George Harris, Eliza’s husband, quickly takes over Eliza’s plot almost totally — partly because Eliza (unlike Chloe) is so traditionally submissive a wife that, had George been present when Haley caught up with her at the Ohio River, she might have fainted and allowed her husband to carry both her […]
Read more Character Analysis George HarrisCharacter Analysis Eliza
Eliza is the central figure in one of the two major plots, which she sets in motion by running away. She is the first example of a mother whose young child is sold, and she turns out — ironically — to be the only example of a child returned almost […]
Read more Character Analysis ElizaCharacter Analysis Uncle Tom
Tom is undeniably the central character of the novel that bears his name. He is of absolute importance to the major plot; he is the embodiment of the struggle that carries the major theme (the impact of slavery on human morality — or, to state it in more universal terms, […]
Read more Character Analysis Uncle TomSummary and Analysis Chapters 42-45
Summary The night after Tom’s burial, Legree rides to town, gets drunk, comes home, locks his door, and goes to bed. He wakes to see a ghost standing in the room, beckoning to him, and he faints. On the same night, shortly after Legree sees the ghost, the servants notice […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 42-45Summary and Analysis Chapters 37-41
Summary In Chapter 37, the scene changes to a farmhouse in the Midwest, where the slave-catcher Tom Loker is being cared for by an elderly Quaker woman. Although sullen and bad-tempered, he knows that, if it weren’t for the kindness of the fugitives, he would still be lying in the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 37-41Summary and Analysis Chapters 33-36
Summary Tom soon becomes familiar with what is expected of him on Legree’s plantation. He is quiet, diligent, and — despite his disgust with what he sees — trusting in God and hopeful of somehow escaping this life. Legree hates him, for he recognizes Tom’s moral superiority and sees that […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 33-36Summary and Analysis Chapters 29-32
Summary At St. Clare’s death, the servants are all terrified, because they are well acquainted with Marie, who now has complete control over their lives. Their terror is justified, as Rosa soon finds, when she talks back to Marie and is ordered to go to a whipping-establishment. Rosa pleads with […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 29-32Summary and Analysis Chapters 26-28
Summary Eva lies longer in bed each day, her strength fading. Topsy brings Eva a bouquet of flowers, and when Marie tries to keep Topsy out of the room, Eva challenges her mother and takes the flowers. Eva tries to make her mother see that Topsy and the other slaves […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 26-28Summary and Analysis Chapter 22-25
Summary Two years have passed; Tom has learned from the Bible to be content with what he has, and he has become closer to Eva. While the family and servants are at the St. Clare summer house on Lake Pontchartrain, Eva tells Tom she will die soon, and he realizes […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 22-25Summary and Analysis Chapter 18-21
Summary Back in New Orleans, Tom has duties formerly assigned to Adolph, who has been stealing too much from St. Clare. Tom worries about the state of St. Clare’s soul, specifically about his occasional drinking bouts, and finally speaks to his master about this, obtaining St. Clare’s promise to mend […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 18-21