Strength and Faith of Uncle Tom in Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Advocates of all kinds have popped up throughout history, completely embodying the characteristic that they’re trying to represent. Advocates and representatives of this kind have had their roots in foundations like religion, revolution, political parties, and a myriad of others. In Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Uncle Tom remains faithful and reverent throughout the hardships of being separated from his wife and children, suffering the death of a loved one, and having to live under Simon Legreet.

As the book progresses, Uncle Tom remains adamant that this love for God and doing good deeds will keep him on the road to heaven. Uncle Tom suffers more than any man should ever have to, and his faith and strength keep him on the right path, so, he can easily be seen as the embodiment of faith and fortitude.  When Tom is confronted with his master’s decision to sell him in order to pay off debts, Tom responds in a calm, submissive manner.

He responds this way not because he is scared of his master, but rather because he knows that Mr. Shelby would keep him if he could, but he just can’t afford to lose any more money. As Tom tells his sorrowful family “If I must be sold,or all the people on the place, and everything go to rack, why, let me be sold, ”  he tells his wife in a reassuring manner that he will be safe under God’s watchful eye. Even while being completely unknowing as to where he’ll be sold to, the quality of his new master, or even if he will ever be reunited with his wife and kids, Torn remains adamant that his faith in God will lead him to a good master.

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Through that, knows with certainty that he’ll see his family again. Tom is later purchased by Augustine St, Clare while making his trip back down South by steamboat, While on the boat, Tom befriends a lovely young girl by the name of Eva St, Clare, and the two became very, very close.

As their friendship grows, Torn teaches Eva more and more about the importance of scripture and prayert As Eva’s tuberculosis begins to take her life, Tom comforts her and her family with the Bible, particularly St, Clare, St, Clare cries out “I want to believe this Bible- and I can’t” to which Torn replies “Dear mas’r, pray to the good Lord- ‘Lord, I believe; help than my unbeliefi ”’ (pg 280) While faced even with those who don’t believe, Tom refuses to give up his faith, for he knows that with the love of Christ and God, St Clare could much better deal with the death of his only daughter Using his faith in the gospel, Tom sought to alleviate St. Clares misery, and was adamant that St. Clare could yet be saved. As the novel progresses even further, Tom is purchased by Mr. Simon Legree, an infamous slave owner. The atrocities committed toward slaves on Legree’s cotton plantation are particularly graphic and unsettling, Legree, who retains almost the exact opposite moral priorities and views as Tom, relentlessly attempts to crush Tom‘s faith.

As Legree attempts to “break Tom in”, he forces Tom to whip an elderly, weak slave by the name of Lucy. Tom’s Catholic morals will keep him from whipping her, and he asserts to Legree “Mas’r, ifyou mean to kill me, kill me; but, as to raising my hand agin anyone here, I never shall- I’ll die first!“  Through these acts against evil, Tom brought a means of salvation, strength, and release in the name of God that the slaves under Legree had never experienced before Furthermore, the two overseers, Quimbo and Sambo, after witnessing the brutal beating and death of Tom, turn their hearts to God. As they speak over the body of the recently passed Tom, Samba cries out “Why didn’t I never hear this before? but I do believe! – I can’t help it! Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!” With the Lord in his heart, Tom easily forgives the two men who helped bring about his death, and the power of forgiveness was much more powerful than any amount of fear.

Legree could impose on them, Tom’s splendid release from the hardships of slavery inspired many of those who were close to him to have faith, and pursue their freedom, as later confirmed by the reunion of Cassy and Eliza, and of George Harris and his sister. Tom’s faith and dependence on the word of God led him and many others to happier places, all due to his incredible faithr Countless martyrs throughout history have died for what they believe in, and Tom was one of them. Tom never caused harm to anybody, was a good-hearted man, and suffered for what he believed in without protests He had the power to stop what was being done to him, but he kept his faith and was dead set on being raised to heaven. His amazing strength and faith will continue to be a perfect representation of a morally good, strong, Catholic man.