The Historical Background of Uncle Tom's Cabin

Mrs. Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, has always hated buying and selling slaves as soulless animals. 1850, the U.S federal congress passed the runaway slave act, which stipulated that no one should take in runaway slaves, and residents of free states who helped runaway slaves would be punished by law. The adoption of this law is tantamount to legally recognizing that black slaves are the private property of slave owners in the United States. At that time, a considerable number of political and religious leaders in the north actually defended this bill, arguing that it was necessary to maintain federal unity and not split into two countries. This made Mrs. Stowe even more angry. She believes that only people who don't know the truth and cruelty of slavery will defend slavery and the Slave Escape Act, so she is determined to expose the appalling evil of slavery to the world through literature. Her readers are mainly white Christians in the north, and she hopes to make them sympathize with and support the struggle to abolish slavery through her works.

The first American novel translated into Chinese

One of the fuses of the American Civil War.

Classic works that affect the historical process

One of the 32 landmark books in American history.

The most influential books recommended by Harvard University 1 13.

Classical translation that influenced modern China society.

Books that have had a profound impact on the process of human development.

185 1 year, Mrs. Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, the most influential work in her life, when her husband was ill and her family was extremely poor. This novel was first published in the National Times in serial form, which immediately aroused strong repercussions and was welcomed by people unparalleled. In the first year alone, it printed more than 65,438+000 editions and sold more than 300,000 copies in China. Later, it was translated into more than 20 languages and published all over the world. Critics believe that this book has played an important role in stimulating people's anti-slavery sentiment and is regarded as one of the causes of the American Civil War. When President Lincoln saw Mrs. Stowe later, he jokingly called her "a little woman who wrote a book and caused a big war." This joke fully embodies the great influence of the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Uncle Tom's Cabin exposes and accuses the dark slavery by describing the tortuous experiences of Uncle Tom, George and their wives. Under the background of American society at that time, it was a stunning work that triggered and promoted the abolitionist movement. This world-renowned literary masterpiece has been published for a century and a half, but it is still so thought-provoking and tearful to read today, which shows the profound connotation and artistic charm of the work. As a work, it has long been included in the world famous works, and its great achievements and influence have been paid more and more attention and recognition by the literary world.

It was this short and lovely lady who accidentally constituted the fuse of that great war-civil war. She wrote a book, which became a great victory.

-abraham lincoln, President of the United States.

Mrs Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is the greatest victory in the history of literature.

-henry longfellow, a famous American poet

Uncle Tom's Cabin stirred the superficial art in America, immediately caused a stir and announced a special moment.

-James, American scholar

Mrs. Stowe's "Black Slaves Cry to Heaven"? Another translation of Uncle Tom's Cabin describes the suffering of black slaves who were mistreated by landlords, which made the readers cry, thus provoking a civil war and liberating black slaves.

-the famous writer Sue

The first time I heard the novel "Black Slave Record" by American woman writer Mrs. Stowe, telling the story of the tragic fate of black slaves in the southern United States and their brave struggle, I was so excited that I clung to my handkerchief soaked in tears and threw it over and over on the pillow, and I couldn't sleep for a long time.

-Bing Xin, a famous writer

A novel that started a war.

Times make heroes, but also make shocking masterpieces. After the American War of Independence, capitalism in the north developed rapidly, but slavery in the south was still dehumanizing. Advocating slavery or opposing slavery has formed a sharp north-south opposition. At this time, Mrs. Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin came into being.

Uncle Tom's Cabin is also translated into Black Slave's Call to Heaven or Uncle Tom's Cabin. The story begins with the bargaining between a slave owner and a slave dealer. Shelby, a slave owner in Kentucky, failed to speculate in the stock market. In order to pay off his debts, he decided to sell two slaves. One is Tom who was born in Shelby Plantation. When I was a child, I was a little domestic slave who served my master, and I was quite loved by my master. When he became an adult, he became a domestic slave manager, loyal and committed to safeguarding the interests of his master. Another slave who was trafficked was Harry, the son of Eliza, a mulatto slave. Eliza was not a slave who obeyed his master wholeheartedly. When she overheard that her master was going to sell Tom and her son Harry, she took her son and jumped into the frozen Ohio River overnight under the pursuit of slave traders, fled to a free state, and then fled to Canada. Her husband, george harris, was a slave in a nearby plantation. He also waited for an opportunity to escape, joined his wife and took the children, and finally arrived in Canada with the help of the abolitionist organization.

