Brooke Axelrod’s Reviews > Uncle Tom’s Cabin > Status Update

Eliza has successfully escaped with Henry. Haley meets two other traders. Haley and one of the men brush off women not wanting to part with their children as “women’s notions.” The third is compared to the devil’s twin brother, which he considers a compliment, because he does not tolerate such things. An interesting dichotomy as it illustrates the dehumanization and cognitive dissonance inherent in slavery.

“… has not those temptations to hard heartedness which always overcome frail human nature when the prospect of sudden and rapid gain is weighed in the balance, with no heavier counterpoise than the interests of the helpless and unprotected.”

“Humanity comes out in a variety of strangers forms nowadays, and there is no end to the odd things that humane people will say and do.”

“… those temptations to hardheartedness which always overcome frail human nature when the prospect of sudden and rapid gain is weighed in the balance, with no heavier counterpoint than the interests of the helpless and unprotected.” Still rings true to this day and can be seen through recent sovereign actions.

The introduction is very interesting, though it does give away a good deal of the book. It reminds me of the current political/racial/cultural/religious climate in the U.S. and how best to frame issues in the lens that other people see them through - it is remarkable that in the mid-1800s, Stowe possessed such a mindset as to argue against slavery utilizing religious sentiment.