kind of character
he or she is, the author uses some methods to present the personalities and the
characters in a novel. The author will blend these methods into a unity so that the
characters will become real. This knowledge is an aid to understand the
personalities and the characters in the novel which then help the readers to
Murphy in Understanding Unseens (161-173) classifies nine ways of how
an author reveals the characters’ personalities and traits to the readers. The first
way is by looking at personal description. The author portrays a clear description
of the characters’ physical appearance and personal description. The characters’
clothing is one aspect to know their character. The physical appearance and
personal description also include some details of someone’s performance, such as
face, eyes, skin, body, hair, and other distinctive features. The personal
description is very important because it can give the reader very obvious clues to
the characters. The second way is by examining on how character seen by
another. The author may also describe the character through the eyes and opinion
of others, instead of describing the character directly, so the reader can get a
reflected image. A character may encounter other character in the story on what
they are like.
The third way is known from speech. The author can give the reader a
better understanding and an insight into the character of one of the persons in the
novel through what the character says, through the conversation a character makes
with another, the opinion that the character has in mind. The fourth way is by
referring to past life. By letting the reader learn from a person’s past life, the
author can give the reader a clue to events that have helped to shape one’s
character. The author may show it by giving a direct moment, through the
person’s thought, conversation with others or the medium of another person. The
fifth way is by observing character’s conversation with others. The things that
understanding about a character. Other characters conversations and what they say
about one character may give clues on a certain character. The sixth way is
looking at character’s reaction to reveal character’s personalities. The author gives
a clue on a character by permitting us to know how a character reacts to various
conditions and atmospheres happen to himself or his surroundings.
The seventh way is studying the direct comment. The author can also
describe or give comment on a person’s character directly. He tells the reader
directly about a character’s personality. The eighth way is examining to
character’s thought. The author gives the readers direct knowledge of what a
character is thinking about. What is in a character’s mind and what he/she feels is
reflected in his personality. The reader then is in privileged position; he has, as it
were, a secret listening device plugged in to the inmost thoughts of a person in a
novel, something that we can not do in real life. The ninth or the last way to
understand personalities is called mannerism. Here, the author portrays a
character’s manner, habits, or idiosyncrasies that may tell the readers about his
characterization.
4. Ways of Struggle
The African American lived under oppressions, inequality and treated in
inhuman fashion for so long time, decades or even centuries. It was not easy for
them to get their freedom back so that they were able to live as normal human,
to get their freedom, African American had to struggle hard, even by sacrificing
themselves. In short, they struggled by two techniques, violence and non-violence.
a. Violent Struggle
The violent struggle constitutes people to use the physical powers and
hatred. Some of African American slaves tried to run away from their masters and
some of them chose to fight against their masters and killed them if it was
necessary. In spite of it, Martin Luther King in Non-Violence and Racial Justice
argues that violent struggle is an ineffective way, it may become and endless reign
of chaos, so prefer not to use this technique.
b. Non-violent Struggle
According to King, the alternative to violent is non-violent struggle. This
technique was also promoted by Mohandas K. Gandhi. It takes no physical power.
King in the article which is entitled Non Violence and Racial Justice explains five
criteria of non-violence struggle:
1) Non-violent struggle is not a method for cowards, it does resist. This
method does not aggressively use physical power toward the opponent.
Otherwise it focuses on dynamic spiritual, emotion, and mind. This method
tries to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken. Physical struggle is avoided
2) Non-violent struggle doesn’t seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but
to win his friendship and understanding. The struggler tries to awake the sense
of moral shame in the opponent. The end is redemption and reconciliation.
3) Non-violent struggle is between justice and injustice. Therefore the
people who struggle against racial injustice must realize that the basic tension
is not between races.
4) Non-violent struggle avoids not only external physical violence but also
internal violence of spirit. In struggling for human dignity, the oppressed
people must not allow themselves indulge in hate, otherwise they must have
the ethics of love, sense and morality. At the center of non-violence stands the
principle of love.
