Rejected Femininity in Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe one way. Hugely popular, Uncle Tom's Cabin has been made into plays and children's books. Advertisers, exploiting the Uncle Tom sentiment for their own ideas, employed Stowe's unforgettable characters to sell their products. The nation was awash in Uncle Toms. Although widely criticized in the Southern press for its so-called lack of facts and over-reliance on feelings, Stowe's novel succeeded not only in moving people toward sympathy for slaves but also in promoting political action. The influence of his novel is great because it brings out powerful feelings and convinces the reader that these feelings transcend racial differences. To achieve this goal, Stowe skillfully draws from many sources of growing sentiment. However, her depiction of motherhood and her direct addresses to female readers on this topic were very powerful for 19th-century mothers. Motherhood in Stowe's time, with its newly evolved emotions and duties, is presented by Stowe as something that can and does transcend race. No doubt imagining her mothers as readers, Stowe appeals to the feelings evoked by motherhood to present slavery as, among other things, a violation of a woman's "divine and inherent duty" to herself, her children, and her nation . This violation, as Stowe shows, in accordance with the popular view of motherhood, can only lead to a brutal, selfish, disobedient and unsympathetic population. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayMrs. Lydia Sigourney is the author of "Letters to Mothers," an all-encompassing view of 19th-century motherhood. Sigourney's views were popular and respected at the time of Stowe's novel. In an era when children began to live longer and childhood experiences and learning became more important, the duties and privileges of motherhood expanded. Letter I of Mrs. Sigourney's publication outlines these privileges and duties. Sigourney encourages women to shape the "formless character of their children" (1). It was believed that only through the good influence of a mother could a child grow into an intelligent and conscientious person. Stowe's characters, who show little or no maternal education, are evidence of Sigourney's conclusion. Chapter twenty of Stowe's novel is dedicated to Topsy, a girl of nine or ten purchased by St. Clare. Topsy did not know maternal love and did not suffer compassion for the plight of others. Her "evil" is great and it is stated that she is an expert thief. Topsy never cared for anyone because no one cared for her. Like many slave children, she was denied maternal love, having been raised by a speculator on what amounted to a children's farm. Topsy was not raised, but simply "raised". Slavery created this tragic girl. Having been taken away from her mother, who Sigourney, with 19th century society, would say should have been her moral educator, Topsy is described as "so heathen, as to inspire a good lady to utter dismay" (352). One can imagine the shock and contempt of 19th century mothers at the system that could allow this to happen. Mothers of the time were led to believe that their duties were so great, and even divine, that denying them was inherently wrong and detrimental to their lives. the child and the.

Topic > Rejected Femininity in Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe one way. Hugely popular, Uncle Tom's Cabin has been made into plays and children's books. Advertisers, exploiting the Uncle Tom sentiment for their own ideas, employed Stowe's unforgettable characters to sell their products. The nation was awash in Uncle Toms. Although widely criticized in the Southern press for its so-called lack of facts and over-reliance on feelings, Stowe's novel succeeded not only in moving people toward sympathy for slaves but also in promoting political action. The influence of his novel is great because it brings out powerful feelings and convinces the reader that these feelings transcend racial differences. To achieve this goal, Stowe skillfully draws from many sources of growing sentiment. However, her depiction of motherhood and her direct addresses to female readers on this topic were very powerful for 19th-century mothers. Motherhood in Stowe's time, with its newly evolved emotions and duties, is presented by Stowe as something that can and does transcend race. No doubt imagining her mothers as readers, Stowe appeals to the feelings evoked by motherhood to present slavery as, among other things, a violation of a woman's "divine and inherent duty" to herself, her children, and her nation . This violation, as Stowe shows, in accordance with the popular view of motherhood, can only lead to a brutal, selfish, disobedient and unsympathetic population. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayMrs. Lydia Sigourney is the author of "Letters to Mothers," an all-encompassing view of 19th-century motherhood. Sigourney's views were popular and respected at the time of Stowe's novel. In an era when children began to live longer and childhood experiences and learning became more important, the duties and privileges of motherhood expanded. Letter I of Mrs. Sigourney's publication outlines these privileges and duties. Sigourney encourages women to shape the "formless character of their children" (1). It was believed that only through the good influence of a mother could a child grow into an intelligent and conscientious person. Stowe's characters, who show little or no maternal education, are evidence of Sigourney's conclusion. Chapter twenty of Stowe's novel is dedicated to Topsy, a girl of nine or ten purchased by St. Clare. Topsy did not know maternal love and did not suffer compassion for the plight of others. Her "evil" is great and it is stated that she is an expert thief. Topsy never cared for anyone because no one cared for her. Like many slave children, she was denied maternal love, having been raised by a speculator on what amounted to a children's farm. Topsy was not raised, but simply "raised". Slavery created this tragic girl. Having been taken away from her mother, who Sigourney, with 19th century society, would say should have been her moral educator, Topsy is described as "so heathen, as to inspire a good lady to utter dismay" (352). One can imagine the shock and contempt of 19th century mothers at the system that could allow this to happen. Mothers of the time were led to believe that their duties were so great, and even divine, that denying them was inherently wrong and detrimental to their lives. the child and the.