I have seen throughout most traditional children’s literature there are certain themes that authors try to get across. Morality is one of those themes. After reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, it completely goes against the idea of promoting right morals. In children’s literature authors use the text to show children examples of how to live a right moral life. I feel like Stowe is doing the opposite by showing children a side of evil through the horrible act of slavery. As a child you do not really seem to recognize what is going on in the outside world especially such a horrible thing like slavery. Stowe does not bother going through a set of lessons in teaching them right from wrong. She goes directly to the point in proving what is not morally right in real life. Unlike all the rest of our readings this is the first author to express the message of immorality.
This book does not portray the idea of fantasy life we usually see in children’s literature. For example when talking about tearing families apart, Stowe puts it into perspective by making us think about " If it were your Harry, mother, or your Willie, that were going to be torn from you by a brutal trader, tomorrow morning..." and continues to describe what if would feel like to go through this with all the different elements and trials you have to face on the way (244). Through this quote we see families being torn apart with no hope for the future, rather then seeing how families stick together and are always there for you. The idea of teaching morality is seen in a twisted way from what we are use to seeing in other children’s novels. Stowe shows children how our ancestors supported such a thing as slavery and allowed it to go on. Ultimately, Uncle Tom's Cabin is essentially a novel that crosses all boundaries when teaching morals and the importance of family life.
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Even though I believe this novel presents hope and potential I can see why you believe this challenges it. I think that Stowe does go through lessons of teaching right through wrong but just in a different and distorted way from what we are used to seeing in Children's Literature.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting point that Stowe is showing the children evil instead of how is a good way to act in order to show how not to act. Even though I don't think this novel is meant primarily for children, I think they would be exposed to it and could learn from the evil treatment of blacks that that is not the way to treat people.
ReplyDeleteThough it is true that Stowe does portray an evil side to children, she provided a reality at the time. Something that not many others had done at the time. She exposed the evilness and darkness that was slavery to an ignorant world!I like how you said that Stowe doesn't entertain fantasy, she doesn't she sticks to the truth!
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