Slaveholder's God vs. God of the Enslaves. The Dualism of Christianity in "Clotel" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Clotel

a.) General info about the novel

b.) Depiction of Slaveholders' (pro-slavery) Christianity

c.) Depiction of 'True Christianity'

3. Uncle Tom's Cabin

a.) General info about the novel

b.) Depiction of Slaveholders' (pro-slavery) Christianity

c.) Depiction of 'True Christianity'

4. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

The primary objective of this thesis is to examine how two distinct and opposing interpretations of Christianity—pro-slavery and anti-slavery—are depicted in the antebellum novels "Clotel; or, The President's Daughter" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The research seeks to identify how both authors utilize religious rhetoric to construct an abolitionist argument and how they differentiate between what they present as a distorted, hypocritical "slaveholders' Christianity" and an authentic, liberation-oriented "True Christianity."

• Comparative analysis of religious rhetoric in Clotel and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
• Critique of the institutional and hypocritical interpretation of Christianity used to justify slavery.
• Examination of character archetypes as conduits for either pro- or anti-slavery ideologies.
• Investigation of the narrator's role in guiding the reader toward an abolitionist interpretation.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of Christianity in the antebellum United States and presents the research question regarding how religion is depicted in selected slavery novels.

2. Clotel: Analyzes William Wells Brown's novel, focusing on its non-linear structure and the use of characters like Reverend Peck and Snyder to depict pro-slavery arguments, contrasted by Georgiana Peck’s "True Christianity."

3. Uncle Tom's Cabin: Investigates Harriet Beecher Stowe's work, exploring how she utilizes the narrator’s voice and characters like Tom and Augustine St. Clare to critique the hypocrisy of the church and advocate for an empathetic, abolitionist faith.

4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting that both authors conclude that slavery and "True Christianity" are fundamentally irreconcilable, despite utilizing different narrative strategies to make this assertion.

Keywords

Christianity, Slavery, Abolitionism, Clotel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, William Wells Brown, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Antebellum South, Religious Rhetoric, Slaveholders, True Christianity, Scripture, Hypocrisy, Civil Rights, Moral Theology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this research paper?

The paper explores the dualistic role of Christianity in the antebellum United States as represented in two major anti-slavery novels, investigating how religion was used simultaneously to justify slavery and to champion its abolition.

What are the central themes discussed in the work?

The central themes include the manipulation of biblical scripture, the hypocrisy of the Christian church, the moral struggle regarding human rights, and the distinction between institutional religion and authentic spiritual belief.

What is the core objective or research question?

The objective is to analyze how "Clotel" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" portray the contradiction between "slaveholders’ Christianity" and "True Christianity" to craft an abolitionist argument.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining narrative structure, character development, direct commentary by the narrator, and the use of religious rhetoric to identify how each novel constructs its message.

What primary content is covered in the main body of the work?

The body covers an analysis of both novels divided into three distinct parts: general information, the portrayal of pro-slavery arguments, and the interpretation of "True Christianity," including a detailed look at key characters and their moral arcs.

Which keywords best characterize the study?

Key terms include Slavery, Christianity, Abolitionism, Religious Hypocrisy, and Antebellum Literature.

How does William Wells Brown utilize characters in "Clotel" to express his views?

Brown uses characters like the pro-slavery Reverend Peck to demonstrate how religious logic was bent to support tyranny, while creating characters like Georgiana Peck to serve as the voice of "True Christianity" that dismantles those arguments.

What role does Augustine St. Clare play in Stowe's "Uncle Tom’s Cabin"?

Despite his professed lack of traditional religious belief, St. Clare is used by Stowe to provide the most powerful and comprehensive critiques of the church's complicity in slavery, proving that outward piety does not equal true Christian sentiment.