Uncle Tom's Cabin

Here are some discussion questions for Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe:

1. Uncle Tom's Cabin is often described, nowadays, as condescending. Do you agree with that assessment? Why (not)?

2. Being labeled an Uncle Tom is now considered an insult in the African American community, do you agree with that assessment of the character of Tom? Why (not)? Some people have described Tom as the first African American hero of literature, what actions did he take that make him a "hero"? Conversely what actions did he take that may cause him to be looked down upon?

3. The first two questions bring up an issue relating to all historical literature, what point of view should we use when reading literature? What harm or benefit could come from reading Uncle Tom's Cabin through a strictly modern viewpoint?

4. In the novel we are introduced to three different masters (there are other masters that get less airtime) and two of those masters are kind and loving to their slaves. Why do you think the author had the majority of the masters be kindly? How did the device of using kindly masters make you feel about slavery? The argument is explicitly made in the book that it is the kind masters that are the worst thing for slavery because it is they who make opposition more difficult, what are your thoughts on this argument?

5. Simon Legree along with George Harris's master are portrayed as irrational persons who act only on emotion with no care for their economic standing. Why do you think the author portrayed these individuals as irrational?

6. This is a novel with a very clear political message. Was this message forcefully portrayed? Why do you say that? Were there times in the novel when the message distracted from the story or where the story strayed from the message? Examples?

7. The ending of the book almost had a Dickensian quality to it, in terms of coincidences, lost identities, etc. How did this benefit the narrative?

8. Who was your favorite character and why?

9. Master St. Clare was depicted as a good man that had been spiritually destroyed by the culture of the south, why do you think it was important for the author to include depictions of the damage slavery had on white culture?

10. Almost all white characters in the novel (excepting Eva St. Clare and the Quakers) are depicted as racist (including the abolitionists) what was the author trying to convey by these depictions?

11. The author also clearly demonstrates that the only way to overcome racism, anger, pain, bitterness is through the redemption of Jesus Christ. In modern times such an overtly religious message in a novel is unusual, did this message affect your opinion of the novel? Why?

12. The novel contains several examples, the most prominent being that of the Ohio legislator, who believe one thing, but when faced with the actual consequences and personal experiences, their hearts are changed. Why do you think hearts are more readily changed, sometimes, by experience? Why does reason not always result in the best way? Or does it?

NOTE: I LOVED this book. I had never read it before, and I couldn't believe that in all the history and literature classes I have taken that it was never read. The story was excellent and fast moving. I was very moved by this book.