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

     Eliza is a major character in the novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. She is a half-blood slave at Mr. Shelby’s estate. Eliza proves herself a brave mother who is ready to do everything for the sake of her son. Her resolution, love of freedom, courage, goodness, imagination and alertness mark out his extraordinary personality. Now we discuss her character in the light of the novel.

          Eliza was a lucky girl because she was a slave to Mr. Shelby who was a kind man. She was living very happily and she had no complained against her master. She was loved and respected by her Master and Mistress She looked quite like a white woman and young and beautiful. Mr. Shelby bought her when she was a child. Mrs. Shelby had brought her up well. Eliza could read and write, sing and sew and she was a clever and trusted servant of the Shelby.  

          Eliza was married to a man of unusual character and ability, George. He was working as slaves in a near estate. He was living with a cruel master and his master had hired him out to work in a factory. Eliza was very happy living with him and they could meet other but they couldn’t live together because there was no a law in that country to allow it. Thus both could be sold at any time and anywhere their masters wanted.

          Eliza is an affectionate mother. When she overheard her master and slave-dealer named Haley making a bargain, she was shocked to find that the master has sold Uncle Tom and His son Harry in order to settle his debt. She was attached to Mrs. Shelby but she loved her child and his happiness more than her. As she says,

“They have sold you, but

your mother will save you.”

          So she decided to run away and go to Canada.

          Eliza is not ungrateful. She is faithful to her master, but for the sake of her son, she decides to run away. Before running away she writes a not that shows here attachment to Mr. and Mrs. Shelby,

“Oh, my dear Mistress, don’t

think me ungrateful but I’m

going to try to save My body.

Don’t blame me. God bless

your for all your kindness.”

          The character of Eliza’s is marked with courage and bravery. Taking courage in both hands, she left the Shelby plantation in the darkness of night. She reached a village near the River Ohio. Eliza hoped to cross the river on a boat on the next morning. But she found Haley at her back in hot pursuit and does not know how she ran. With a flying leap, she jumped across the strong current of water. Then she showed extraordinary courage in crossing the ice-bound River Ohio and ultimately reached the opposite bank.

          On the opposite bank, Eliza met some kind people who were always ready to help poor slaves. Mr. and Mrs. Bird was one of them who helped the tired Eliza to be relaxed. But the Bird family could not help her because the law did not permit them. Mr. Bird himself goes tot send her to Mr. John Van Trompe’s place and gives him some money to take care of her. Mr. Van Trompe also gives her consolation and comfort. From Mr. Van Trompe’s place she reaches to a quacker house hold and is helped by them a lot.

          Eliza’s luck favoured her a lot. She was given shelter in a quacker house hold belonging to Rachel and Simeon Holliday. There she met her husband George. That day was very happy day of their life. They were going with other fugitives and a quacker friend gave them news that eight or nine people were following them. The fugitives took him with them and nursed him carefully. Now they had to cross lace Erie to get their freedom.

          At last, Eliza and George after all succeeded in their run for freedom. Now they were free from all the bondages. Their hearts were filled with joy, delight and wonder. They had no money, no work, no home and no possessions in the world, but they had freedom and it was enough for them.

          Thus the character of Eliza is one of the power lady characters of novels. Her character presents ‘mother’s concern for her child’.  Bravery and courage are the outstanding quality of her character. She is also devoted and clever servant to Mrs. Shelby. She comes out as active, alert, determined to fight their way to freedom. Because of her determination, finally she is very happy with her husband Harris, with her son Harry, with her moth Cassy, and with her freedom.