Henson, Stowe and Baldwin on Uncle Tom's Cabin

The autobiography written by Josiah Henson was an inspiration for Stowe for Writing Uncle Tom's Cabin. Uncle Tom's Cabin caused a lot of controvesy because of the racial differences of black slaves. James Baldwin had a negative outlook on the book saying that it did not do a accurate representation of African American slaves.
Henson's book was an autobiography of his life and his struggle as a slave, and from reading Uncle Tom's Cabin I see some of the elements in Henson's book that were in Uncle Tom's Cabin such as, the importance of family, and freedom. In Uncle Tom's Cabin we see a mother's love for her son, and how she will do anything so they won't be seperated from another. Bladwin took a stab at the the dark and the lighter skinned slave saying that the lighter skin slaves were percieved as strong, and the darker slaves seemed almost powerless.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin: A Solution to Oppression and Racism

“Anti-Tom” literature was a nineteenth century pro-slavery genre for writing novels. The same kind of theme was utilized for other sorts of literary works, especially those written in response to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Also referred to as “plantation literature,” the writings were generally written by authors from the Southern regions of the United States, which was . Novels and other literary works that fall under the anti-Tom genre would attempt to express slavery as being either beneficial to African Americans, or that the evils of slavery as represented in Stowe’s novel were overblown and incorrect. Published in 1852, Uncle Tom’s Cabin would eventually become one of the most important novels of American literature, as it revealed slavery as a thing that was cruel and unjust. Harriet Beecher Stowe was able to send a message to countless readers from the nineteenth century to the present by preaching that it is the spirit of people that must change in order to really abolish slavery.

Death as the Change Agent in Uncle Tom's Cabin

In Jane P. Tompkins essay “Sentimental Power: Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Politics of Literary History” she discusses the impact that little Eva’s death in the “transformation of stories circulating in the culture at large” (Stowe 507). Tompkins attributes Eva’s ability to do so partly to the typological structure Stowe uses in the novel. The structure, heavily reliant upon the prefigured symbols of the Bible, allows Eva to become the Christ-like figure by whom every other character’s life if affected. But in reading Tompkins’ essay, what she fails to address, and what I hope to address in mine, is how the death of characters, other than Eva, serves as agents of change within the story, and history, in its entirety. This essay will discuss the possible death of George the slave, and the actual death of Tom and Legree's mother in terms of how they change the characters close to their deaths, and moreover, how they impact the course of the novel and the course of history.

Baldwin vs. Stowe

“Everybody’s Protest Novel,” was a critique written in 1955 by James Baldwin on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” It's obvious from the start of the critique that Baldwin doesn’t think very much of the novel at all. He questions the need for this story to become a novel instead of being on a pamphlet- Baldwin wrote, “…she was not so much a novelist as an impassioned pamphleteer.” (496) These are harsh words for a book that some have praised highly, including Edmund Wilson, former editor of Vanity Fair and writer for the New Yorker. Jane Tompkins, who wrote an accompanying critique in the Norton edition of the novel, called the book a "classic." In order to get to the root of these discrepancies, it’s important to research the backgrounds of both Baldwin and Stowe. Both grew up extremely religious, which accounts for the religious theme of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as well as Baldwin's response.

Every Christian Woman’s Duty: Stowe’s Message in Uncle Tom’s Cabin

There is more to the characters in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin than one initially might see; they are complex, showcasing a number of views simultaneously. At times, it can be difficult to assess just what Stowe is trying to assert when the characters seem to change views and reveal ambiguous purposes. When looking for meaning in the characters and their views, one can often find conflicting messages, but a look at the background of the author, some particularly popular sentiments at the time she was writing, and the book’s reception help to clarify where she stands and why.

Fred Douglass on Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book printed less than a decade before the Civil War (1852), but some beliecve this book caused more ireeputable harm to blacks in America than it has helped. One white critic, J.C. Furnas, pointed out what he thought Stowe did wrong in her penning of this novel and why it hurt the advancement of blacks in America both before and after the Civil War. He believed her book distorted the reality of race relations in the South and in turn ended up harming the relations even more, especially due to the characterization of particular characters (see: Tom and Chloe). Other scholars like Frederick Douglass supported Stowe's novel and met with her to help open up an interesting discourse regarding the immediate future of former slaves in America directly after emancipation. Even though these discussions did little to stop the implementation of Jim Crow laws across the South, they are interesting to look back on and analyze their actual effects on American society over the past 150 years. 

