Uncle Tom's Cabin Women

During the nineteenth century America’s population saw its largest increase, in which mass immigration occurred. This saw a rise in culture and racial differences as movement was commonly based on those wanting to move away from war, starvation or other forms of oppression. It is how writers of the nineteenth century presented the ‘objective history through literature and turned it instead to the business of myth-making’ (Wardrop, 1997, p. P2) which is an interest of mine. The aim is to focus on the portrayal of women in sentimental fiction during the nineteenth century, through James Fenimore Coopers novel The Last of the Mochicans (Cooper, 1985) and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Stowe, 1995). The framework of this essay

Ophelia is also a complex character, she is a Northern white American lady, of high education, who dislikes slavery yet is uncomfortable in the presence of a “black blooded” character. This is due to Ophelia believing it is inevitable for those who are “black blooded” to be within slave work, due to being biologically determined. This is something many white readers during the nineteenth century would have also believed. She supports that in the ‘South as well as North, there are women who have an extraordinary talent for command, and tact in educating’ (Stowe 1995, p.191). This quote is from chapter XVIII which sees Ophelia’s attempt to try and reform the house and install some Northern attributes as she goes along. Contrasting to Alice, Ophelia’s racial essentialism is evoked by instinctive qualities rather than environmental factors. As the novel progresses, Ophelia’s presence and characteristics develop, showing evidence of flipping common raced binaries and critiquing white Americans. Initially her white characteristics set an evil and malicious tone as her beliefs and authority are prominent, reflecting white superiority. However, it is important to note how eventually this trait develops further, and she begins to warm to being in the presence of the blacks, and is accepting of their characteristics. Stowe uses Ophelia as a way of connecting with Northern American readers. Her transformation after Eva’s death makes Ophelia a role model for the white Northern audience, used as a form of hope that white Northern readers would identify themselves in Ophelia and opt to change with her. This is due to her being a powerful character within the novel, who reflects admirable qualities to white readers as she is relatable and shows a positive