LITERARY ANALYSIS:
I Chose Humanism for my
theme of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Beloved. Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that,
without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and
responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the
greater good of humanity.
https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/
Throughout this book there are humanistic themes that
seem to be at odds with Christianity. There are some very thoughtful Christians
in this book but seem to lean towards the majority which is Slavery. At times
it seems as if Mrs. Shelby would gain control and step in to do what she
believed was the right thing, but bowed to her husband and site Christianity as
an excuse to do nothing about a situation she didn’t feel as right or ignore it
completely. “Mrs. Shelby, being entirely ignorant of her husband’s
embarrassments, and knowing only the general kindliness of his temper, had been
quite sincere in the entire incredulity with which she had met Eliza’s
suspicions. In fact, she dismissed the matter from her mind without a second
thought; and being occupied in preparations for an evening visit, it passed out
of her thoughts entirely.” (53-End of Chapter “A Man of Humanity- (Uncle Tom’s
Cabin)” -so aptly named because Mr. Shelby behaved without any.
We have discussed in class that the women up to when
we met Eva seem to round out their husbands with more caring ways, humanity. We
met the detestable Mr. Haley who has no wife and seems to cut the book into a
different episode. Eva is a remarkable little girl who sees humanity in
everything and everyone. “Often and often she walked mournfully round the place
where Haley’s gang of men and women sat in their chains. She would glide in among
them, and look at them with an air of perplexed and sorrowful earnestness; and
sometimes she would lift their chains with her slender hands, and then sigh woefully,
as she glided away. Several times she appeared suddenly among them, with her
hands full of candy, nuts, and oranges, which she would distribute joyfully to
them, and then be gone again.” (232-Evangeline)
Tom showed humanity to Eva when she fell into the
water and without thinking, he saved her. When Eva persuaded her father to buy
Tom, she stated “I want to make him happy”. In The Chapter Of Tom’s New Master, and Various other Matters St. Clare is being
described, “In childhood, he was remarkable for an extreme and marked
sensitiveness of character, more akin to the softness of woman than the
ordinary hardness of his own sex” (239)
St. Clare is a huge character for my humanity topic
not only for his love for his mother who he describes as a woman of uncommon
elevation and purity of character, and he gave to his child his mother’s name,
fondly fancying that she would prove a preproduction of her image.” (243 Of Tom’s New Master)
Ophelia is another character that I would say had
humanistic viewpoints. She came to the big city of Orleans to help out her dear
cousin. “The minister, who inclined strongly to abolitionist views, was quite
doubtful whether such a step might not tend somewhat to encourage the
southerners in holding on to their slaves, while the doctor, who was a stanch
colonizationist, inclined to the opinion that Miss Ophelia ought to go, to show
the Orleans people that we don’t think hardly of them, after all. He was of
opinion, in fact, that southern people needed encouraging.” (246 Of Tom’s New Master) Ophelia was quite
conscientious in all things that seem to matter.
Marie St. Clare seems to be devoid of humanistic
qualities at all. Completely absorbed in her own problems she doesn’t
appreciate her husband, daughter, Ophelia and most of all her “servants.” (260 Tom’s Mistress)
Eva is a truly remarkable child. “Eva’s peculiar,”
said her mother, “very. There are things about her so singular; she isn’t like
me, now, a particle;” and Marie sighed, as if this was a truly melancholy
consideration. Miss Ophelia in her own heart said, “I hope she isn’t,” but had
prudence enough to keep it down. “Eva always was disposed to be with servants;
and I think that well enough with some children. Now, I always played with
father’s little negroes—it never did any harm. But Eva somehow always seems to
put herself on an equality with every creature that comes near her. It’s a
strange thing about the child. I never have been able to break her of it. St.
Clare, I believe, encourages her in it. The fact is, St. Clare indulges every
creature under this roof but his own wife”
(265 Tom’s Mistress)
The best moment for humanism comes in the form of St.
Clare when he is discussing religion with Ophelia and Marie. “Religion!” said
St. Clare, in a tone that made both ladies look at him. “Religion! Is what you
hear at church, religion? Is that which can bend and turn and descend and
ascend, to fit eery crooked phase of selfish, wordly society, religion? Is that
religion which is less scrupulous, less generous, less just, less considerate
for man, than even my own ungodly, wordly, blinded nature? No! When I look for
a religion, I must look for something above me, and not something beneath. “The
Bible was my mother’s book,” said St.
Clare. “By it she lived and died, and I would be very sorry to think it did. I’d
as soon desire to have it proved that my mother could drink brandy, chew
tobacco, and swear, by way of satisfying me that I did right in doing the same.
It wouldn’t make me at all more satisfied with these things in myself, and it
would take from me the comfort of respecting her; and it really is a comfort,
in this world, to have anything one can respect.” (280-281 Tom’s Mistress)