Moby Dick(late)

Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is recognized for its exceptionally genuine depiction of life on the sea, and more specifically life on a whaling ship, during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Though sometimes quite dry, few dispute the authenticity of Melville’s many chapters on cetology, the sea, and life as a whaleman. Part of this realistic portrayal of a sailor’s life is the inherent danger of the profession due to the hidden threats that constantly lurk beneath the sea’s glistening surface. Sailor’s in the novel do not attempt to deceive themselves about the ever-imminent chance of death, and death is in no way glamorized. Death occurs swiftly and without sentimentality, and is forgotten just as quickly. Though surely a true fact of life present in the narrative, it also seems that Melville had another motive for his anti-romantic depiction. In fact, it seems to be a response to consolation-graveyard literature which was quite common at the time.

Simon Suggs(late)

J.J. Hooper’s Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs seams from the outset to be a simple example of the typical southwestern humor of the day. It contains much of the typical vernacular of the lower classes, stories of boys out-witting their fathers, and tales of men conniving to make a dollar in any way possible. Captain Simon Suggs is the quintessential Confidence Man; always good-humored, and willing to take advantage of the all-too trustworthy masses at a moment’s notice. However, if we look deeper into the historical background of the author and his time, we will find that all is not as it seems. J.J. Hooper was an intelligent, educated man with many political and social opinions that he masterfully hides and shapes into a seemingly innocent tale. This essay will show that Hooper has molded his opinions on the campaign biography, Andrew Jackson, and the political parties of his day into this novel.

Uncle Tom's Cabin: not as bad as some say

Though Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one of the most influential American novels of all time and is widely held to be one of the essential protest novels of the nineteenth century, it is not without its critics. Many have noted the unrealistic depiction of its southern white and slave characters, while others believe Stowe to be a racist and a slavery sympathizer due to her often rosy depiction of slave-owners. Despite all of these seeming imperfections—most of which have been found by the modern reader—the book continues to be a widely-read example of the early protest novel and when read from the correct historical point of view, is an impressive look into the arguments against slavery that helped abolish the dreadful practice. Chief in understanding Uncle Tom’s Cabin correctly is an appreciation for the audience for which the novel was written. More specifically, we must recognize that Stowe is attempting to convince Americans that slavery is against the moral principles set forth by the Christian faith, and her argument is made in such a way as to appeal to them in this way. This essay will show that Stowe’s intention was to convince a specific group of white, northern Christians that the practice of slavery must have been ended as quickly as possible, and when studied in this way, few faults will be exposed.

Simon Says Slavery Is Okay

Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs reveals the serious, sad state of the nation at the time, showing the division between the races, and the division between Southerners and their Northern counterparts. While Simon may seem to be a simple con man, he represents much more than that. When one looks beyond the humor, it becomes sadly apparent that Simon’s success always comes at the high price of others. Within his character there exist deeper truths about the attitudes towards slavery, freedom, racial divisions, and progress in his time. Johanna Nicol Shields explores the darker side of Simon Suggs in the article, “A Sadder Simon Suggs: Freedom and Slavery in the Humor of Johnson Hooper.” While Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs may be a satire of a campaign biography, it reveals more about the intricate workings of a society, including the political and social issues of the time, than it does about any one man. In the end, Simon Suggs is saying slavery is an inevitable result of circumstances.

The Peculiar Institution

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a text which has had an enormous impact on nineteenth century America and the world. It was one of the first texts to have more readers than the bible and was translated internationally. Although much can be said to the service that Uncle Tom’s Cabin has given to the abolitionist movement and the abolishment of slavery, the novel still has its faults. Of the faults sited within the text some include the stereotypical portrayal of various slaves, which borders on racism, and a slight approval of colonization. While these flaws are few compared to the institution which the novel was written against, they are more of a reflection on the views of the author than of the reality which the author portrays. A more thorough glimpse into Stowe’s intentions and beliefs regarding the novel and the ‘peculiar’ institution of slavery can help advance the modern readers’ interpretation of Stowe’s work. As with many whites of her time Stowe, “shared many of the misconceptions about race common in her lifetime” this is not surprising considering “the absence of the kind of scientific data available today” which made it virtually impossible to avoid accepting at least some of the reigning ideologies involving ethnology and the racist common knowledge assumptions concerning race during the nineteenth century (Graham 614). Although Stowe tried to avoid notions of white superiority in her writings there are instances in which these notions do appear. Examples of this can be seen in Uncle Tom’s Cabin when she describes whites as, “cold, brave, industrious, and spirited” while blacks are described as, “timid, unenterprising, droll, and weak” (Graham 617).

