My Seussical Life for 2005 February 8

Well, I finished the book yesterday. It was very interesting, though with 150 something years of added insight to such issues as slavery and the subjugation of African Americans do expose many problems with the text. For example, Stowe seems to trade one set of stereotypes (that of moral-less, unfeeling, barbarians) for another (simplistic, child-like, dependent creatures). One step forward, at least, in the context of history.

The novel also begs the question: is it possible for a white female to fairly represent the characteristics of a culture and race completely different from her own? Can any outside writer succeed in writing the lives of the "other"? Stowe's characters seem to be caucasion personalities dressed in "mulatto" and "negro" skin, terms she uses to categorize characters. All things considered, Uncle Tom's Cabin is an important book, and I'm pleased that such a gutsy piece of fiction came from a woman.

I'm wondering why this is one of the most banned books in the US. Strange what people get up in arms about, sometimes.