First of all, UTC has confirmed deep within me that God is divine. I realize what I am about to type is quite selfish and most likely naive but it is what I believe to be true. I have always been quite sure that I could have NEVER survived slavery, on either side of the ugliness. Now after just 250 pages of UTC, I am surer than I have ever been about anything that God is aware of how much "I" can bear, as I would have never bore slavery and survived it. The resiliency of the characters is breathtaking. The representational similarities of the characters to real slaves and the atrocities they faced was gut wrenching. When the trader sold the young woman's baby on the ferry, my heart ached, sincerely ached for those woman who had to live through that.
At one point, Shelby says, "He got religion at a camp-meeting, four years ago; and I believe he really got it." This comment struck me as it transcends time. I took Shelby's statement as an implication that many say to have found religion, or God, but few honestly do. That interested me that two centuries later, we still see this occurring. Very often people use "religion" or "finding God" as a crutch to validate or vindicate themselves. I see that it has always given people a bad taste in their mouth, not just in my time. A few paragraphs later, Haley says, "I consider religion a valeyable thing in a nigger when it's the genuine article, and no mistake." His shrewd ability to connect Godliness to monetary value unnerved me.
"....-undubitable signs, which showed too plainly that a man could not become a thing. this final piece of a sentence on pg 10 caused me to stop reading all together and just sit. That simplistic sentence summed up slavery to me in those few moments. It really was that simple of a basic human premise. A man is not a thing, an it, of no value, or worth less than another man. The way God's word had been mis-construed to permit slavery in the eyes of the partakers and those who sat idly by is a shameful piece of our American History. Even though slavery was not just an American issue, as a nation, we were founded on principles that established freedom and rights that separated us from being indebted to or controlled by others. How could we have allowed what Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about to occur? In allowing it to occur, opportunities for people to feel as Eliza did on page 22 were possible, and that's not a good thing. Eliza said, "I always thought that I must obey my master and mistress, or I couldn't be a christian. What a sad thing for her to have felt. It astounds me that this ownership and obedience to another human had so rooted itself in her spirit that it affected her own perception of her salvation.
On Page 114 thru 120, George and Mr. Wilson have a very poignant conversation about slavery and God. The points George makes are intelligent, profound, insightful and extremely persuasive. I appreciate the author showing the realistic side of people living in slavery. The perception that slaves were ignorant, un-educated, un-emotional, irrational etc. was stomped in these pages. George's references to God and the country being "your", not his, umm, I wonder how many must have felt like George did? Can you imagine having nothing to cling to and call your own, to feel your whole life is another mans possession? Awful!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
What an important point you touched on - only by making people an "it" could the hideous institution of slavery exist.
Your passion is very eloquent and appreciated. This story lit a fire but unfortunately also was used to stereotype and do futher harm. I am amazed by the courage it must have taken the author to write this work at the time she did. We are now encouraged to speak out of atrocities but this was not the case in the mid 1800's.
It's funny - I just had the discussion with an acquaintance about being a Christian and pretending. And as I read the first part of UTC, I found that the characters were alternately relying on and questioning their faith. It was a stark contrast that some thought their religion affirmed their place as slave owners and others believed that it allocated unalienable human rights. I really enjoyed your perspective!
Whether Christian or not, if people would endeavor to live what they say they believe, there would be much less hate and strife in this world. We might find that we have much more in common that we might have initially thought.
I agree that there are many people that claim they have found "God" and how many truly have. It reminds me of the men in prison that have committed terrible crimes, murder, child sexual abuse, etc.etc. and you aften hear them say they should be released because they have "found God." I think people tend to use this phrase too openingly....a blanket statement. I think people need to realize that it is not just the words that count it is one's actions. The people in UTC especially the slaves have a real belief in God.
At one point in time, slaves weren't allowed to even worship God. They had to so secretly, usually somewhere in the woods they'd gather. African-Americans openly still do this today and it's called a revival. It used to be held outdoors under a tent and blacks would come from all over the city to partake in the revival. It was amazing.
First of all wonderful post!!! I love your honesty. I too was touched by the section where the mother on the ferry bring otld her son was sold and gone. The description of the pain and heartbreak she felt was so powerful as though you could see her life being taken from her.
We put too much emphasis on religion to make us good people. That we should not hurt each other is just a basic human principle and we don't need to be religious to know that.I think religion should adress our spirituality and being kind is just basic humanity.In the conversation with George, Mr. Wilson also tells George to accept his lot in life because that is what it says in the Bible, and as you said, George is too intelligent to fall for that reasoning.
Your descriptions of the heinous events were spot on to the emotions that I felt! Your blog relayed the atrocities of the events and the breathtaking way that Stowe was able to bring these to light.
I agree with you. Either side of the slavery issue was not a good side. I've always said that I'd never survive in the military because I don't take orders well and would wind up in the brig after the first day or so! I'm sure I would have been a terrible slave, and would have wound up beaten to death like so many, sadly, were. I admire Eliza's willingness to serve the Shelbys. That she considers it her Christian duty and almost an honor is maybe a bit of a defense mechanism, but I admire it never-the-less.
Post a Comment