acters of Henrique and Mrs. St. Clare. Very early in Uncle Toms Cabin, I think it becomes evident to the reader which characters will manifest into the novels antagonists. On the very first page of the novel Mr. Haley was introduced, and he was described as less than a gentleman, gaudy, and profane. Clearly Mr. Haley was not going to be a friendly character. When Simon Legree appears, the contrast between he and Uncle Toms previous owners is intensified because Legrees cruel practices are unlike those ever experienced by Uncle Tom. I also disliked the character of Henrique, the son of Alfred St. Clare. In literature, the characters of children are usually portrayed as models of innocence, but Stowe uses Henrique to demonstrate that even children can be corrupted by the institution of slavery. The pampered child behaves as a prince, and his beating of Dodo is clearly a display of dominance, rather than an actual reprimand. Uncle Toms Cabin had a tremendous impact on those who recognized Stowes controversial message. The readers who had been formerly impartial to the abolitionist campaign now had convincing evidence of its validity. The novel also helped to transform the slavery debate from the more political issue of states rights into a humanitarian cause to free the oppressed. In addition, Stowes approach to the subject was far more adapted to the nations views of slavery than was abolitionist literature. Abolitionists had received a negative connotation because of their radical dispositions, but Stowes novel was entertaining, yet solemn, and did not seek to achieve racial equality. It simply emphasized the injustice of enslavement, and therefore gained a much more attentive audience. Of course, the southern states were outraged at the novels depiction of plantation life, and perhaps rightly so. To southerners, Stowes characters were clearly erroneous portrayals, and represented only extreme and unusual circumstances. Th...