In speaking of love, according to King, there are three words for love in
the Greek New Testament. There are three words for love. First, there is eros,
which means romantic love. Second, there is philia, which means intimate
affection between friends, the person loves because he is loved. The third is
agape, which means understanding, redeeming good will for all men, an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. It is the love of God working
in the lives of men. When we love on the agape level we love men not
because we like them, not because their attitudes and ways appeal to us, but
because God loves them.
5) Non-violent struggle believes that the conviction that the universe is on the
side of justice, God is on the side of truth. It is this deep faith in the future that
causes the non-violent struggler to accept suffering without the feeling to do
revenge, because he knows that there will be happiness and glory to
B. Historical Review of the Afro American People in America 1. History
We cannot separate the Afro American society from the Black African
history because the Afro American society is the descendants of the Black
Africans who were brought to America as slaves. According to Logan (9), as
revealed in his book entitled The Negro In The United States, the first twenty
Africans were put ashore at Jamestown in 1619. At that time they were put into
servants rather than slaves. During the first half-century of the existence, Virginia
had many Negro indentured servants (immigrants working as unpaid servants in
exchange for passage and accommodation). The economic circumstances changed
their status from servant to slave. The number of Negro slaves in Virginia
increased so rapidly after 1661.
The Black Americans who came from Africa were not only settled down
in the Northern America cities but also other cities in America such as Maryland,
Boston, New England, Carolina, etc. They were brought there to be enslaved by
forced. For more than two centuries, the Afro Americans had become slaves of
the White people. Their ignorance and the lack of communication between people
in one place to those in other places were some of major factors which caused
them easily enslaved by the American and the European. Every inhabitant lived
separately and there were hundreds of languages and tribes. This condition made
the foreigners (American and Eeropeans) easily enslaved them. The uneducated
and poor Afro Americans were forced to work as rough workers in plantation. In
western countries, more than a third of all slaves in western countries in 1825.
According to Richard N Current, et al, in 1850s there were more than 4 million
black Americans, of whom about 95 percent were confined to the South (116).
In order to get their freedom, the Afro American people had to wait for
long time by working hard as servants for the Whites and some of them had to
serve the government of America in wars as soldiers. Besides working hard, the
Afro Americans even had to sacrifice their soul to get freedom and rights to live
in peace and humanize.
Oliver and Loise in Encarta Microsoft Encyclopedia 2006 explains in
another way about The Afro Americans. He explains that most of the Atlantic
slave trade was managed by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British. Many
Africans who were taken to North America came from western and west central
Africa. In 1502 Portuguese traders brought the first African slaves to work as
labor in agricultural land in Caribbean. It was estimated that more than 10 million
people were moved from Africa to America during 1502-1860. The regions that
are now Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria were the origins of most slaves brought
to North America. These countries are rich of cultures, diverse linguistic, ethnic,
and religious groups. Most of Africans were farmers and raised livestock. They
were skilled with agricultural and pastoral skills. That is why they were
considered as valuable laborers in America.
The African workers naturally possessed many productive life skills.
They had extensive experience in cultivating rice, cotton, sugar, and. These skills
ironworking, music and musical instruments, the decorative arts, and architecture.
Those African characteristics helped shape American cultural styles because they
brought their African words, religious beliefs, styles of worship, aesthetic values,
musical forms and rhythms.
The institution of slavery existed in the United States from the early 17th
century until 1865. Slavery played a central role in the history of the United
States. It existed in all the English mainland colonies and came to dominate
agricultural production in the states from Maryland south. Moreover, eight of the
first 12 presidents of the United States were slave owners. Many people talked
about it and debates over slavery increasingly dominated American politics. This
polemic eventually led to the American Civil War (1861-1865), which finally
brought slavery (as an institution) to an end.
2. Racism
One of the main issues in the world is racism. It cannot be separated from
human’s history, including Afro American history. It existed from the existence
of human race and will exist along with the human history. Sowell (1) statesin his
book Race and Culture: A world Wide View that “Racial, ethnic and cultural
differences among people play a major role in the events of our times, in countries
around the world, and the world, and have played a major role with the long
history of the human race”.
