Cassy Character Analysis in Uncle Tom's Cabin

A fair-skinned black woman, Cassy has lived a life of misfortune, moving from one man to another but managing to learn to read and write, to speak French, and to gain knowledge of the Christian faith. She is sold to Simon Legree and exercises a great deal of control over his estate. She comes to care for Tom, who inspires her, by his spiritual strength, to attempt an escape with Emmeline.

Cassy Character Timeline in Uncle Tom's Cabin

The timeline below shows where the character Cassy appears in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...wouldn’t help his fellow slave. Sambo seeks to whip her but, realizing that it is Cassy, he goes away sheepishly. Sambo has seen Tom aiding Luce, and Legree resolves that the... (full context)

Tom lies back in his quarters, bloodied and in pain. Cassy arrives with water and tends to Tom, moving him onto cool, wet sheets. Cassy tells... (full context)

Cassy reads to Tom the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion. Tom says that the Lord challenges us... (full context)

...that marriage between them was legally impossible, but that they could live as though married. Cassy believed him and they had two children, Henry and Elise. But her lover met a... (full context)

After witnessing her new owner treating Henry harshly, Cassy “snaps” and falls into a swoon. When she awakes she finds she has been sold... (full context)

...is complaining of the complications introduced by Uncle Tom’s refusal to cooperate with his demands. Cassy comes into the room and Legree believes she has returned to live with him, but... (full context)

Cassy reveals that she has come to see Legree to argue with him over Tom’s treatment.... (full context)

...hymn in another room and grows scared, asking Sambo and Quimbo to keep him company. Cassy leaves the three of them, carousing together, and heads to Emmeline’s room. (full context)

Cassy enters to find a scared Emmeline, who thought Cassy might have been Legree. Emmeline asks... (full context)

...He has a dream where the locks of hair are following him, “whispering” to him. Cassy appears in the dream, as does an image of his mother removing a veil. The... (full context)

...cannot take Tom’s soul. Tom says he will have Jesus’ help. Legree strikes Tom but Cassy interferes, saying that beating him would make him useless in the fields. Legree tells Tom... (full context)

Cassy comes to Tom later and tells him that she has drugged Legree via his brandy—they... (full context)

Cassy works out an escape plan. Legree’s house has a “garret,” or attic area, consisting of... (full context)

...the most superstitious. Later, after turning over the garret’s haunting in his mind, Legree asks Cassy if she believes in spirits, and she answers, cunningly, that “it doesn’t matter” what she... (full context)

Cassy takes a trip with Legree to another town near the Red River, memorizing routes she... (full context)

Legree is incensed at Emmeline and Cassy’s disappearance, and he takes his anger out on Tom, who is overjoyed at the news.... (full context)

Legree tells Quimbo to beat Tom until he reveals any knowledge of Emmeline and Cassy’s escape. Tom knows where they are hiding but vows silently never to give up their... (full context)

Cassy sneaks out from the garret, briefly, to hear about Tom and breaks down crying—her faith... (full context)

...is driven slowly crazy by the noises from the garret and begins drinking more heavily. Cassy puts on Legree’s mother’s shroud and visits Legree in the night, scaring him even more.... (full context)

Cassy and Emmeline get onto a steamship heading upriver, and while on it run into George... (full context)

...pastor arrives with two women, and de Thoux reveals that she is Emily, George’s sister. Cassy then reveals she is Eliza’s mother. All pray and sob together. Over the next several... (full context)

...a Christian and eventually serves as a missionary in Africa. Madame de Thoux also finds Cassy’s long-lost son, years later, who joins Cassy Emmeline, and the Harrises in Africa. (full context)