Anti-Uncle Tom Literature

I was interested in Thomas F. Gossett's article "Anti-Uncle Tom Literature."  Gossett points to a few anti-Uncle Tom novels that argue against the cruel slave master and the oppressed slave image presented in many slave novels, among them Uncle Tom's Cabin.  In this anti-Uncle Tom novels--Maria McIntosh's The Lofty and the Lowly, Baynard Hall's Freeman's Barber Shop, W. L. G. Smith's Life at the South, etc.--the slave owners are always kind, and always have understandable motives in punishing their slaves.  And always the slaves are opt to engage in such actions that require some justifiable  punishment.  However, Gossett fails to mention the similarities Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel from which the anti-Uncle Tom literature evolves from and argues against, share with many anti-Uncle Tom novels.  In this essay I compare those similarities that I noticed in Uncle Tom's Cabin with what Gossett presents in his featured anti-Uncle Tom literature.

Simon Suggs: Harmful Humor

In Adventures of Simon Suggs, Johnson Jones Hooper creates a swift, sneaky and persuasive character Simon, who is intended to be a replica of himself. According to Robert Hopkins he states that it this book is simply a “burlesque of campaign biographies.” Although in the beginning chapters Simon claims to compare himself to the earlier president’s in later chapters this comedic elements begin to make fun of other cultures especially the Indians. This interpretation is also seen in the article written by Johanna Shields. She argues that the Adventures of Simon Suggs provoked laughter but with repercussions. Hopkins would oppose her argument because Hooper intended for Simon Suggs to be humorous not harmful.

Simon Suggs: More Than Satire

In his essay “Simon Suggs: A Burlesque Campaign Biography,” Robert Hopkins argues that Johnson Jones Hooper’s novel Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs deserves recognition as a burlesque of campaign biographies. He presents multiple examples from the novel which support his claim, but also hints at the novel’s ability to fit into many other genres and sub-genres. In paralleling the actions of Andrew Jackson to those of Simon Suggs, and finding inconsistencies in the novel's genre as a picaresque narrative, this essay discusses Hopkins’s essay and the argument for Simon Suggs as a burlesque campaign biography.

White Freedom vs. Black Slavery: Johnson Hooper’s Humor and Worldview

In Some Adventures of Simon Suggs, Johnson Hooper uses his fictional newspaper editor “Johns” and fictional candidate “Suggs” as foils for his own contradictory nature. Johanna Nicol Shields examines this in her article “ A Sadder Simon Suggs: Freedom and Slavery in the Humor of Johnson Hooper.” Hooper himself, says Shields, experienced both sides of the Johns/Suggs dichotomy; as a young man, he was Suggs, Southern born, Southern bred, looking for his fortune in any way possible, looking toward the West. He was also the editor, the Western gentleman.
Johnson Hooper’s dual nature, as explored in Simon Suggs, enables his humor to deal with the story of white freedom; of Southern scions’ freedom from geographical lines as the Western frontier opened. In this adventure, however, the black characters are pawns as well as foils for the white story.

Edgar Allan Poe reads Simon Suggs?

Since many of Edgar Allan Poe's newspaper reviews were unsigned, attribution of his articles to him is sometimes a matter of guesswork. Nevertheless, a paragraph from a newspaper column believed to be Poe's praises Hooper's collection (which, like our edition, includes several other sketches by the author):

Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), "Our Book-Shelves (IV)," from the Aristidean, October 1845, pp. 320-322.]


CAREY and HART have issued "The Life and Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs," &c. With engravings after designs, by DARLEY. We sat down to this book quietly; read, laughed — read, and laughed again. There is more true, indigenous humor in this, than anything we have yet seen, from the American press — "Jack Downing," "Jonathan Slick," and "Major Jones," not excepted. Captain SUGGS is a man of metal — "yea! an honest, incorruptible — very jewel of a fellow." And Daddy ELIAS BIGGS — with his repeated visits to the "yeathen war" — and his hatred of the Chatahospa people! That he may speedily have another scrape at COCKERELL'S BEND, is our earnest wish. The designs of DARLEY, in the book, like all he does, are inimitable. The look of profound fright in the sentry — the solemn grandeur of Captain SUGGS, at the drum-head court-martial — the portrait of the veritable Captain himself — his reception of the Bank President — with KIT KUNCKER, his horse and his dog — are they not all pictured by the graver?

The author of this book is the editor of a country paper, in ALABAMA, in which, we believe, the sketches first appeared. He is evidently a man of the most decided, unapproachable and original humor.

The latest news from academia on SW Humor

More (very recent) scholarship from Johanna Shields on the subject of authorship and SW Humor

Yet more scholarship on Hooper

This essay includes a section discussing Simon's relationship with his father, Jedediah Suggs.

A Sadder (but not wiser) Simon Suggs

The following link to Johanna Shields' essay on the Creek Indian sketches in the Adventures of Simon Suggs was referred to in class (and may or may not be the one to which Beth was referring).

Links to SW comic sketches by topic

The Spirit of the Southern Frontier website provides links to old southwestern tales in over twenty different subject areas. See especially the links to militia drills and military subjects and gambling to compare Hooper's impressions with those of other writers.