Everything I knew about Uncle Tom's Cabin I learned from The King and I. "Run Eliza! Run!" Sad really. I read it this week and loved it. I wish I could join a book club and discuss it right now.
Through her characters Stowe argues all the points for and against slavery, depicts different types of masters and discusses what should happen to the former slaves if slavery was ended. She even highlights the prejudices of the North. They don't want the Africans to be slaves but are they willing to have blacks live among them? They send missionaries to Africa to convert but are they willing to take in former slaves and educate and convert them themselves?
Many of the race questions it raised are valid even now. Stowe's' solution to what to do with the slaves after slavery was to educate and train them and then send them to Liberia to help form a new nation. Looking back with over 150 years of hindsight the end of slavery was just the first step in an ongoing process. We are still dealing with the evils of slavery. It took till "the 3rd or 4th generation" for blacks to legally have the same rights as whites and I believe it will take another 3 or 4 generations for those rights to become natural and fairly applied by all. Anyway, it gave me a lot to think about.
Stowe's main argument against slavery was the break up of slave families. No matter how good a master was there was always the possibility of being sold to pay off unforeseen debts or when a master died with no provision for the freeing of his slaves. A good read. One of the best "classics" I have read.
Speaking of classics and their not-to-be-classic sequels, I also read Mrs. Darcey's Dilemma, a sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Not as well written, rushed and predicable. Although Mr. Bennett's quip that the thought of being reunited with his wife after his death had motivated him to stay alive these many years did make me laugh out loud. It wasn't that bad but when you are hoping for something as good as Pride and Prejudice it is a let down. Maybe I'll try Pride Prejudice and Zombies.
5 comments:
Is there a book group in your ward? i don't know if there is one in mine. I was part of one in my ward in AZ and one with other homeschool parents. I would love to be in a book group again. Maybe we should start one...
I always enjoyed studying Uncle Tom's Cabin in my American Literature classes. It is a great American classic!
I read this several years ago. I agree, it gives one a lot to think about. It was one of the most read books of that time and was a big influence on society. (I miss you guys :o)
The problem with ward book groups, first of all is they are pretty much a relief society function and I can't go. Second is they insist on reading bland nonconfrontational nonchallenging fare.
We can have a community book group and you can come too Brian! You are right though, I would like to focus on real books not just "fun" books.
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