Uncle Tom Part II

As I finished this book, Tom's character becomes more deeply connected to his Christ-like image. As his character is tested, Tom's reliance on his faith becomes even more important. Although it is tested and shows human frailty, Tom is truly humble by admitting that he cannot do this on his own and needs the Lord's help. "'Lord Jesus!' said Tom, 'you will take care of my soul? O Lord, do!--don't let me give out!'"(370) Tom connects his suffering with the suffering of Jesus. He advises Cassy to suffer with the Lord,"If we suffer with him, we shall also reign, Scripture says; but, if we deny Him, he also will deny us. Didn't they all suffer?- the Lord and all his? ....but jest the contrary, if only we hold on to him and doesn't give up to sin." (370) I have often looked at the crucifix and meditated on why did Jesus have to die in this way? He spread the Good News of the Gospel and taught mankind how to live, but why die such a horrible death? There are so many ways to die, why this? One explanation, I'm not sure it is correct, that came to me was when I was at the funeral of a young mother of 34 who left behind a husband and three children, the oldest 10. I thought about all the ways in which people suffer, and what do you do when the physical suffering is so difficult. Like Tom, you look to the cross for your answer. Jesus suffered physically and emotionally. He was subjected to betrayal, rejection, loneliness, torture, humiliation, taunting, and suffocation, and his last words were, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they have done." He was talking to the soldiers and his persecutors but also to us because it is our sins that put him there. Through his suffering, we have someone to look to during our suffering. He can relate, literally. He could not have died in any other way. No matter what our sufferings, we can look to HIm as Tom did. After all Tom's pain and suffering, he finds the will to stay true to God and himself. He keeps control over the one thing no one can take away from him, his attitude; his SOUL. "Mas'r Legree, as ye bought me, I’ll be true and faithful servant to ye. I’ll give ye all the work of my hands, all my time, all my strength; but my soul I won’t give up to mortal man. I will hold on to the Lord, and put his commands before all,--- die or live; you may be sure on it.” (389) Eva comes back to save Tom through the lock of hair that she gave him. In seeing the lock, Legree thinks it is from his past and stops beating Tom for the time being. Tom is the mirror image of Jesus especially in one of his final acts. Tom forgives. “Tom opened his eyes, and looked upon his master. “’Ye poor miserable critter!’ he said, ‘there an’t no more ye can do! I forgive ye, with all my soul!’ and he fainted entirely away.” (422) Tom’s redemptive suffering comes to light when Sambo and Quimbo convert. “’Poor critters!’ said Tom, I’d be willing to bar’ all I have, if it’ll only bring ye to Christ! O, Lord! Give me these two more sould, I pray.” (423) One of the best lines in the book comes when Tom is speaking to Mas’r George and George wants to finally buy him and Tom answers, “’O, Mas’r George, ye’re too late. The Lord bought me, and is going to take me home,---- and I long to go. Heaven is better than Kintuck.’” (426)

Throughout the reading of this novel, I was often reminded of Elie Wiesel’s Night. There was so much suffering endured by Elie and his father. The same family connections that tore apart many of the slaves in UTC were seen in Night. Elie and his father made sure that they stayed together, and they lived for each other; they sacrificed for each other. Cassy and many others question how God could allow this to happen. In Night, many ask, “Where is God?” Both novels showed how difficult it is to remain faithful during these times of injustice and oppressions. Both novels had big questions for God and how could he allow such sufferings to happen. Both novels questions how the world could remain silent when such evil acts were happening.
This is an excellent novel and can lead to so much discussion. I would like to have the African-American viewpoint on this novel. I know that the name “Uncle Tom” came to have negative connotations, but is that still the same?