Racism may cause conflicts. The existence of racism will always be an act
matter what his/her skin colour is. Karenga (275) in his book Introduction to
Black Studies says, “Racism is essentially a system of denial and deformation of
the history and humanity of third world people (people of colour) and their right
to freedom based exclusively or primarily on the specious concept of race”. The
idea that a certain race is superior to others triggers slavery. That is why racism is
very close to slavery.
According to the article of Racism: The Precedent To Slavery In North
America, cited from the internet, we must examine slavery as an institution and
racism as a mentality defined by the oppressor, independent to the oppressed. The
justification of the race based slavery that existed in North America started in the
17th century. The Whites had bias to the Blacks. The Whites selfish mind, racist
view and negative tendency towards the Blacks triggered race slavery in the North
America constantly. As a result the Whites oppressed and exploited the Blacks for
their own interests. In order to create a massive institution such as slavery that
oppresses any people, the oppressor must view the oppressed as less than human,
less deserving of human rights and the status of the Blacks became property not
people. The Blacks had to serve their body and soul to the Whites. They did not
have any rights to decide their life and future. Unfortunately, Africans who were
very far from home could not find any help from anyone including their families
and their countrymen that they were being treated badly.
Eric Williams, through his book, Capitalism and Slavery (6-7), offers a
different perspective that slavery was not born of racism, rather racism was the
the Blacks and even the Whites. Fortunately, the Africans showed better quality of
being slaves, according to the masters. This condition made the Blacks were
largely accepted as slaves. Slavery actually was more likely to be an economic
necessity of the masters rather than moral, and was related to production.
C. Theoretical Framework
This study is set to analyze Tom’s struggle to get freedom from slavery in
Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In order to achieve the objectives, this study bases
its discussion on some theories to answer the problems formulated in the problem
formulation. In this part, the writer will explain briefly how the theories reviewed
in the previous part are of this chapter are used in the discussion. The theories are
theories of literature which consist of the theory of critical approaches, the theory
character, the theory of characterization and ways of struggle. There are also
historical review of Afro American people in America, racism and the theory of
struggle.
The first focus of this study is to analyze how Tom’s character is portrayed
in the novel. The theory of character and characterization are used in the
discussion. Theory of character is needed to figure out Tom’s role as one of the
main character in the novel. Meanwhile, the theory of characterization is used to
find out how Tom is portrayed in the novel and to examine Tom’s personality.
The second focus of this study is to analyze how Tom struggles to get his
freedom from slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The socio historical is appropriate to
thesis to the history of African American, the theory of racism and the way of
struggle theory. In other words, they are used as the guideline of answering how
Tom struggles to get freedom from slavery. Those theories analyze much about
the historical things and the condition of the society at the time Uncle Tom’s
Cabin was written. Finally, we can understand how Tom struggles to get his
freedom, to fight against such unfair condition that most African American
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter consists of three main parts; they are subject matter, approach
of the study and the procedures. The subject matter contains a brief description of
the novel. The approach of the study deals with the approach used to analyze the
problems. The procedures of conducting this study are also explained in the last
part of this chapter.
A. Object of The Study
The object of this study is Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel entitled Uncle
Tom’s Cabin. Getting along with numerous slave accounts and Stowe’s
interviews in 1851 and 1852, she finally wrote one of the most famous American
books of the nineteenth century, published serially in one of the most popular
abolitionist magazine called New Era.
In March of 1852, the novel was firstly published by Boston publisher, J. P.
