Uncle Tom Character Analysis in Uncle Tom's Cabin

The book’s title character, hero, and moral center, Uncle Tom is the head slave of the Shelby estate, sold to pay off Mr. Shelby’s debt. Uncle Tom’s new master, St. Clare, is a benevolent one, and Tom befriends St. Clare’s daughter, Eva. After St. Clare dies, Tom’s religious spirit is tested at the hands of Simon Legree, his final master, and Tom’s willingness to die for his Christian beliefs makes him a martyr and Christ figure.

Uncle Tom Quotes in Uncle Tom's Cabin

The Uncle Tom's Cabin quotes below are all either spoken by Uncle Tom or refer to Uncle Tom. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

And you shall have good times . . . . Papa is very good to everybody, only he always will laugh at them.

Related Characters: Eva St. Clare (speaker), Augustine St. Clare, Uncle Tom

Page Number and Citation: 172

Explanation and Analysis:

It’s jest no use tryin’ to keep Miss Eva here . . . She’s got the Lord’s mark in her forehead.

Related Characters: Uncle Tom (speaker), Eva St. Clare

Page Number and Citation: 313

Explanation and Analysis:

Mas’r, if you mean to kill me, kill me; but, as to my raising my hand agin any one here, I never shall,—I’ll die first!”

Related Characters: Uncle Tom (speaker), Simon Legree

Related Symbols: The Bible

Page Number and Citation: 406

Explanation and Analysis:

O, Mas’r! don’t bring this great sin on your soul. It will hurt you more than ‘twill me! Do the worst you can, my troubles’ll be over soon; but, if ye don’t repent, yours won’t never end!

Related Characters: Uncle Tom (speaker), Simon Legree

Page Number and Citation: 469

Explanation and Analysis:

Uncle Tom Character Timeline in Uncle Tom's Cabin

The timeline below shows where the character Uncle Tom appears in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Christianity and Christian Charity Theme Icon

...a rough and coarse slave-trader. Shelby offers to sell his most reliable slave, called Uncle Tom, whom he describes as uncommonly religious, honest, and dependable. Haley voices his belief that slaves... (full context)

...respectfully, since they fetch a higher price when they’re content. Others, such as his friend Tom Loker, are crueler to slaves, and their business suffers. Haley nevertheless insists he might buy... (full context)

Uncle Tom’s cabin is simple, its front covered in beautiful flowers, with an interior organized around a... (full context)

Two of Uncle Tom’s and Aunt Chole’s children play happily with a third, who is learning to walk. Near... (full context)

...the vivid imaginations of black people. George reads from the Book of Revelation, and Uncle Tom leads the group in a closing prayer. (full context)

...the main house, Mr. Shelby and Haley the trader are finalizing the sale of Uncle Tom and Harry. Shelby appears displeased after signing them over, and asks Haley to keep his... (full context)

...no longer hide the truth, Shelby reveals that business conditions have forced him to sell Tom and Harry to Haley. (full context)

...is taken, but Mrs. Shelby says she will not, and that instead she will visit Tom before he leaves. (full context)

Uncle Tom, on hearing the news, understands that Eliza must flee, but he says he must stay,... (full context)

...ill of Haley and other slave-traders, arguing that they participate in an evil enterprise, Uncle Tom enters and quotes the New Testament: “Pray for them that spitefully use you.” He instructs... (full context)

Tom reports to the parlor and tells Shelby and Haley he will report to be sold... (full context)

...Eliza flees, Haley finds a tavern and mulls his fate. He runs into his acquaintance Tom Loker, a massive and violent-looking man, and his small, mouse-like companion, Marks. Over drinks, Haley... (full context)

...tactics that morning, since he feels they are sly and ungentlemanly. Sam heads to Uncle Tom’s cabin and tells Aunt Chloe and the slaves assembled of Eliza’s crossing; he gives a... (full context)

Tom is to be handed off. His wife acknowledges that, as a Christian, she should put... (full context)

As Uncle Tom and Aunt Chloe eat breakfast together, Aunt Chloe can’t contain her weeping. Uncle Tom is... (full context)

Haley shackles Tom, arguing that he has already lost 500 dollars at the Shelby estate. Tom gives his... (full context)

Haley stops with Tom at a blacksmith’s shop to tighten his shackles. The smith claims that Tom is faithful... (full context)

