Philosophical Literature, Tragedy, Adventure, Quest
Harriet Beecher Stowe had a specific moral aim: to encourage the American public in the North to see slavery in its true light and demand abolition. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is not a novel for entertainment’s sake; its purpose is to edify, to teach, and to transform society. As protest literature, it objects to the institution of slavery and the effects it has on the family and on society. It also follows the quests of several characters, including Tom, George, and Eliza, to find their freedom. Tom’s story ends in tragedy, while George and Eliza’s adventures leads them to Canada, France, and Liberia.