Textual Background and Context

           Throughout Uncle Tom’s Cabin, many women appear within the story, unafraid to make their opinions on slavery known. Surely, at the time, women were supposed to remain quite reserved in life, as it was not their place to take up such things and topics of slavery. This ideology can be seen/reflected in an article written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, herself. In a short pieced written by Harriet Beecher Stowe entitled, “Appeal to the Women of the Free States,” Stowe writes to appeal to the women of the North to take upon the duty of having an influence on the practice of slavery, and taking up active thoughts on the mentioned matter.

                Stowe writes to encourage women to do what they can in matters of achieving more freedom/equality in light of prohibiting slavery. Much like her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, relies on the theme of religion, in this article Stowe again uses religion, and the piety possessed by women, to convince women to take up this cause. As an example of this, Stowe is quoted within the article in her appeal to women stating, “However ambition and the love of political power may blind the stronger sex, God has given to woman a deeper and more immovable knowledge, in those holier feelings, which are peculiar to womanhood, and which guard the sacredness of the family state.” (Stowe, 459) Stowe also poses questions throughout the piece to get women to question and take interest in the cause as well, to call upon their duty. The main point of Stowe’s piece can be summed up well with the final sentence of her article, as she writes, “For the sake of both, for the sake of our dear children, for the sake of our common country, for the sake of outraged and struggling liberty throughout the world, let every woman of America now do her duty.” (Stowe, 461)

I think Stowe’s message could have been risky at the time of publishing. For Stowe was taking on two separate issues-advocating for the prohibition of slavery, and for women to in some ways become more outspoken. Changes to both of these elements could really have shaken up society at the time. I think it also goes to show how important Stowe thought it was for women to become involved in the cause. For women could have influence over their husbands, sons, etc. and as such their piety and other qualities were essential to this influence, as she states, “The first duty is for each woman, for herself thoroughly to understand the subject, and to feel that as mother, wife, sister, or member of society, she is bound to give her influence on the right side.” (Stowe, 461) Furthermore, I think this article adds to our understanding of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as clearly her message in this article, can be seen in her novel and the characters themselves, as well. 

               The ideas of Stowe's piece are reflected in her novel as well, as the morality of women is a prevalent theme within Uncle Tom’s Cabin. As such, Stowe’s short piece helps us understand some of the female characters in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In the beginning of her short piece she talks of how there’s no good Christian woman that would want their family to suffer, and as such how any woman could understand the struggles of those in slavery. This is reflected most apparently in the character of Mrs. Bird when she aids Eliza on her journey. Mrs. Bird also tries to influence her husband on the matter of slavery, like Stowe encourages in her article. I think that Miss Ophelia is also a good example to use. For Miss Ophelia is from the North, and in many ways depicts everything Stowe writes about in her short appeal. For Miss Ophelia is opposed to slavery, is religious, and has rid herself of racial prejudice by the end of the novel, as well. It was likely Stowe’s intention to again use this character to appeal to the women of the north. By the end of the novel, Miss Ophelia essentially becomes the role model for readers, as Stowe basically uses this character to further project her message, and encourage women to me more like this character.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher. "Appeal to the Women of the Free States." Uncle Tom's Cabin. (2010) 459-461. Print.