Summary: Chapter I
On a farm in Kentucky, during a cold February afternoon
in the middle of the nineteenth century, two white men sit discussing
a business transaction. Arthur Shelby, a gentleman and slaveholder,
is negotiating to sell some slaves to Mr. Haley, a coarse slave
buyer. Mr. Shelby has fallen into debt and must sell several slaves
to raise money, or else he will lose all his land and property.
He tells Haley of a fine slave he owns, Uncle Tom—an uncommonly
good and honest man, and a devout Christian. Haley says that one
slave alone will not suffice, and he asks for Shelby to include
a boy or girl with the trade. Despite Shelby’s reluctance, they
decide upon Harry, the son of Eliza, Mrs. Shelby’s maid. Before
the trade is finalized, however, Mr. Shelby says he must talk the
matter over with his wife. While the men are talking, Eliza approaches
Mrs. Shelby and asks her worriedly if Mr. Shelby is going to sell
Harry. Mrs. Shelby, uninformed of her husband’s financial woes,
promises Eliza that Mr. Shelby would never consider such a thing.
Summary: Chapter II
We learn that the beautiful Eliza married a talented mulatto
named George, but was separated from him when he was hired out to
work in a factory nearby. He invented a machine to speed the process
of cleaning hemp, thereby earning the admiration of the factory’s
proprietor. However, George’s master removed him from the factory, saying
that he only invented the machine because he was too lazy to work. He
put George to work at menial labor, which meant that he could see
his wife only infrequently. George and Eliza lost two young children,
making Eliza very protective of her only surviving child, Harry.
Summary: Chapter III
George comes to see Eliza soon after her conversation
with Mrs. Shelby and tells her that he is going to escape because
he can no longer bear the miseries he has been suffering. Eliza
urges him to practice Christian restraint and to trust in God, but
George explains that his master is urging him to take another woman
as his wife. Eliza protests, and George reminds her that there are
no lawful marriages among slaves. As he leaves, he tells Eliza that
he will head north for Canada in a week; once there, he will work
to buy freedom for Eliza and Harry.
Summary: Chapter IV
In Uncle Tom’s cabin, Aunt Chloe is cooking dinner for
Tom and the children. Shelby’s son, young Mas’r George, is teaching
Tom how to write the letter G. They laugh and talk,
bantering about, then eating griddlecakes and discussing pies. After
dinner they hold a prayer meeting at which the gathered slaves sing
hymns and Mas’r George reads the last chapters of Revelation.
While this happy scene takes place in the cabin, Mr. Shelby
agrees to sell both Tom and Harry. He signs the papers, and Mr.
Haley relieves him of his mortgage. Shelby reminds Haley that he
has promised not to sell Tom to any but the kindest master. Haley
states unconvincingly that he will do his best.
Summary: Chapter V
That evening, Shelby tells his wife about the sale. Mrs.
Shelby, appalled, tries to convince her husband not to sell the
slaves—after all, he has promised to set Tom free, and she has promised
Eliza that Harry would not be taken away from her. But Mr. Shelby
tells her that he must either sell those two slaves, or sell all
of his property. Mrs. Shelby declares that slavery is a sin, that
she hates slavery and wishes that she could do something to stop
it. She offers to sell her watch to save Harry. Shelby apologizes
to his wife, but says that the papers are already signed.
