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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 7 page paper discusses the elements of sentimentality and the gothic in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 1 source.
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7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MBgothtom.rtf
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Stowes novel, Uncle Toms Cabin, is one such novel. Part of what made it effective was its use of sentimentalism and yet, many critics argue that Stowes shift into the
Gothic genre in the last third of the book is not only detracting, but might also weaken her argument against slavery. The obvious first question, where the issue of genre
and effectiveness is concerned, has to be the definition of what makes a work of literature gothic in the first place. As compared to sentimentalism, gothic genres move from a
study of character to a study of place, and becomes darker, moodier, edgier. There are several characteristics which distinguish the Gothic story from others. Awesome architecture, stormy moods, romance, fantasy,
and elements of the supernatural all abound in the Gothic tale. These elements, including setting, characters, and theme, are in fact, present in the last third of Stowes novel.
Gothic writers loved to set their stories in huge homes, mansions, castles, or other such elaborate buildings. Some of the places would have trap doors and secret passages and they
were quite often furnished elaborately with antiques and heavy furniture. This contributes to the feeling of heaviness, staleness, and gloominess. Stowe was quite shrewd, and though many of her early
critics stated that her shift from sentimentality to gothic elements was the sign of an immature writer (and a woman), it has to be said that the shift to the
gothic can be seen to be as deliberate as her employment of the sentimentality which drives much of the novel. Stowe knew her audience. Knowing that a good deal of
her readers would be women, she knew that she needed to play on most womens uneasiness toward slavery, especially women living in the North, where a great deal of the
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