Uncle Tom's Cabin

I really enjoyed reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin", a classic book made by the time dark skin people were made into slaves by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I first knew about it when I read it somewhere, but I forget where. It's a really interesting book. The story is divided into parts, but then they're combined together in the end of the story. You'll understand later, as I'm here to make a summary of the book.

The story took place in America. It all started when a wealthy Southern slave trader named Haley came to talk to a Northen man called Mr. Shelby who kept slaves but treated them well, and did not trade them (sell, buy). They were in the middle of talking when the son of a young Afro-American woman who lived there came in. He's really good looking and "would make a fine trade" according to Haley. The boy's mother came to pick him up, and when she went away, Haley talked Mr.to sell him the boy. Eliza, the boy's mother heard all of this and asked her mistress, Mrs.Shelby, who took care of her when she was younger to confirm about this. Mrs. Shelby thought that all of those were just silly, but asked her husband to make sure. Unfortunatelly, he was forced to sell the boy, whose name was Harry.

In a cabin not far from the Shelby's house lived Uncle Tom, his wife Aunt Chloe (as called by George Shelby), and their 3 children. Aunt Chloe was a talented cook, and Uncle Tom was very religious, and often played with "Masr George", as what he called the Shelby's son.

Eliza planned to escape the night before Harry was taken, as she eavesdropped on Mr and Mrs.Shelby's conversation. She also heard that Mr. Shelby was forced to sell Uncle Tom too.  She planned to go to Canada, which was her husband's escape destination. He ran away days ago because of being mistreated by his Master.

Eliza just packed the things she needed and went to the cabin to warn and ask Uncle Tom if he wanted to escape with her. He refused, so Eliza went on her way.

The next day, Haley went to pick up Uncle Tom and Harry, but unfortunately Eliza wasn't there, so Uncle Tom was taken, chained, and asked to wait while Haley chase Eliza. But because nobody really supported his decision to chase Eliza, everyone tried to make things longer. Like when Aunt Chloe purposely cooked Haley's lunch longer, taking her time.

The two Afro-American boys who were asked to accompany Haley to chase Eliza made a prank with Haley's horses. They put something into Haley's horse so that when Haley climbed on his horse, the horse would stand and cause Haley to fall and the horse would run around the field crazy, which will cause the other horses to follow and chaos would happen.

In the meantime in the middle of the chaos, Eliza had reached a river that crossed from Kentucky. She found a house nearby and stopped there to rest because she was so tired. She was planning to cross the river when the next boat came.

After everything was settled in the Shelby's mansion, Haley and the boys that would help him set off the chase Eliza together with hounds. When Eliza heard and saw them from the window, she directly took Harry and ran to the river. Haley and the boys came nearer, and there was no boat at that time. But as it's around winter, there were floating icebergs around. So Eliza ran and jumped onto the floating icebergs to cross. She saw a house nearby.

Meanwhile at the house, there lived a man and woman,  and their 2 children. Their last child, Henry died. The man worked in the government, and he told his wife that the government made a rule saying that if any runaway slave came for help, they're to be turned away. His wife tried to make him change his mind, but he won't. And very soon Eliza turned up at their house seeking for shelter. They took her in and gave Harry some new clothes that onced belonged to Henry.

When Eliza continued her journey to Canada with her husband George, she was chased by Tom Loker, a slave hunter. But he got injured as a result and was brought to care to a Quaker. Eliza and George and Harry continued their journey to Canada. Tom Loker also changed since then.

Haley went back with the boys to get Uncle Tom. He brought Uncle Tom to a carriage and brought him to a boat where they would sail on the Mississippi River. There he met Evangeline St.Claire, whom would visit the places where the slaves were kept and brought them food and other things. Eva never talked to them, until one day, Tom talked to Eva, which made Eva asked her father, Mr. St. Claire, to buy Tom.

Tom had a great time in Mr St.Claire's house, playing with Eva, doing all his work punctually, etc. He also wanted to go back to Kentucky, but said he'll wait until Mr St. Claire change into a Christian. Mr St.Claire was a man who didn't pay much attention to the church and wasn't religious.

One day Eva fell sick and died. That caused Mr. St.Claire to change himself, and wanted to free his slaves. But he died too in a "fight accident", for he was stabbed. Mrs St. Claire decided to sell all the slaves, including Uncle Tom, and the house.

Uncle Tom was sold to Simon Legree, who owned a lot of slaves and a plantation. On the way there he met 2 slaves who were bought too, named Emmeline and Cassy. He helped Cassy a lot on the plantation, and was really good, until Legree made his rank higher, becoming the overseer of the slaves. His job was to whip them if they didn't work hard. Tom refused this and continued becoming the worker.

Emmeline and Cassy decided to escape, and Tom knew this. When Legree asked where they had gone, Tom refused to answer, so Legree order his right and left hand man to kill him. But then they were touched when they saw how Tom anticipates dieing because he wanted to go back to God, which changed them into Christians.