Uncle Tom's Cabin: Textual Background and Context

            In the Backgrounds and Contexts section of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a number of advertisements illustrate the evil of slavery through objectification. I found “Advertisement for runaway slave, Kentucky, 1853” (416) to best portray this message. The advertisement offers a reward of one hundred dollars for the return of a “runaway . . . Blackwoman, named Emily. . .” (416). She is further described by her identifying characteristics and by several price. Altogether, this information listed shows Emily as degraded to merely nothing more than an object in the eyes of Tho’s H. Williams, the subscriber who had the advertisement published, and to those reading it. While the text does not directly reveal this sentiment, it can be found between the lines. The arrangement of the words lacks any emotion, allowing the statement to be perceived as purely business. Rather than voicing concern over a runaway, the poster identifies the runaway as a lost possession.

            I felt that the content of the advertisement and underlying meaning that is imposed through Emily’s description is horrible. In its entirety, the publishers and Mr. Williams dehumanize Emily to an object- to someone’s property. I can only imagine how similarly situated individuals, like Emily, felt to be only recognized by their attributes and the price on their head. The concept, I believe, is very foreign in today’s society. Like in the past rewards posters for missing/ runaway people are recognizable everywhere and anywhere yet today. However, the emotional connection between the seeker and the person of interest can be felt through the paper. In the case of Emily, her well-being isn’t important, her happiness isn’t important- only her role as belonging to Mr. Williams matters. And that in my opinion truly demonstrated one of the biggest ways in which slavery is found to be evil.

            The text displayed on “Advertisement for runaway slave, Kentucky, 1853” adds to our understanding of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by subtly revealing why the dehumanization of slaves occurs. Even more so, it contributes to defining the theme “the evil of slavery” through the objectification of slaves. In the novel, George Harris is found to be in the same position as Emily. His advertisement, similarly formatted, first states: “Ran away. . . mulatto boy, George” (95), then lists his own identifying markers. The last line of George’s ad says his owner “. . . will give four hundred dollars for him alive, and the same sum for satisfactory proof that he has been killed” (95). Just like in Emily’s own advertisement, in George’s we see the distant between himself and his owner. Overall, we see that slavery has affected the sight of slave owners and supporters alike by depriving them of basic human rights such as individuality, compassion, and civility amongst all people.