Some critics have claimed that uncle toms cabin promotes racial stereotypes and generalizations.
I just left you a very long answer to this question, and surprise....... the page wouldn't load and I lost it. As for your question; the answer to that is definitely one of personal opinion.
My opinion, and the opinion of the instructors that introduced me to this work many years ago would tell you no...... this novel was not meant to denigrate, steroetype, or generalize. Beecher-Stowe was a staunch abolitionist and fiminist, her writing of this novel was meant to promote awareness of the NEED to END slavery.
Stowe experienced both sides of the controversy on slavery; she wrote about what she knew, and she garnered information from her own household servants, and even the great Frederick Douglas. Her intent was awareness, not controversy. That's the reason these great controversies have come to "light" today. Somebody, somewhere decided it was innappropriate, I say it's just history. I've taught this novel for many years, but today I'm very careful to make sure my students are MATURE enough to handle the content, not to mention having parents sign permission slips for their children.
Stowe never intended to generalize or stereotype, she did not denigrate........ she stood up for a cause she believed in completely; the end of the abominable practice that was slavery.
Of course, this is my opinion. If you haven't read the novel, you really need to read it and formulate your own opinion. Just read it in the right context....... one of our biggest problems in reading literature is that so many teachers have their students read out of context. There's not just a story here..... there's history. It's een said that Abraham Lincoln said, “So this is the little lady who made this big war,” the first time he met her. Did he really say that? Only those present would know for sure, but this novel with all certainty did play a part in the Civil War.