Jewett, who published the work. This novel consists of 45 chapters of 519 pages.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin novel was very phenomenal, it immediately broke all sales
records of the day: selling half-a-million copies by 1857. The novel was quickly
translated into 37 languages and it sold in five years over half a million copies in
the United States.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was an attack against an institution of slavery that most
blacks were also victims of the institution. It made them completely dependent
upon slave labor. That was why the Southerners considered her as a great threat to
their way of life. At the same time, Northerners considered her as a symbol of the
anti-slavery movement.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom’s Cabin.s The Classic Text : Tradition
and Interpretations states that Uncle Tom's Cabin novel was regarded as a
polemic. However, it became national folklore with its characters achieved their
own mythic status in the national awareness. This novel was very popular. It
raised vast impact on contemporary public opinion far beyond its technical
intrinsic worth, and it remains an icon of the historic struggle to abolish slavery in
the United States, especially through the struggle of Tom in facing and responding
to himself and the black society condition in the slavery era.
B. Approach
In this study, the writer chooses the socio-historical approach as the basis of
the discussion. It is the most appropriate one to view a literary work from the
social and cultural condition when the work was created and the historical
background when the work was written. The story of Uncle Tom’s Cabin deals
with the people and society in Southern America. The author of this novel, Stowe,
was purely inspired by the condition of Afro American or black people at that
time, who were violated on their human right, discriminated, neglected and
suffered from slavery. The socio-historical background helps to connect between
the society was with the story of the novel, so that we are able to know Tom’s
struggle to get freedom from slavery.
C. Method of the Study
The method of data gathering in analyzing this novel was library research.
The writer found the data and information for this study mostly from the library.
Some resources were also gathered from the internet. They supply data and
information which were not available in the library. The books, texts, electronic
Encyclopedia and articles used in this study are those, which are particularly
related and support the object of this study. The primary data is the novel of Uncle
Tom’s Cabin and the secondary data are the other books, texts, and articles related
to the study.
The first step of working on Uncle Tom’s Cabin novel was reading the
novel thoroughly and carefully page by page. My first impression was that the
novel contains a lot of historical things. This was because the novel is very old,
published in 1852, and looked more like a history book. The second step was
understanding the novel and getting the idea out of it. The language was not easy
to understand but it was quite interesting. The story was also exciting; it related to
people and society, and of course slavery. The writer worked hard and tried to
make a correct interpretation about the novel. After reading it up for several times,
the third step was rewriting the ideas coming up in mind and then the writer chose
the most interesting and researchable one as the theme of this study. The fourth
which are related to the theory used to answer the problem formulation in this
study. The fifth step was answering the problem formulation by analyzing Tom’s
character and his struggle to get freedom. The last step was formulating the
conclusion of the analysis, and giving some suggestions for the future researchers
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
The answers to the problems are presented in this chapter. This chapter is
divided into two parts. The first part is to answer the first question that is how the
character of Tom is portrayed in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The second part is,
then, to answer the second question that is how Tom struggles to get freedom in
Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
A. The Portrayal of Tom’s Character
Tom is one of the characters who are presented in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
The use of his name in the novel title indicates that he is the centre of the story.
He is important and become the focus of the whole story. According to Abrams,
such kind of character is called main or major character. He is also considered as
protagonist character, because Tom’s motivation and history are most fully
established more vivid than the other characters.
1. Physical Appearance and Personal Description
Tom’s physical appearance is described by using personal description. His
physical appearance is as follows: “Tom is a large man, broad-chested,
powerfully-made man, of a full glossy black, and a face whose truly African
features were characterised by an expression of grave and steady good sense,
that can be seen from his appearance. The broad-chested feature of Tom is
mentioned one more time in the novel (158), which emphasizes his strength and
well-built body. In contrast, he is a loving person, a kind person inside, which is
reflected on his face.
Tom is an afro-American slave who is forced by condition to shift from
one owner to another owner. Firstly he is a slave on the Shelby farm in Kentucky.
He lives in a cabin on the farm with his wife Chloe and their two children.
Because of Mr. Shelby’s large debt to Mr. Haley, he had to sell Tom to Mr.
Haley, a rude slave trader.
Then, he is sold to Augustine St. Clare and brought to Louisiana. In St.
