Major Tones of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Novel

Style Analysis: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

In the excerpt from “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, sanguine and loving tones express the authors underlying critical message in the book. He highlights the optimistic viewpoint of the community minded characters during grueling situations through the use of Christianity and love for Christ. In keeping with the theme of religion, he also defines heroism amongst individuals within the novel.

The diction which the author uses emphasizes the sanguine tone as he states the hopeful nature the people have when engaging with Christ. The well endowed “pastor” was “satisfied” by the “sobbing” reaction from the crowd who received the speech he had “succeeded in giving”. The excerpt begins with a pastor giving a motivational speech to a congregation of people; this is reflective of the main character Tom’s gospel spreading life. The audience that is sobbing explains the level of conviction that the people had after the speech. Consequently, the group of people “prayed” and found an everlasting “rest” in the Lord to whom many of them become “devout” followers of even in the “shadows of slavery”. Prayer seals their void to trust someone unquestionably and gives them the ability to love them unconditionally. Throughout the entirety of the book though the trials seem hard, they are belittled by the constant hope for better, and the love for others.

The author’s detail gives a vividly defined explanation of the downfalls in human life and the faith needed to stay somewhat enthusiastic about life. The “agitated” and “tumultuous” feelings of the missionaries is due to “a system…which whirls families”. The author is touching base on a system which is discriminatory and raises problems to a certain group of people like he does majorly in the entire book. In the Canadian customs “deeds of heroism” are categorized highly however one young man was “suffering shameful stripes for his heroism” and did not gain much from their “acquaintanceship and affection”. Contrasting with the message of love over all, the narrator presents an example where heroism and caring about others did not prevail. The author brings an importance to knowing that loving Christ overall is the main key to getting over obstacles because human heroes will not always thrive.

By using the third person omniscient point of view, the author gives us a clear picture of the traits of the characters in the book by building our personal relationship with them and conveying how they encounter truths throughout the book. We are reintroduced to characters when the narrator says “to return to our friends, whom we left wiping their eyes” to whom “such a change has passed over” and metaphorically “She seemed to sink”. The author portrays Cassy as someone who we know personally by connecting us to the hardships that she faces. As Cassy’s role is seen throughout the end of this passage the author is hoping for the readers get to know of her harsh life story including the fact that she lost a child. The narrator explains that “her love seemed to flow more naturally to the little Eliza” and he shows that “Eliza’s steady and consistent piety” is the reason Cassy became a “devout and tender Christian”. This situation shows the power of perseverance in struggle and the narrator is portraying influence that others have during stiff times.

The organization of the passage moves from inspiring, to explanatory, and finally to hopeful. In the beginning, the author introduces his readers to a pastor who is nervous to speak. The great accomplishment of being able to get his point across effectively proves to be inspiring to the audience. The mood of the quite room makes it even more encouraging when the responses to his speech are sobs of motivation. The fact that there are problems before being able to come together and grow stronger makes for an inspiring beginning. In the middle, the narrator moves onto explaining different occurrences that have to do with missionaries and heroism. His mentioning of Canadian fugitives and their part in the lives of missionaries leaves readers feeling knowledgeable about the criteria for heroes, and views taken by missionaries and Canadian fugitives. In the end, the passage concludes with a hopeful future for Cassy. Though she has lost her child, the love for the Lord begins to prevail because of Eliza’s condemning actions and she becomes a good Christian. Both the sanguine and loving tones are highlighted in the organization of the passage.

Although the passage seems small in comparison to the entire book, it introduces factors that Stowe is trying to convey through the whole work such as religion, love, and heroism. The hopeful tone can be seen as one that is constant in the protagonist throughout the book. The reader is able to come to a basis of what Uncle Tom’s Cabin as a whole is communicating through this excerpt.