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3 comments:
I'm not sure where to comment, but apparently I do have to comment, so here goes:
Stowe used non-sentimental characters like Topsy and St. Care to provide sharp contrast between them and other characters that are sentimental. This contrast allows the characters' ideals to stand out more to the reader.
For example, Marie, a true non-sentimentalist from when she is first introduced in Chapter 15, ("Marie never possessed much capability of affection, or much sensibility,") is the opposite of what a mother at this time should be like. Marie lacks maternal love, duty to her husband, and religion. She is too focused on her own "sicknesses" in Chapter 24 to notice her own daughter's failing health, and in Chapter 25, she is too lazy to read her prayer-book on a Sunday morning.
Eliza, on the other hand, is what the society will recognize as a perfect mother. She is religious, and since she is more religious than her husband, she even attempts to convince him to obey his masters in Chapter 3, because it is his "Christian duty." However, once her child is in danger, she risks all, running away from a master and mistress that she has deemed kind, traveling far by foot, and crossing over an icy river.
Maria and Eliza are two such contrasting mothers that Stowe also draws attention to another fact: Eliza, the sacrificing mother, is a slave, and Maria, the spoiled and self-centered wife, is a slaveholding white woman.
I agree that St. Clare is not sentimental. In addition to being thoughtful and sensitive, like other people have pointed out, he is also very humble. In chapter 18 (page 236 in my book), when Tom is confronting St. Clare about the way he treats himself, St. Clare says, “Get up, Tom. I’m not worth crying over.” This shows that St. Clare, contrary to the stereotypical male of the time, does not need to feel superior or more important than anyone, even his slave. This reminded me of when Huck had trouble “humbling himself” to Jim after tricking him, but finally apologized. I think Beecher Stowe included the unsentimental character of St. Clare to show that you didn’t need to be female in order to be compassionate or to have morals.
Um, sorry this is rather extra-late. I agree with both ed and sam ed., and I don't think I can add much.
Discussing the foil technique, I think is a really useful literary device. In UTC, it helps seperate the nonsenimental characters and maudlin characters, as well as the moral and proslavery characters, or good and bad.
For example, Mrs. Bird, a maudlin character, is antislavery and described as, "the very picture of delight" (beginning of chapter 9). Tom Loker, an unsentimental and pro-slavery character, is described as "a bull-dog come unto a man's estate" (beginning of chapter 8).
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