Clare’s home, he grows increasingly invaluable to the family and he also shares
faith with St. Clare’s daughter, Eva. Eva’s death moves St. Clare to set Tom free.
However, St. Clare’s tragic death leaves Tom at the hands of his selfish wife,
Marie. Tom is then sold to the brutal Simon Legree. This is where his faith is
nearly broken, but he endures the trial. Although Tom eventually dies, his faith is
unshaken.
2. Personal Characteristics
Murphy describes nine ways to know the characteristic and personality of
a character in the novel. Some of them are applied to analyze Tom’s character. In
a. Religious
Tom is a believer, he believes in God with all his heart and soul. Not only
does he practice his religion for granted, but he also shows his belief deeply in his
everyday life. Despite the hard and difficult life that he experiences, he manages
to maintain his good heart thanks to the Religion values that he holds. He believes
that God never leaves him and that being faithful to God means he walks to glory.
This is where Tom proves himself that he has the faith, and is a true believer. His
heart does not become bitter, even under the worst condition, because he
preserves it by praying to God, reading the Bible, and holding a prayer meeting.
The prayer-meeting at Uncle Tom's had, in the order of hymn-singing, been protracted to a very late hour; and as Uncle Tom had indulged himself in a few lengthy solos afterwards, the consequence was, that, although it was now between twelve and one o'clock, he and his worthy helpmeet were not yet asleep. (40)
Even though he learns to read late in his life from Master George, he reads
his Bible every night. In Chapter IV of the novel, when Tom prays, his
companions respect him, seeing him as a spiritually matured man. His words are
beyond his education. It seems like he is being guided by the God.
… Nothing could exceed the touching simplicity, the childlike earnestness, of his prayer, enriched with the language of Scripture, which seemed so entirely to have wrought itself into his being, as to have become a part of himself, and to drop from his lips unconsciously; in the language of a pious old negro, he “prayed right up.”… (32)
Both quotations mentioned above use direct comment to show Tom’s character.
The author describes Tom’s character directly using his words and comments.
Tom believes that God is good and mighty. God is very good to people,
able to wipe the sufferings of mankind and replace it with glory, if only the
mankind is faithful and devoted. For Tom himself, God is very good to him. He
has given him a nice family, valuable friends, the life and experience that make
him stronger and more pious. Therefore, Tom is faithful and devoted to God. The
suffering that he experiences is something that he has to endure with full of
sincerity. Tom believes that glory awaits him. In his everyday life, in his
relationship with his family, friends, and master, what he does and says is for the
glory of the Lord.
“Pray for them that 'spitefully use you, the good book says," says Tom. “Pray for 'em!" said Aunt Chloe; "Lor, it's too tough! I can't pray for 'em.”
“It's natur, Chloe, and natur 's strong," said Tom, "but the Lord's grace is stronger; … (58)
Here, Tom’s character is elaborated through speech. The conversation between
Tom and Chloe reveals Tom’s character that he is religious and pious.
His knowledge and experience about Religion values are undoubtedly
considered remarkable. Therefore, his friends often ask for his encouragement
when they are at the lowest condition. They believe that his piety gives him the
heart, the wisdom and the ability to spread the goodness of the Lord through his
words and deeds (325-327). People look up to him and consider him as a
Christian teacher. It shows how close he is to God, how he is blessed. To his
friends, he is an individual that stands very close to God, and this makes him His
instrument to help them.
So, from the author’s direct comment and Tom’s speech, we can see that
b. Trustworthy
Throughout the novel, his friends and some of his masters trust him and
ask for his opinion, because he is trustworthy. One of his masters, Augustine St.
Clare, is willing to share his grief of losing his daughter, Eva, with Tom. They
even have a discussion about how to believe in God and the Bible. He listens to
what Tom says that the only thing needed is to pray. He then asks Tom to pray for
him and he is moved by the prayer.
"If Mas'r would only pray!" …
"I would, Tom, if there was anybody there when I pray; but it's all speaking unto nothing, when I do. But come, Tom, you pray now, and show me how."
