Write a short note: Cassy : ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ by Harriet Beacher Stow

Cassy is very interesting and exciting character in the novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. She is a half-blood house slave at Legree’s farmhouse. His resolution, love of freedom, courage, goodness, imagination and alertness mark out his extraordinary personality. Let’s discuss his character in the light of the novel. 

          Cassy was a tall and thin woman. Her hands and feet were delicate. Her clothing was neat and clean. She was about 35 years old. Once she had been beautiful. However, her face was marked with lines of pain and bitterness. Cassy’s bitterness threatens even Sambo, she say to him with her eye flashing like lighting.

“Dog! Touch me if you dare.” 

          Cassy’s life is full of ups and downs. She was sold to different master many times. She was sold when her father died. Her first master was descending to her. She bore him a son and a daughter. But after his death, Cassy and her children were separated. Then she bore a son to next master but he killed the boy as she feared his dark fortune on account of evils of slavery.  At last she was there with cruel master Legree. On account of evils of slavery, she was so bitter and wild. Her despondency toward life could be seen in the following remark.

“There’s nothing here

but evil and long, long

despair.”

          Cassy’s character is marked with humanity and kindness. Cassy respects Tom. Her soul is open to Tom’s spiritual influence. When battered Tom lies half-conscious having received brutal lashing from Sambo and is groaning with pain, Cassy, in the darkness of night moves quietly toward him, comforts him, and dresses his wounds. He says to Tom,

“It’s not the first time,

I’ve been out in the

night to poor souls like you.”           

          This remark shows her kindness and humanity. 

          The character of Cassy is stronger than Legree. She has gained power over Legree. Though Legree is the master, he is slave of his weaknesses in him and is overcome by them. Cassy is internally stronger. She disagrees with Tom about God and his power, yet she is who understand Tom and wins Tom. This thing we do not find in Legree’s character.

          With Uncle Tom’s blessing, Cassy makes a successful attempt to escape from Legree’s plantation. It is difficult to do so because Legree is brutal in punishment if she is caught. But She and the girl Emmeline with her do not get caught. That is because both of them have secretly returned to the farmhouse and hidden themselves in an unused room for cheating Legree and his dogs. They actually run always later on, when the pursuit is over. Later on, it is found out that Cassy is Eliza’s mother.   

          In a short, Cassy is a mysterious character of the novel. Her character is also marked with nobility and humanity as well as bitterness. She is also courageous woman. Her plan for the escape shows her powerful wit and courage. She even dominants Legree who showing an utter blindness to the strength of Cassy. Indeed, character of Cassy is an unforgettable and superb character.