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Uncle Tom's Cabin Great Questions Essay

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The Great Questions Essay: Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written in 1852 as a way to expose the morbid hell of slavery. Even though it is fiction, the book revealed the harsh treatment of slaves. After forcing Northerners, Southerners, and politicians to confront the issue of slavery, this book became one of the many catalysts that sparked the Civil War. Harriet tells a story of tears, sorrow, triumphs, and most importantly, undoubted faith in God. Though it was written more than 150 years ago, this work of literature is unfathomably modern because of its possession of some of the same problems that we deal with today. We learn of the characters’ trials as they try to overcome and escape slavery. This …show more content…

It's a mighty thing, chil'en, – you don'no nothing about it, – it's wonderful." And the old creature sat down, with streaming tears, as wholly overcome….”(Page 35) This woman clearly believes that God will reward her and welcome her into heaven. She is not alone her thinking; many people, like Tom, believe the same thing. But with that idea, people also question whether the wrongdoers will be punished. The slaves especially question whether their masters will be punished. Will someone like Mr. Shelby, who treats his slaves humanely, educates them, and raises them to be Christian, be punished? Will he be spared because of the “nice” way he treats his slaves? Or will he be condemned to hell and punished for the simple fact that he owns slaves? Not all cases are as abstract as the Shelby’s, Simon Legree is a character that deserves to be punished. Harriet Beecher Stowe provides a perfect example of this when George Shelby hits Simon Legree. “George turned, and, with one indignant blow, knocked Legree flat upon his face; and, he stood over him, blazing with wrath and defiance.” (Page 483) Although there are some examples and instances where the wrongdoers are punished and the good people are rewarded, most people (especially the slaves) still doubt that this will happen to every bad and good person. The people’s faith in God tends to waver when bad things happen to good

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