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Slavery in Uncle Toms Cabin Essay - 478 Words

Slavery in Uncle Toms Cabin Stowe presents slavery in the only way she knows how, by using the facts. Several sources of other works in American literature contrast on to how Stowe presents slavery in her novel Uncle Toms Cabin. The elements of slavery are driven through the reflections of theme, characterization, and setting to show that the way slavery is presented is not contradicting. Through the character of Mrs. Shelby, Stowe seems to use her opposition against slavery the most. Mrs. Shelbys character realizes that slavery is unfair, unjust, and most of all unchristian. This theme of opposition of slavery can be compared to that of Henry David Thoreau, a transcendentalist in early American history. Thoreau was the†¦show more content†¦Thoreau tried to fight slavery in different ways than Mrs. Shelby, but they both had the same intent, to treat everyone equal regardless of their skin color. Thoreau went to the source of the problem, the government. This is where Thoreau was able to try an d get through to a higher authority. He did this by gathering protests in Massachusetts where a slave was being held for fleeing from the south for a chance at freedom. Where as Mrs. Shelby posses the same ideas as Thoreau, but she helps slaves in other ways. Mrs. Shelby does in fact go against the government though, at this point in Uncle Toms Cabin she helps slaves try to escape to Canada where they will be free of their slave owners. One example of this is when Mrs. Shelby distracts the slave traders to allow more time for Eliza to escape further away (Heath Anthology P. 2316). It was at this point that Mrs. Shelby, in contrast to Eliza, never has had the courage to denounce slavery. This was realistic because it was an example of the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of people who helped runaway slaves find safety in the north to Canada. In addition to the Connection of slavery in this novel, it reflects that of Frederick Douglas characterization with Tom f rom Uncle Toms Cabin. Frederick Douglas was an American slave who escaped the south. Douglas wrote a folk song called Steal Away To Jesus which told a story of slaves escaping to the north away from slaveryShow MoreRelatedEssay about Cruelty of Slavery Exposed in Uncle Tom’s Cabin677 Words   |  3 PagesUncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is a unique historical fiction novel which portrays life during the American Civil War. In this story, Harriet Beecher Stowe tells the tale of Uncle Tom, along with several other slaves, and their journey through the wretchedness of slavery. She combines ethics, redemption, religion, and prejudice and presents her readers with an immensely powerful book that gives off an awe-inspiring impact. Throughout the novel, Harriet Beecher Stowe touches the reader’sRead MoreSlavery Victims Pain in Uncle Toms Cabin and The Marrow of Tradition2488 Words   |  10 Pagespoignant picture of the problems and social changes America faced both during slavery as well as after its abolition. This is evident in Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin and Charles Chesnutts The Marrow of Tradition where the wounding of both the physical body and emotional soul features strongly throughout both texts. Published in 1853 after the passing of the Fugitive Slave Law, Uncle Toms Cabin tells of the circumstances of various slaves as they encounter different ownersRead MoreNo Good Slavery Harriet Stowe’s Novel, Uncle Toms Cabin 1946 Words   |  8 Pagesand difficulties. Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist who wrote the famous fictional novel, â€Å"Uncle Tom’s Cabin.† Her views as an abolitionist, and the state of the South during her time were substantial factors in her creation of art. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was influenced by the current state of the South along with the abolitionist movement, and it exposed the horrors of slavery to the North, instilling sympathy and inspiration in whoever read the book. The creative process is affectedRead MoreThe Horrors of Slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe1240 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an amazing read that was truly inspiring. It was evident to me and clearly evident to others as well, that the book was written for a specific purpose. This purpose was to inform the American public of the horrors of slavery. The novel was set in the early 19th century. During this time period, slaves took up approximately 13% of the American population and for the most part worked on large plantations. Since very few people wereRead More Slavery as an Attack on Domestic Life in Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe3056 Words   |  13 PagesSlavery as an Attack on Domestic Life in Uncle Toms Cabin      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Compromise of 1850 included The Fugitive Slave Law, a law forcing non-slave owners in the free Northern states to return escaped slaves to their Southern masters and participate in a system they did not believe in. Jehlen notes the reaction to this cruel governmental act by stating that [t]he nations growing guilt and apprehension is tangible in the overwhelming response to Uncle Toms Cabin (386). It seems hard toRead MoreHarriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin Essay1314 Words   |  6 Pagescourage. But it also has the power to advance agendas filled with hate. One of the greater uses of fiction’s power is Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the era leading up to the American Civil War, which made a lasting impact for years to come, and hit many different characteristics of nineteenth century American beliefs. Harriet Beecher Stowe released her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 and it was immediately controversial. When the book reached southern readers, they were irate. Stowe’s novelRead MoreHarriet Beecher Stowe s Uncle Tom s Cabin875 Words   |  4 Pagesby the victors, we need to remember there would be no victors without the struggle and turmoil of those that lost. This is what Harriet Beecher Stowe’s compelling novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin has taught us in regards to the war on slavery. In the midst of the 1800’s, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote her best-selling novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, to address the various issues regarding race during this century. Throughout her novel, readers learn the lives of slaves, slave masters, and their families, which leadsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Uncle Tom s Cabin 1345 Words   |  6 Pagesnotably, Huckleberry Finn.† (Annette Gordon-Reed). I believe that Stowe’s novel was taken seriously as a womanâ⠂¬â„¢s novel. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was very influential in that time period, and still is today. The novel is commonly noted as a big influence that began the Civil War, and people still refer to it today. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is used very commonly today as a reference to slavery and the time period, and in many literature courses throughout high school and college. It is also stated in this critiqueRead MoreSource Evaluation of Uncle Toms Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe1263 Words   |  6 Pagessurrounding the novel? Whatever the criterion for a good novel is Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe may well be one of the critical controversial novel of its time. Regarding Uncle Tom’s Cabin, I collected sources about the critical controversy about the novel. In my findings, there is Norton Critical Edition, A Routledge Literary Sourcebook on the novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet B. Stowe, lastly â€Å"The Little Cabin of Uncle Tom† by Egbert Oliver. I classified each source from best to worseRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Uncle Tom s Cabin 1058 Words   |  5 Pageshomosexuality, cultural insensitivity, sexual content, political viewpoint, religion, or other controversial topics. Uncle Tom’s Cabin gives the reader an insight into the lives of a group of fictitious slaves as they tend to their ‘masters’ and attempt to escape slavery. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written in a time of great tension and was banned because of the controversy of the topic of slavery, but despite its just disputable nature, abolitionists like Harriet Beecher Stowe made the bold decision to challenge

Being a Blonde Haired Girl Free Essays

Throughout my life many times I have heard the common snickering of†¦. â€Å"What do you call a blonde with half a brain? †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. â€Å"Gifted! †, or â€Å"What do a blonde and a coke bottle have in common? †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"They are both empty from the neck up! † Although, yes, many times people find themselves cracking up at these dumb ‘harmless’ jokes, they are unconsciously supporting the stereotype that blondes are stupid. We will write a custom essay sample on Being a Blonde Haired Girl or any similar topic only for you Order Now Even though these jokes are meant to be inoffensive; to some they remain stereotypical and inevitably discriminative. It is common in our society, no matter what the situation is, for a person to involuntarily judge another primarily based on their outward appearance before they obtain any knowledge of what kind of person they are. Universally, Blonde women are denounced as dumb, before they have even released a breath, or even spoken a word to give an acquaintance a mere hint of their intelligence level. Despite the fact that many blondes ‘hate’ to be perceived as dumb, our society is making it incredibly hard to avoid with the use of celebrities, actresses, movies, and tabloids.Being a blonde woman has put me in a group whether I like it or not. Being blonde has negative and positive effects on a person with this hair color. First of all, let’s take a little look at where this whole â€Å"dumb blonde† idea comes from. One theory is that the ancient. Greeks and Romans so admired their flaxen-haired neighbors to the north, they would bleach their hair to make it blonde. Seeing as they didn’t exactly have the health standards we have today, a considerable amount of bleach repeatedly placed on the scalp and being inhaled could have some effect on one’s mental status.Another theory is that in the Middle Ages, while the lords and ladies pranced around and shaded their delicate features, common people worked outdoors in the fields and became tanned and their hair grew lighter. As the lower classes didn’t usually have a formal education, tan skin and blonde hair became associated with unintelligent, lower class people. Then there is the ever famous book by Anita Loos and the movie based upon it, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Marilyn Monroe. Released in 1953, this story about two showgirls-a clueless blonde and a sassy brunette.While perhaps