Tom's heart was full; he poured it out in prayer, like waters that have been long suppressed. One thing was plain enough; Tom thought there was somebody to hear, whether there were or not. In fact, St. Clare felt himself borne, on the tide of his faith and feeling, almost to the gates of that heaven he seemed so vividly to conceive. It seemed to bring him nearer to Eva. (327)
Tom’s character is described through speech. The conversation between Tom and
St. Clare gives an insight that Tom is trustworthy.
Tom is really a trustworthy person, because even Mr. Haley, the mean
slave trader finally gives him his trust. Tom is allowed to walk around the boat
without his feet being chained. At first, Haley has to watch him during the day,
and keep his feet chained during the night. However, he takes away the chain
from Tom’s feet eventually, although Tom deserves it. Haley is convinced that
Tom will not try to run away.
apparent contentment of Tom's manner led him gradually to discontinue these restraints, and for some time Tom had enjoyed a sort of parole of honor, being permitted to come and go freely where he pleased on the boat. (153)
Once again, Tom’s character is described using direct comment. The author
decided to use his words to show that Tom is trustworthy.
So, from Tom’s speech and the author’s direct comment, we conclude that
Tom is trustworthy.
c. Honest
Tom is an honest person. Honesty is a rare trait to find among slaves and
Tom owns it. Mr. Shelby admits that Tom is not like any other slaves, even any
other people. He is special, in a way that a good worker should be: “steady,
honest, capable, manages my whole farm like a clock. (2)” Tom always completes
his duty without complaining.
"Why, the fact is, Haley, Tom is an uncommon fellow; he is certainly worth that sum anywhere,--steady, honest, capable, manages my whole farm like a clock."
…
"Well, Tom's got the real article, if ever a fellow had," rejoined the other. "Why, last fall, I let him go to Cincinnati alone, to do business for me, and bring home five hundred dollars.' (2)
Tom’s character here is described by using conversation of others. Mr. Shelby
tries to convince Mr. Haley that Tom is honest by mentioning it in their
conversation. Even though Tom has the chance to take the money and flee to
Canada, he returns to Mr. Shelby after doing his duty, because he is simply an
Tom demonstrates his honesty once more when he is trusted by St. Clare
to manage the family financial matters.
Trusted to an unlimited extent 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 impregnable simplicity of nature, strengthened 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. (218)
Tom’s character is described through direct comment by the author. The author
writes that Tom has every possibility for dishonesty and yet, Tom chooses to stay
honest.
Augustine St. Clare admits that Tom is an honest person. Although no
other slaves are honest, St. Clare can see Tom’s honesty. “… For my part, I don't
see how they can be honest. Such a fellow as Tom, here, is,--is a moral miracle!”
(229) Tom’s character here is described as seen by another, in this case by
Augustine St. Clare.
So, from the conversation of others, the author’s direct comment and how
Tom is seen by another character, we can see that Tom is honest.
d. Reliable
Tom is reliable. His friends and his masters can depend on him. It is
proven from the responsibility that his masters give him. For example, Mr. Shelby
gives him the responsibility to be the head servant to manage his farm, because he
of others. In this case, Mr. Shelby is having a conversation with Mr. Haley about
Tom.
“… I've trusted him, since then, with everything I have,--money, house, horses,--and let him come and go round the country; and I always found him true and square in everything.” (2)
Tom proves it again to his future master, Mr. St. Clare that he can rely on
Tom. Tom voluntarily saves Eva St. Clare when she falls off the boat. Tom’s
action gives an impression that he is reliable. He does that without being ordered,
which encourages St. Clare to buy Tom.
Tom was standing just under her on the lower deck, as she fell. He saw her strike the water, and sink, and was after her in a moment. A broad-chested, strong-armed fellow, it was nothing for him to keep afloat in the water, till, in a moment or two the child rose to the surface, and he caught her in his arms, and, swimming with her to the boat-side, handed her up, …. (158)
As time goes by, St. Clare finds Tom to be a smart and reliable person that St.
