Augustine St. Clare of Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet...

Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin leaves little room for interpretation of the authors moral point of view. Yet, there remains one big moral question that is not as easily answered. This is the question of the character of Augustine St. Clare--a man who espouses great ideals on the evils of slavery, yet continues to hold his own slaves. Is he a hero because of his beliefs or a villain because of his actions? And just how important is this question to understanding and responding to the novel, as a whole? If St. Clare were a minor character, showing up in just a chapter or two, as another stereotype, i.e. the southern slaveholder who doesnt like slavery, he†¦show more content†¦So St. Clare is like the founding fathers of America--he starts something he cannot finish. St. Clare did not literally begin the practice of slavery, but he supports it by his financial arrangements. Like the founding fathers, hes a great thinker, a believer in ideals, yet trapped by the practical world of reality. An issue very much at the center of Uncle Toms Cabin. A world that appeared black-and-white to many of the abolitionists with whom Stowe associated was not so clear-cut to Stowe. She showed all sides of the issue as best as she could, despite her obvious bias against slavery. And St. Clare, the slaveowner who opposed slavery, is the biggest example of the moral ambiguity and contradictions that theissue of slavery, and by extension this novel, posed. St. Clares moral ambiguity makes him tough to figure out. He says great things yet does horrible things. Perhaps not as horrible as Simon Legree, but the principle is the same--just like Legree, he holds slaves. He keeps other human beings in legal and social inferiority to himself. And in another way, hes even worse than Legree in that he makes promises he doesnt keep. He promises Tom his freedom, but does not deliver it. Legree at least is honest about his character and makes no pretensions toShow MoreRelatedUncle Tom s Cabin By Harriet Beecher Stowe1522 Words   |  7 PagesLincoln is quoted as saying, â€Å"So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.† upon meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe for the first time. The book that the former president is referring to is Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a 1850s book about the moral wrongs of slavery. It has been said to be the most influential anti-slavery book that has ever been written. Harriet Beecher Stowe is an effective author. She uses numerous literary devices such as facile characters, character foils, and symbolismRead MoreUncle Tom s Cabin By Harriet Beecher Stowe Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesIn Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe uses the character of Augustine St. Clare to play a very important role in expressing her views of abolition to the reader throughout the novel. 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