highlighting the â€Å"fun† side of blondes (in fact, brunette women held a demonstration protesting the movie, showing that brunettes could be just as much fun), this certainly did nothing to showcase their intelligence. â€Å"In a study conducted by a psychology professor at the University of Coventry in Britain, 120 men and women assessed photographs of a 21-year-old woman wearing a brown, red, natural blonde or platinum wig. The platinum blonde was rated less intelligent by the participants, particularly by the men. (McGinn) Blonde hair in women has been considered attractive and desirable and secondly, the belief that a blonde woman makes little use of her intelligence and relied more on her looks. This stereotype is a combination of historical stereotype, bad press, and human nature. Starting with history, blonde hair is a recessive trait, and therefore somewhat rarer than brown or black hair. Traditionally, this has made it more attractive and desirable. Hence blonde haired woman are perceived to be more beautiful than dark haired women. This can be deemed as a positive stereotyping. However, there is a negative stereotype as well. The dumb blonde is a popular-culture derogatory stereotype, intended to portray the blondes as very beautiful but dumb. Dumb blonde stereotyping entered the American culture in 1900s. Blondes are stereotyped as â€Å"beauties without brains†. This image of the blonde has been exploited in culture, literature, advertising and movies. These, in combination with other forms of media have given the ever-lasting perception of blonde-stereotypes. The blonde-haired women have been portrayed as dumb-blondes. For example, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a novel, a Broadway musical and a film, exploited the idea of blonde’s charm. Many blond actresses have played stereotypical â€Å"dumb blondes† in movies and sitcoms and this has further caused the people to stereotype blondes. â€Å"As a naturally blonde woman I find that I? m defending myself on a daily basis, having to assure people that I? m not an idiot and remonstrate my own common sense against their assumptions of my stupidity.People either assume that anyone with blonde hair must unquestionably be a ‘bimbo’ or if not, feel that they have the right to make jokes to the same effect at your expense. I agree completely that the many young, attractive women who dye their hair blonde and morph into tanned, plastically enhanced Barbie dolls to compensate for their lack of intellectualism, while not making them any less deserving of defense, does give wome n who just happen to be born with blonde hair a bad press. † (Littlemore) Blonde jokes are set to be banned in Hungary after a group of women staged an angry demonstration outside parliament. The protesters handed in a petition claiming they were being discriminated against in every walk of life by bad taste blonde jokes. Their spokesperson Zsuzsa Kovacs said: ‘Blondes face discrimination in the job market, in the workplace and even on the streets. ’† (Unknown) â€Å"Blonde-haired women earn seven percent more than women with other hair colors researchers claim, suggesting looks are worth more than intelligence if stereotypes are correct.The Telegraph reports that the study found that not only do blonde women earn more than darker haired counterparts in the workplace, that they also marry wealthier men, who earn an average of six per cent more than the husbands of other women. The study in the journal, Economics Letters reported that having blonde hair boosts pay by $3,000 a year for a woman earning the average salary. † (Olsen) The power and control attached to this specific hair color can be useful for any individual. Sometimes it can get a pe rson out of a tricky situation. For example, if a blonde does something stupid, she can pass it off as a so-called â€Å"blonde moment. † Instead of making fun, people will think, â€Å"Aww, cute. That was so silly. † Jessica Simpson made her fortune on this type of situation. Or say a blonde wants to really wow others. She could, with a little persistence, play the dumb blonde for a while. The setup may take quite some time, but when the conversation turns to a topic she knows well or has a strong opinion on, she can unleash all the intelligence she’s been hiding. Being blonde has negative and positive effects on a person with this hair color. The dumb blonde stereotype will probably never go away. It hurts sometimes when being referred to as a dumb blonde when in fact that isn’t the case. No matter what the hair color, everyone has a â€Å"dumb blonde† moment every now and then. Also, blondes stick out in a crowd and are noticed more which is nice when it comes to meeting guys or when you’re competing for a job. Also, playing a dumb blonde can even get you what you want without anyone really knowing. Personally, I love that I’m a natural blonde. I currently am trying a new hair color but am finding that it still doesn’t compare to being blonde.Work Cited Littlemore, Vikki. â€Å"The Wrong Blonde Joke. † American Chronicle. Ultio, LLC. , 05 Jun 2009. Web. 8 Nov 2010. . McGinn, Dave. â€Å"Office blonde jokes no laughing matter. † The Globe and Mail. CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. , 24 Nov 2009. Web. 8 Nov 2010. . Olsen, David. â€Å"Blonde Women Earn More Despite ‘Dumb’ Stereotype. † Dynamic Business. Dynamic Business, 06 Apr 2010. Web. 8 Nov 2010. . Unknown. â€Å"Blonde Discrimination is no Joke in Hungary. † IOL News. Independent Online, 24 Nov 2004. Web. 8 Nov 2010. . How to cite Being a Blonde Haired Girl, Papers