Clare hands Tom the family business management.
St. Clare at first employed him occasionally; but, struck with his soundness of mind and good business capacity, he confided in him more and more, till gradually all the marketing and providing for the family were entrusted to him. (218)
With the direct comment of the author, Tom’s reliability can be acknowledged.
What St. Clare hands Tom shows that Tom is a reliable person.
So, from the conversation of other characters and the author’s direct
e. Compassionate
Tom cannot see other people’s suffering. In spite of his tough appearance,
he has a gentle loving heart. He chooses to be a good and loving person, because
his life is based on love that he learns from God in His holy Book. The most
important thing to live in God is to love. Most astonishingly, he is willing to give
himself away to save other people.
… but you heard what she said! If I must be sold, or all the people on the place, and everything go to rack, why, let me be sold. I s'pose I can bar it as well as any on 'em," ... It's better for me alone to go, than to break up the place and sell all. (41)
Tom’s speech shows his character that he is a compassionate person. He cannot
see other people suffer.
Tom pities the unfortunate people and helps them kindly. For instance, he
helps St. Clare into bed when he returns home drunk. He pities what happens to
his master. He worries about St. Clare and feels sad that he has not been good to
himself and treated himself with respect.
"Last night, between one and two, I thought so. I studied upon the matter then. Mas'r isn't good to himself."
…
"O, that's all, is it?" he said, gaily.
"All!" said Tom, turning suddenly round and falling on his knees. "O, my dear young Mas'r; I'm 'fraid it will be loss of all--all--body and soul. The good Book says, 'it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder!' my dear Mas'r!"
Tom's voice choked, and the tears ran down his cheeks.
"You poor, silly fool!" said St. Clare, with tears in his own eyes. "Get up, Tom. I'm not worth crying over."
Tom’s character can be concluded from his speech when he has a
conversation with St. Clare. Tom pities St. Clare for not being good to himself,
which shows how compassionate Tom is.
For Tom, a person is valuable because one must value himself as he is
created from the image of God. Therefore, any disrespect or pitying one self is a
disgrace to God. Moreover, a person’s body is the house of God. Thus when St.
Clare gets home drunk, Tom is very sad. A person must maintain the purity of his
body and heart to be filled with goodness and to keep away sinful deeds. That’s
why Tom really wants St. Clare to repent and start a good new life.
Tom is always full of compassion. Even though, he is very tired and
hungry, he helps two tired starving women out of his compassion.
Tom waited till a late hour, to get a place at the mills; and then, moved by the utter weariness of two women, whom he saw trying to grind their corn there, he ground for them, put together the decaying brands of the fire, where many had baked cakes before them, and then went about getting his own supper. … (375-376)
From Tom’s reaction towards situation, the reader can see that Tom is a
compassionate person. Although Tom himself is tired and hungry, he still helps
the women.
So, from Tom’s speeches and his reaction toward situation, we can see that
f. Loyal
Tom is always been kind to his fellow slaves, because first is because he
undergoes the similar things as the other slaves, and second because Tom is
basically a good person. Tom is always ready to help other people.
Ever quiet and obliging, and more than ready to lend a hand in every emergency which occurred among the workmen below, he had won the good opinion of all the hands, and spent many hours in helping them with as hearty a good will as ever he worked on a Kentucky farm. (153-154)
Through the author’s direct comment, Tom’s character is revealed. It shows that
he has much solidarity to his fellow slaves.
Tom has much kindness to share to other people. Moreover, among his
fellow slaves, he is always ready to lend his hands.
In the course of the day, Tom was working near the mulatto woman who had been bought in the same lot with himself. She was evidently in a condition of great suffering, and Tom often heard her praying, as she wavered and trembled, and seemed about to fall down. Tom silently as he came near to her, transferred several handfuls of cotton from his own sack to hers. (330)
Tom’s reaction shows his character. How Tom helps filling the woman’s sack
shows his solidarity to his fellow slaves.