Tom is a different story. He knew and supported Eliza's escape, but he didn't escape himself. He was educated by slave owners from an early age, fearing God, resigned to his fate and obeying his master. He didn't complain that his master was going to sell him to pay off his debts. He was willing to be at his mercy. He was resold to New Orleans and became the slave of the slaver Harry. In a drowning accident, Tom saved the slave owner's youngest daughter Eva's life. The child's father, St. Clay, bought Tom from Harry and became the servant of the host family, driving the carriage for the host family. Tom developed feelings for the little girl. Soon the little girl died suddenly, and St. Clay decided to liberate Tom and other slaves according to her last wish. However, before the legal process of liberation was completed, St. Clay was killed in an accident. St. Clay's wife did not liberate Tom and other slaves, but sent them to the slave auction market. From then on, Tom fell into the hands of Legelli, the slave owner of an extremely vicious "Red River" plantation. Legelli treated slaves as "talking animals", flogged them at will and lynched them. Tom endured this inhuman torture, but still did not think of finding a way out for himself, but silently pursued the principle of being a man. In order to survive, two female slaves in this plantation decided to run away, and they hid. Legelli suspected that Tom had helped them escape, tied Tom up and whipped him to death. But Tom finally rebelled against the slave owners and said nothing. When Tom was dying, the son of his former master betrayed his slave owner George Shelby for the first time to buy Tom, because Tom was a childhood servant and playmate of Little Shelby, but Tom couldn't accept the late help of his former master and died black and blue. George Shelby knocked Legelli to the ground and buried Tom on the spot. After returning to his hometown of Kentucky, Little Shelby liberated all the slaves under his name in the name of Uncle Tom and said to them, "Every time I see Uncle Tom's cabin, I should think of your freedom."

Uncle Tom's Cabin tells readers that Tom, who was at the mercy of slave owners, was doomed to death, while George and his wife, who dared to resist and fight, were reborn through the description of two slaves with different personalities. Therefore, Uncle Tom's Cabin has played a positive role in social development, especially in the victory of the American abolitionist movement and the just side represented by Lincoln in the American Civil War.

Eva's room is decorated by Adolf and Rosa. Although they are usually children's minds and capricious, they are delicate and considerate. Although the overall situation was handled methodically and cleanly by Miss O 'Filja, both of them made great contributions. They used their own hands to add many soft and poetic embellishments to the overall layout, dispelling the strange atmosphere that often appears at funerals, such as those in New England.

There are white and fragrant flowers on the wardrobe and beautiful drooping green leaves against the background. Eva's little table is covered with white cloth, and there is her favorite vase in her life. There is only one white rose in it. Adolf and Rosa carefully considered the folds of curtains and the way of hanging curtains with the unique aesthetic vision of black people. St Clare still stood there, immersed in his own thoughts; At this moment, Rosa came in gently with a basket of pure white flowers and saw St. Clare. She stopped quickly and stood respectfully. However, St. Clare didn't notice her at all. She just stepped forward and put the flowers beside Eva. She first put a beautiful gardenia in Eva's hand, and then ingeniously listed other flowers around the small bed. St Clare looked at everything, still like a dream.

At this time, the door opened again, and Top West Station was at the door. Her eyes are red and swollen, and there is something hidden under her apron. Rosa quickly waved her hand and motioned for her not to come over, but she still stepped into the room.

"Get out!" Rosa lowered her voice, but it was still sharp. "It's none of your business here!" There is no doubt about her tone.

"Oh, please let me in! I brought a beautiful flower. " With that, she held up a half-opened camellia.

"Let me put this flower beside her!" Topsy pleaded.

"No, you get out!" Rosa is more determined.

"Let her stay here!" St Clare stamped his foot. "Let her in!"

Rosa immediately went down, and Topsy came up and put her present at the feet of the dead. Then, she couldn't help but "wow", rolled down on the floor beside the bed and burst into tears.

Miss O 'Filja hurried into the room to help her up, but to no avail.

"Oh, Miss Eva, Miss Eva! I really want to die with her! "

Topsy cried her eyes out, deeply grieved. When St. Clare saw this scene, blood welled up on her pale face, and tears blurred his eyes. This is the first time Eva shed tears after her death!

"Good boy, don't cry!" O' Filja said, "Miss Eva went to heaven and she became an angel!"

"But I'll never see her again!" Topsy said, "I'll never see her again!" "After that, I couldn't stop crying.

Everyone was silent and stood still for a long time.

"Miss Eva said she loved me," Topsy said. "She really did it. Now, no one loves me anymore! Oh, my God! No one loves me anymore! "

"The boy is telling the truth," said St. Clare. "Sister, you try and see if you can comfort her, poor child!"

"If only I hadn't been born!" Topsy said, "I don't want to live in this world at all! What are the benefits of living here? "

Miss O 'Filja gently and forcefully lifted Topsy from the ground and took him outside. However, she couldn't stop crying as she walked.

"Topsy, poor little thing," Miss O 'Filja took Topsy to her room and said to her gently, "Don't be sad, dear child. Although I am not as kind as Miss Eva, I will try my best to love you. I think I learned a little bit of Christ's kindness from her. I promise to love you, really, I will help you become a good Christian. "

When she said this, Miss O 'Filja's voice was soft and tender, and the power was obviously more touching than the words themselves and the tears rolling down her face. From then on, she had a lasting influence on the helpless child's heart.

