Eliza’s path leads to Quaker people who endeavor to help slaves escape. The story then splits into two, following both Eliza and Tom’s journeys. Eliza overhears this news, takes Harry, and runs away. The child, Harry, is the son of Eliza, his wife’s personal maid whom she has raised from girlhood. Shelby resists at first, but being over a barrel, feels he has no choice but to give in. Shelby’s debt is not quite covered, though, and the slave trader spies a bright and beautiful child that he says will make up the difference. Though Tom is devastated by the news, especially the thought of leaving his wife and children, he doesn’t run away when he has the chance because he is willing for his sale to help everyone else. If he doesn’t sell Tom, he will lose all. Shelby, is in deep debt, and Tom is so experienced, trustworthy, and valuable that his sale will almost cover the debt. The story opens with the news that Tom will have to be sold. On another level Beecher demonstrates many times over that slaves are real people rather than property and have real souls and real feelings and real family ties and, therefore, slavery is a horrible thing for one person to do to another and for the nation to allow. On one level we trace Tom’s life and the people he encounters through three masters, and we see how he responds to the difficulties he faces by God’s grace. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a story on two levels. If you’ve read this book for this challenge, drop by Carrie’s to let her know, link up your review if you wrote one, and see others’ thoughts. Carrie’s “Reading to Know” Book Club pick for the month of October is Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
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