Tom is loyal to his friends and he protects them from his master. He feels
that they share the same fate and feelings as slaves who are always at suppressed
position. When Cassy and Emmeline escapes, Tom chooses not to tell Simon
Legree. Even if he has to lose his life, he prefers it than to tell his master where
his friends have fled. Not everybody will do such a brave thing. Then, Simon
because of the injury that he suffers. He becomes a martyr here to save others.
Furthermore, he serves as a martyr to make other people repent, confess their sins,
and live right in God’s way.
"Well, Tom!" said Legree, walking up, and seizing him grimly by the collar of his coat, and speaking through his teeth, in a paroxysm of determined rage, "do you know I've made up my mind to KILL YOU?" …
"D'ye hear?" said Legree, stamping, with a roar like that of an incensed lion. "Speak!"
"I han't got nothing to tell, Mas'r," said Tom, with a slow, firm, deliberate utterance.
…
Tom was silent.
"Speak!" thundered Legree, striking him furiously. "Do you know anything?"
"I know, Mas'r; but I can't tell anything. I can die!" (444)
Tom’s speech in his conversation with Mr. Legree shows how much solidarity
that Tom has for his fellow slaves. Moreover, Tom is willing to sacrifice for them.
So, from the author’s direct comment, Tom’s reaction and speech we can
conclude that he is loyal.
B. Tom’s Struggle to Get Freedom from Slavery in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Tom’s struggle to get freedom in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin is classified
as non violent struggle. Non violent struggle is firstly being promoted by Gandhi.
He used it to free India. For that, Gandhi is famous of the pioneer of non violent
struggle. Another great person who promote non violent struggle is Martin Luther
King. He believes that non violent struggle is more effective than violent struggle.
based on King’s five criteria of non-violent struggle. The elaboration is as
follows:
1. Focusing on Dynamic Spiritual, Emotion, and Mind
This method does not aggressively use physical power toward the
opponent. Otherwise it focuses on dynamic spiritual, emotion, and mind. This
method tries to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken. Physical struggle is
avoided (King).
Some of Uncle Tom’s struggles can be classified in this first category.
Tom is a believer, he reads his Bible everyday and he also leads a prayer meeting
in his cabin. By reading his Book, he continually nourishes his spiritual being. By
leading a prayer meeting, he shepherds his friends and he spreads the good news
to them. Thus, he also maintains and preserves the spiritual being of the people
around him. In the prayer meeting, they strengthen each other spiritually by
regarding that this is their spiritual family. Tom teaches them not merely to hold
on, but also to have hope and rejoice life everyday. In praise and worship, they
devote themselves to the Lord. Therefore, their mind and emotion are maintained
in good condition and not affected by the bad treatment that they receive as
slaves.
This is their struggle, most importantly, Tom’s struggle to convince the masters,
Mr. Shelby, Mr. Haley, Mr. St. Clare and Mr. Legree, that they are wrong.
Tom lives his everyday life with a new and rejoiced spiritual condition.
Each day, his spirit is renewed and strengthened. His fully nourished spiritual
being is actively influencing and persuading his masters that what they are doing
with slaves are wrong, without his masters even noticing. He is not a coward, but
he resists in a spiritual way.
"This is God's curse on slavery!--a bitter, 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 like ours,--I always felt it was,--I always thought so when I was a girl,--I thought so still more after I joined the church; but I thought I could gild it over,--I thought, by kindness, and care, and instruction, I could make the condition of mine better than freedom--fool that I was!" (36)
Tom succeeds in putting guilty feeling in the mind of the Shelby’s, especially
Mrs. Shelby but he has not succeeded in giving freedom to himself and the other
slaves. As mentioned in the article of Racism: The Precedent To Slavery In North
America, slaves do not deserve to stand their human right because they looks like
property rather than people to their masters. So, they do not have any physical
power and authority to save themselves and their beloved families and friends,
although some of the are succeeds in putting the feeling of guilty in their masters’
mind.
Tom is devoted to God and submits himself to God. These can be
