by Beachbumwriter

Created on: September 24, 2011

The white man was the supreme ruler over his household.  His slaves whether they were grown or not were referred to in a kinder master as his children, otherwise in a master like Legree as his beasts.  He could kill a slave without any threat of imprisonment.  At the end of the story Legree kills Uncle Tom who is carried off the plantation and buried without any complaint to the sheriff.  George, Tom’s kind master considered reporting it, but knowing it would resolve to nothing, left to bury Tom respectfully.

The white woman in the 19th century had little rights in running the family business or in the manner of handling slaves.  Mrs. Shelby had no power in preventing the sale of Uncle Tom even though she was against it.  She offered to assist her husband in handling the family’s finances, but he refused to allow it.  Mrs. Shelby’s only power was to assist her slave servant, Eliza, in her escape. 

In the St Clare household, the inability for the cold mistress, Mary St Clare, from having any rights to the way the household slaves were treated was good because her husband, Augustine St Clare, treated them kinder.  Once he died, Mary had to discuss with his brother on what was to be done with the estate, and she eventually sold them all and moved back to her parent’s plantation.

The slave man do not have any rights to protect his family.  He must submit to the wills of his master.  Uncle Tom was happy to be able to protect his wife and children from the auction block by his going in their place.  In the story, Uncle Tom successfully saved his family from being sold into a harsher life on a plantation, and eventually, his kind master George freed his wife and children.  For Tom, and many other slave men, they were worked to death in the fields, and suffered beatings.  Another slave named George who escaped with his family was able to defend them in a gun fight with slave catchers which is pivotal in the family's escape.

The slave woman was in the worst position.  They were expected to carry on the same work load in the fields as men.  For example, Uncle Tom was lashed for helping a female who could not keep up.  She also is forced into unwanted sexual relations with her master such as the mistress of Legree, Cassy and Emmeline.  If these women were not slaves, then the master would have been charged with rape.

The changing of sexual identities was used as a perfect disguise for George’s family.  His wife Eliza cut off her hair and dressed as a male in the successful escape from slavery.  They also dressed their son as a little girl.  The slave catchers looked at them and didn’t recognize their resemblance.

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