asy for Uncle Tom to have lost hope and given up. On the contraire, Tom’s faith strengthens as the novel comes to a close. He knows that God has put him on this earth for a purpose. Due to his powerful faith, Tom isn’t afraid of death, if that is God’s will for his life. The reader finds Uncle Tom rationalizing human nature. Tom feels sorry and takes pity on the condition of the slave owner’s souls. He does not hold a grudge, but prays for their misfortune. Uncle Tom is in a constant hope for the future. This is also how he is able to endure the hardships of slavery on a spiritual basis. Tom’s focus is not on the present, but the future. Although Tom realizes that the future may hold death, he knows that if that is the case then he will spend eternity with the Lord. Eva St. Clare helps Tom look at the bigger picture. When Eva is on the verge of dying she says, “Oh, I am so happy, Uncle Tom, to think I shall see you in heaven, - for I’m sure I shall” (Stowe 314). Eva’s optimism and angelic qualities during the events of the novel are a spiritual encouragement to Tom. This helps Uncle Tom concentrate on God and forget about his brutal conditions as a slave. Another example of this can be found when Eva is conversing with Uncle Tom and states, “Uncle Tom, I can understand why Jesus wanted to die for us. Because I’ve felt so, too” (Stowe 299). Uncle Tom responds by saying that he doesn’t quite understand what she means. Then Eva goes on to say, I can’t tell you; but, when I saw those poor creatures on the boat, you know, when you came up and I, – some had lost their mothers, and some their husbands, and some mothers cried for their little children, –and when I heard about poor Prue, –oh, wasn’t that dreadful!–and a great many other times I’ve felt that I would be glad to die, if my dying could stop all ...
