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  • Essay / Does death symbolize heroism in Uncle Tom's Cabin?

    Is Stowe's anti-slavery argument supported by Eva and Tom's death scenes? In Uncle Tom's Cabin, the deaths of Eva and Tom can be symbolized as a heroic victory for the liberation of the other characters, who are slaves. Stowe parallels these two Christian figures, Eva and Tom, with the death of Jesus. Both deceased characters have similar attributes that are emphasized throughout Stowe's novel. They both had faith in God and created a change in slavery after their deaths. Many characters showed a lot of sadness over the deaths of Eva and Tom. These two death scenes have a lasting impact on the other characters and the reader of the novel. Keeping in mind that Stowe intended in these two scenes to develop his argument that slavery should be abolished, I will discuss Eva and Tom's impact on the characters and the reader. The deaths of Eva and Tom can symbolize many effects in the book. . Their shared faith makes the comparison with Christ a great parallel for the reader. A common point between the two characters and Christ is that the dead are sacrificial and are essentially intended for the saving of others. Wherever Tom is sent as a slave, he seems to give the strength of faith as well as love to the other characters. Even though Tom is a slave, others seem to respond remarkably to his thoughts and beliefs. He maintains his truthfulness and refuses to betray his fellow slaves at the cost of his life! Eva, unlike Tom, is not a slave but is seen as a sympathetic character by everyone. Although we can see similarities between the two characters and Christ, I feel like Tom is more like Christ because they are both men, they are both in physical pain, and they are both beaten when they express their beliefs. The characters in this novel seem to believe the messages from Tom and Eva. while they are alive, but when both characters die, it seems that their lives leave a lasting impression on Christianity and the evil deeds of a slave owner. I felt, as a reader, that Stowe made Eva and Tom's deaths more important than life itself. Eva's death does not occur through the sudden collapse of the slave system, but is shown to be valuable through the conversation with Topsy and the way Miss Ophelia responds to her after Eva's death..