74 pages • 2 hours read
Harriet Beecher StoweUncle Tom's Cabin
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1851A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 1-6Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1: “In Which the Reader is Introduced to a Man of Humanity”
One afternoon in February, Mr. Shelby and Dan Haley discuss selling Tom, one of Mr. Shelby’s slaves. Shelby trusts Tom; he is a pious man, and he even trusts him with money. Harry, a young “quadroon” whose appearance is “beautiful and engaging,” enters (43). Shelby makes him dance and caper for Haley’s benefit. Haley suggests including Harry with Tom and they will have a deal.
Harry’s mother, Eliza, enters the parlor, looking for her son. Haley wants to buy Eliza; Shelby refuses because his wife will not part with her. Haley wants Harry instead; he wants to sell him to a friend who breeds handsome slaves. Shelby does not want to separate him from Eliza. Haley tells him “These critters ain’t like white folks […] they gets over things, only manage right” (47).
Haley claims to be a humane slave trader, despite the reprobation of his fellows. He tells Shelby to get Eliza away so she will not be there when he takes Harry; it is more humane that way. Shelby agrees to think about it and asks Haley to keep quiet about his business in the meantime.
Shelby is reluctant to sell Tom down the river. Kentucky is a relatively more humane place for slaves.