George promises Tom he will be good and bring Tom back. When Haley returns outside to the carriage,... (full context)

Tom and Haley ride to the riverboat. Haley thinks of how he might market Tom on... (full context)

On La Belle Riviere, a riverboat, Haley tells the assembled slaves, including Tom, to behave on the journey south. Above-deck, white families discuss the institution of slavery, with... (full context)

Tom offers comfort to Lucy but she shrugs it off, moans to herself. That night, she... (full context)

La Belle Riviere continues down the Mississippi. Tom’s conduct has convinced Haley he is trustworthy; Tom is therefore allowed to sleep without fetters... (full context)

Tom takes out his Bible and reads, haltingly, “In my Father’s house there are many mansions... (full context)

...and smiles at the slaves, the “firemen” who shovel coal, and others. She meets Uncle Tom, takes an immediate liking to him, and offers that her father might buy him. At... (full context)

The next day, St. Clare does in fact offer to buy Tom from Haley. Haley sets the price at $1300. St. Clare jokes that Tom’s Christianity, intelligence,... (full context)

St. Clare tells Marie he has brought her a new coachman, Tom. Marie believes that Tom will drink and shirk his duty like their pervious driver. After... (full context)

...opinion, and Marie says educating slaves is worthless. Ophelia also criticizes St. Clare for letting Tom play with Eva; she finds this “dreadful.” St. Clare says that the two care for... (full context)

...more people for her to love. She tells of her Bible studies and singing with Tom, and St. Clare relates that Tom has begun praying for St. Clare’s conversion to Christianity. (full context)

Uncle Tom takes over management of the St. Clare household’s finances. After St. Clare stays out late... (full context)

...buy alcohol, maintaining a state of perpetual drunkenness to hide her sadness. When Prue enters, Tom offers to carry her basket, and Prue tells him her life-story: she gave birth to... (full context)

...faithful to St. Clare for the rest of his life. Later, Eva tries to help Tom write a letter to Aunt Chloe. When the effort proves difficult, St. Clare steps in... (full context)

Back in Kentucky, on the Shelby plantation, Mrs. Shelby tells her husband that Tom’s letter to Aunt Chloe has arrived. Mr. Shelby hints that business affairs have not improved... (full context)

...as a cook to another family, and her wages could be used to buy back Tom. Sam has reported to Chloe that a bakery in Louisville wants to hire a cook... (full context)

...plans to run it by Mr. Shelby. Young George arrives, pleased to have news from Tom, and eats a final meal with Aunt Chloe before she heads off to Louisville. As... (full context)

Tom has lived in the St. Clare home for two years, and though he misses Kentucky... (full context)

...lake as a “sea of glass mingled with fire,” words from the Bible, and tells Tom she has seen angels and expects to be in heaven soon. Uncle Tom remembers that... (full context)

...is dusty. Henrique reacts angrily, yells at Dodo, and slaps him in the face. When Tom tries to explain the situation, Henrique tells him to be quiet. Eva asks why Henrique... (full context)

...she acknowledges that she will miss her father and the servants she loves. Eva tells Tom she knows why Jesus wished to sacrifice his life for man’s sins. Eva feels she... (full context)

...a better doctor than the one who cares for Eva to attend to her. Eva, Tom, and Miss Ophelia return from a Methodist prayer service and Ophelia finds that Topsy has... (full context)

...Jesus without having proof of his existence, Eva says that she believes in him completely. Tom often carries Eva outside and sings to her. (full context)

Tom and Miss Ophelia sense that Eva will die soon. For her part, Eva seems content.... (full context)

...Eva’s death. Mammy worries about him. Marie claims he never cared for Eva at all. Tom goes in to St. Clare to tell him that Eva is now in heaven, where... (full context)

...the Bible and attempts to increase his oversight of household activities. He promises to set Tom free and is surprised that Tom has no desire to remain in the St. Clare... (full context)

...wounded while trying to break up a fight at a café. St. Clare, dying, asks Tom to pray with him, and he announces that he is going home—his last word is... (full context)

...them. St. Clare’s slaves, upon hearing of his death, are panicked with the exception of Tom, who prepares St. Clare for his funeral and thinks only of his devotion to his... (full context)

Tom relates to Miss Ophelia the promise St. Clare made him, to grant him freedom on... (full context)

...clean from the outside, but inside are jammed tight with slaves waiting to be sold. Tom, Adolph, and others are kept there, and on the women’s side we are introduced to... (full context)

