Uncle Tom's Cabin Character Analysis

Uncle Tom

The book’s title character, hero, and moral center, Uncle Tom is the head slave of the Shelby estate, sold to pay off Mr. Shelby’s debt. Uncle Tom’s new master, St. Clare, is a… read analysis of Uncle Tom

Eliza Harris

Maid to Mrs. Shelby, Eliza learns that her son Harry is to be sold along with Tom and escapes in the night with her son. Her husband, George, has also recently escaped his… read analysis of Eliza Harris

George Harris

An intelligent man, slave to a cruel master, George escapes in the guise of a Spanish gentleman and later reunites with Eliza and defends his freedom against Tom Loker and Marks, who have been… read analysis of George Harris

George Shelby, Sr.

The head of the Shelby family, Mr. Shelby must sell Tom and Harry to pay off a debt he owes to Haley, the slave-trader. Mr. Shelby treats his slaves well but he considers them… read analysis of George Shelby, Sr.

Mrs. Shelby

Mr. Shelby’s wife, Mrs. Shelby is extremely kind to her slaves, and she comes to believe that slavery is a grave sin after she learns that Tom and Harry are to be sold. She… read analysis of Mrs. Shelby

George Shelby, Jr.

Son of Mr. Shelby and Mrs. Shelby and devoted friend to Tom and the other slaves, George Shelby promises to bring Tom back to the Kentucky estate and writes to Tom in his absence. When… read analysis of George Shelby, Jr.

Simon Legree

A cruel master, hateful of religion, superstitious, and determined to “break” Tom, Simon Legree is the novel’s antagonist. His plantation near the Red River is characterized by its state of physical and moral disrepair… read analysis of Simon Legree

Cassy

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… read analysis of Cassy

Emmeline

Sold to the Legree estate at the same time as Tom, Emmeline is an attractive teenager “kept” by Legree in his own home for his personal amusement. This position is similar to the one… read analysis of Emmeline

Haley

A slave-trader, Haley is owed a debt by Mr. Shelby and is given, as payment, Uncle Tom and Harry. Harry and Eliza escape, thus angering Haley, and he dispatches Tom Loker and Marks to… read analysis of Haley

Aunt Chloe

Uncle Tom’s wife, Aunt Chloe is an important member of the Shelby estate. She is terribly upset when Tom is sold and finds work as a baker in Louisville, with her wages going to… read analysis of Aunt Chloe

Augustine St. Clare

A slave-owner in New Orleans, St. Clare is Tom’s second owner. He is a character of complex morality: he does not condone slavery and believes God will strike back against this injustice, but until… read analysis of Augustine St. Clare

Eva St. Clare

St. Clare’s lovely and deeply religious daughter, Eva becomes close friends with after Tom rescues her from drowning. Eva and Tom study the Bible together and pray, and Eva serves as an inspiration to… read analysis of Eva St. Clare

Miss Ophelia

A stern and religious woman from Vermont, Miss Ophelia is St. Clare's cousin. She moves to New Orleans to live in the St. Clare household and look after Eva, because Marie is often… read analysis of Miss Ophelia

Topsy

A young slave child from abusive circumstances, Topsy is purchased by St. Clare and given to Ophelia in order that she might raise her and teach her Christian values. Initially Topsy misbehaves, but after befriending… read analysis of Topsy

Tom Loker

A cruel slave-catcher, Tom Loker, along with Marks, promises Haley that he will find Eliza and Harry and return the latter to Haley and selling the former into prostitution. Loker is shot by George… read analysis of Tom Loker

Senator and Mrs. Bird

An Ohio Senator and his wife. Senator Bird has recently argued for the passage of a bill making it a crime to aid escaping slaves. Mrs. Bird believes this bill is immoral, and is cheered… read analysis of Senator and Mrs. Bird

Mr. Wilson

Manager of the factory where George Harris used to work, Mr. Wilson spots Harris in disguise and warns him that, by fleeing, Harris is breaking the law and Christian teaching. Harris manages to convince Wilson… read analysis of Mr. Wilson

Mr. Symmes

A neighbor of the Shelbys, Mr. Symmes helps Eliza and Harry to escape by not providing information of their whereabouts to their former master. He claims that, although Mr. Shelby might be angry, he… read analysis of Mr. Symmes

Lucy, or “Luce”

A very old and feeble slave woman, Lucy is helped by Uncle Tom on Legree’s plantation—he puts additional cotton in her bag, so that she “makes weight” and is not beaten. When Legree demands… read analysis of Lucy, or “Luce”

Minor Characters

Harry Harris

A remarkably beautiful child and the only surviving son of Eliza and George, Harry escapes with Eliza through Ohio and is later raised in Canada as a free child.

Marie St. Clare

St. Clare’s ill-tempered and hypochondriacal wife, Marie St. Clare is a distant, unfeeling mother, yet she argues that no one in the family understands her needs. Marie believes that slaves are a “degraded race” and that they should be treated firmly and without fellow-feeling.

Mammy

An older slave in the St. Clare household, Mammy takes care of Eva, particularly before the arrival of Miss Ophelia. Marie believes, hypocritically, that Mammy complains far too often of her poor health.

Madame de Thoux

A wealthy, well-dressed woman who has inherited money from a husband in the West Indies, Madame de Thoux, of mixed race, is revealed to be the long-lost sister of George Harris, sold when Harris was very young. De Thoux rejoins the Harrises in Canada.

Adolph

A funny and theatrical slave in the St. Clare household, Adolph steals his master’s clothes and manages the house’s finances poorly. St. Clare is nevertheless kind to Adolph, as he is to all his slaves.

Sam

A cunning slave on the Shelby estate, Sam pretends to help Haley find Eliza and Harry, instead making sure their trip takes far longer than expected. This enables Eliza and Harry to escape.

Marks

A slave-catcher with Tom Loker, Marks, a small man, is revealed to be a coward, as he runs away after Tom Loker is shot. Marks later misses George, Eliza, and Harry as they cross over to Canada in disguise.

Phineas Fletcher

A recent convert to Quakerism, Phineas Fletcher helps George, Eliza, and Harry to escape and pushes Tom Loker into a ravine, wounding him. Fletcher practices the Quaker faith but retains a righteously violent streak not entirely in keeping with his new faith.

The Hallidays, the Stedmans, and Michael

Quakers who assist Eliza, George, and Harry in their escape to Canada.

John Van Trompe

A large man, once owner of many slaves in Kentucky, who takes in Eliza and Harry. Van Trompe will only join a church that explicitly identifies slavery as a human evil.

Andy

A slave on the Shelby estate who, along with Sam, distracts Haley in his search for Eliza and Harry.

Cudjoe and Dinah

Servants to Senator and Mrs. Bird, they tend to Eliza and Harry.

Prue

An old slave woman who lives on an estate near the St. Clares’home, Prue drinks heavily out of despair over the cruelties she has endured. Prue is whipped by her master for stealing money to buy alcohol. She is then left in the basement and dies there.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Uncle Tom's Cabin Characters