Race and the American novel project part 2

Stacy Halida

 

Synthesis

 

            Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written from a Caucasians perspective and Beloved, written from an African Americans perspective. They both had good themes and issues about them.

            I think that inequality for African Americans is totally unfair. Both of the books talk about that. I never understood the purpose of slavery and every time l learned about it, it made me more confused and upset. I don’t think anyone should be treated differently just because the color of their skin.

            Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and it showed how the slaves were treated so badly that they ran away and created the underground railroad. Slavery was so bad and so many slaves ran away to the North that if anyone was asked if they have seen a slave that had to return the slave to its owner, they were forced to give them back. When I read that it just floored me because all people should be free to make their own choices. (Stowe)

            Beloved was written by Toni Morrison. It also showed how bad one family of slaves was treated that Sethe killed her child so the child wouldn’t be forced into slavery like herself. She also then ran away to try to stay away from slavery. I was also surprised when I read this because I never thought someone would kill their child. But, she did it for her child to keep her child safe from slavery, she did it out of love. (Morrison) This was one of the shocking things that happened in the book Beloved.

            Overall I enjoyed reading both books and I also learned a lot about slavery that I didn’t know before. Slavery was so bad that the slaves were willing to kill their own children and run away and having the risk of they themselves getting killed, because that would be better than going back to slavery.

Works Cited                               

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. 1987.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Toms Cabin. 1852.