Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Uncle Tom's Cabin is Harriet Beecher Stowe's story of three slaves and the paths their lives take in pre-Civil war America. As the story begins a man named Mr. Haley is in the home of Mr. Shelby, a plantation owner in Kentucky. Mr. Shelby has incurred a debt owed to Mr. Haley who wants slaves for payment. Mr. Shelby is reluctantly offering up his best slave, Tom, who is loyal and trustworthy and a credit to any man. Haley is impressed by Tom's characteristics but needs another slave to complete the deal.

Suddenly the two men are interrupted by a young boy named Harry who sings and dances happily for Mr. Shelby and his guest. The boy is particularly beautiful and Mr. Haley is taken with the child. Eliza, Harry's mother who is also Mrs. Shelby's servant, enters the room to get Harry. When the mother and son have gone, Mr. Haley propositions Mr. Shelby to sell both Eliza and Harry but Mr. Shelby resolutely tells Mr. Haley that Mrs. Shelby will never part with Eliza. Eliza has overheard part of the men's conversation and approaches Mrs. Shelby with the possibility of Harry being sold from her and Mrs. Shelby assures Eliza that nothing of the sort will take place. Unfortunately, Mrs. Shelby does not know of her husband's volatile financial situation and is unaware of the discussion her husband is holding with Mr. Haley.