Tom is put up to auction and is sold to Simon Legree, a cruel plantation owner... (full context)

Tom is shackled hand and foot on a boat running down the Red River. Beecher Stowe... (full context)

Tom marches behind Legree’s wagon with the other recently-purchased slaves. When Legree demands they sing a... (full context)

...for their “laziness.” Legree encourages the two to spy on and compete with one another. Tom is led to the slave quarters, and Emmeline is asked to stay in the plantation... (full context)

Beecher Stowe relates the picking of cotton to a slow form of torture. Tom watches as the slaves come in, broken and exhausted, from the fields. He is given... (full context)

Though Tom is tired and uncomfortable, he quickly adapts to his work on the plantation. Legree notices... (full context)

The fine-featured woman tells Tom he must be new to the plantation, otherwise he wouldn’t help his fellow slave. Sambo... (full context)

Tom refuses the command to whip Luce, saying he will do any work himself but will... (full context)

Tom lies back in his quarters, bloodied and in pain. Cassy arrives with water and tends... (full context)

Cassy reads to Tom the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion. Tom says that the Lord challenges us with suffering but... (full context)

...Cassy says that, for this reason, she can no longer believe in God’s charity, but Tom asks her to try to do so, and Cassy leaves for the evening. (full context)

...begins in Legree’s sitting room, where he is complaining of the complications introduced by Uncle Tom’s refusal to cooperate with his demands. Cassy comes into the room and Legree believes she... (full context)

Cassy reveals that she has come to see Legree to argue with him over Tom’s treatment. Legree feels he will eventually “break” Tom, but Cassy says it won’t be done—Tom’s... (full context)

...by the coincidence of Eva’s and his mother’s hair-locks, thinking that the hair recovered from Tom might be his mother’s hair, “back from the dead.” He hears Emmeline singing a hymn... (full context)

...removing a veil. The next morning, Cassy recommends that a hung-over Legree not too work Tom so hard, since it would ruin Legree’s investment. Cassy repeats that Legree will not be... (full context)

Legree finds Tom and tells him to “beg pardon” for his impudence the previous day. Tom refuses, since... (full context)

...cling tenaciously to life, day after day, than to give over to a glorious death. Tom is put back to work even though he is still gravely injured. Tom finds it... (full context)

Legree comes to him one night and asks if Tom’s religion does him any good now. Tom claims that he will “hold on” to his... (full context)

Legree discusses Tom’s more cheerful mood with Sambo, who suggests that Tom might wish to run away. Legree... (full context)

Cassy comes to Tom later and tells him that she has drugged Legree via his brandy—they can murder Legree... (full context)

Legree is incensed at Emmeline and Cassy’s disappearance, and he takes his anger out on Tom, who is overjoyed at the news. Friends of Legree’s continue to hunt the swamps for... (full context)

Legree tells Quimbo to beat Tom until he reveals any knowledge of Emmeline and Cassy’s escape. Tom knows where they are... (full context)

Legree encourages Sambo and Quimbo to beat Tom mercilessly. They realize they are doing something “wicked” and hope that this sin will fall... (full context)

...passed away, Mrs. Shelby is now manager of the estate, and after hearing only that Tom has been sold at public auction, George headed south to inquire after him. The search... (full context)

Cassy sneaks out from the garret, briefly, to hear about Tom and breaks down crying—her faith is Jesus is somewhat restored. George meets with Tom, who... (full context)

George curses Legree but Tom says he must not do so. Tom passes away, and George, Sambo, and Quimbo prepare... (full context)

Shelby, Jr. returns home. Although Mrs. Shelby fears that something has happened to Tom, Aunt Chloe still plans for his safe return and lays out the money she has... (full context)

Shelby, Jr. gives a small speech telling all of them to remember Uncle Tom and to “think of their freedom,” and of Uncle Tom’s Christian example, when they pass... (full context)

...fiction and a composite of different tales, it is based heavily in fact. Eliza, Uncle Tom, Old Prue, Legree, and others all come from stories Beecher Stowe has heard from others.... (full context)

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom Character Analysis

Uncle Tom Quotes in Uncle Tom's Cabin

Chapter 14 Quotes

Chapter 24 Quotes

Chapter 33 Quotes

Chapter 40 Quotes

Uncle Tom Character Timeline in Uncle Tom's Cabin