"Oh, Eva, my child, who has done so many good things in a short life like you?" St Clare thought, "Compared with you, I have lived on the earth for so many years. How can I explain to God? "

People came in to say goodbye to Eva, and low whispers and footsteps came from the room. After a while, the coffin was carried in and the funeral began. Several carriages came in at the gate, some strangers came in and sat down, and many sad people wore white headscarves, white ribbons and black tulle, and black mourning clothes. Then, some people read scriptures and pray. St Clare was stiff, and he walked around as if his tears had dried up. From beginning to end, his eyes only stared at the little golden head lying in the coffin, but soon, the little golden head was covered with a piece of cloth, and then the coffin lid was covered. St Clare just fiddled with others and walked to the lower end of the garden. That's Eva's grave, next to the mossy small stone bench, where Eva and Tom chat, sing and read the Bible. St. Clare stood upright beside the grave, looking down with empty eyes, watching others put down their little coffins, and vaguely heard someone saying solemn words: "Life is in me, resurrection is in me;" People who believe in me will come back to life even if they die. "He seems completely numb, lost his mind. He didn't realize that people are filling the earth, and there is always a person buried, and this person is his Eva!

Yes, it's really not Eva-it's just a fragile seed planted by her holy and immortal body on earth. When our Lord Christ comes, she will certainly appear in the same shape.

When it was all over, the mourners returned to their respective residences. From then on, people will never think of this little girl again. The curtains in Mary's room are all down, and the room is dark. She lay in bed all day, crying and sad, almost unconscious, and the servants have been waiting on her. Of course, servants don't cry. Mary thinks it's just her own sorrow. She believes that her pain is unique in the world and it is difficult for anyone to surpass it.

"St. Clare didn't even shed a tear," Mary complained. "He didn't show any pity for me. He knows how sad I am, but he is so heartless that he turns a blind eye. "

Most servants are dominated by eyes and ears to a great extent, thinking that Eva's death has brought the deepest pain to the hostess; Mary doesn't have intermittent hysterical convulsions, and she can't live without a doctor. Even she said she was going to die. In this way, people are more convinced that this is the case. Everyone ran before and after, rushing around, taking thermos bottles for a while and baking flannel underwear for a while, all around her.

Only Tom had a strange feeling, which made him notice the host. Wherever St. Clare goes, Tom follows silently and gloomily. St Clare sat silently in Eva's room all day, pale, holding the Bible Eva had read, staring at it, but not reading a word. Whenever this happens, Tom always feels that his glassy eyes without tears contain deeper sadness than Mary's piercing wail.

A few days later, the St. Clare family moved back to the city. St. Clare has been tortured by grief. He is eager for a new environment and a change of new ideas, so they left their villa, garden and small grave and returned to New Orleans. Augustine traveled all day, hoping to fill the inner emptiness with this busy noise. People saw him in the street or met him in the cafe. If it weren't for the black veil on his hat, he wouldn't have seen the loss of his beloved daughter at all. He talked and laughed, discussed the current situation and talked about a lot of business, but who knows that this superficial behavior is just an empty shell as always, and the heart of the package has become a dead grave?

"St Clare really puzzles me," Mary complained to Miss O 'Filja. "I always thought that if there was someone he really loved in this world, it was Baby Eva, but he seemed to forget it easily. Every time I mention Eva, he never says a word. I really thought he was heartbroken! "

"Still water is deep, so people always tell me." Miss O 'Filja said, as if she had received the Oracle.

"Hum, I don't believe it! People with such deep feelings will show it, and that's what they say. However, on the other hand, attaching importance to feelings is really a kind of torture. If I had been born as heartless as St. Clare, I wouldn't have suffered so much! "

"Madam, master St. Clare has become an invisible man. It's hard for him to swallow "Mom said," Of course he didn't forget Eva, and no one can forget her, dear blessed little thing! " "She said, wiping her tears.

"Anyway, he never thought of me, and he had no words of comfort. Where does he know that his mother is much more painful than a man! " Mary said.

"A person's pain is only clear to himself." Mr Filja said seriously.

"It is so. Only I know how deep my pain is, and no one else knows. Eva used to know my mind, and now she's gone! " Say that finish, Mary fell on the bamboo couch, unable to restrain her sadness.

It's a pity that there is such a natural person in the world: things in your hand always feel worthless, and once lost, they feel extremely precious. Mary is one of them. She always finds fault with everything around her and regrets it after losing it.

When Mary and Miss O 'Filja said these words, there was another conversation in St. Clare's study.

Tom, a faithful servant, followed St. Clare nervously and saw him enter the study, but he didn't come out for hours. Tom was very anxious and finally decided to go in and have a look. He crept in and saw St. Clare lying face down on the couch at the end of the room, with Eva's Bible in front of him. Tom went over and stood by the sofa, a little hesitant. Just then, St. Clare suddenly looked up and saw the anxiety, concern and friendship on Tom's honest face, and was deeply moved at once. St Clare grabbed Tom's hand and put his forehead on it.

"Oh, Tom, my faithful servant, what shall I do? The whole world is like an eggshell, hollowed out! "

"I understand, sir, I understand," repeated Tom, "but you must look up at the sky, at dear Miss Eva, and at the holy Lord!"

"Tom, I have looked up, but I can't see anything! If only I could see it! " St Clare sighed heavily.

"Maybe only children or poor honest people, like you, can see what we can't!" St Clare said helplessly, "What the hell is going on?" (Chapter 27)