George Harris
Appearance: Not black, more of a tan. His back is covered is scars, and his left hand is branded with the letter "H."
Personality: Smart and somewhat protective of his pride, George would be willing for his whole family to die rather than be recaptured. He wishes to become Christian, but as long as he is enslaved, George cannot except the existence of a loving God. George is a very brave, determined, loving and passionate person, if slightly arrogant.
Family:
Biography: Before the novel's beginning, George is married to Eliza thanks to the interference of Emily Shelby. The two really do love each other, with Eliza even giving George a dog, which he dubbed Carlo. At some point, George uses his natural intelligence to create a machine for cleaning hemp. His invention is comparable in complexity to the cotton gin, but just before George was able to sell his invention at the bidding of his master, Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris himself became angry with George. He was enraged that his slave, his property, could go around inventing things and acting like a gentleman.
Because of this, Mr. Harris took George away from the factory, even though Harris himself would have earned the money from George's machine. To spite the slave, Harris begins to give him the hardest work, the most tiring, the most painful, whipping him when he does wrong, and whipping George's sister Emily just so George has to hear her scream, and then sells her. The only form of comfort that George has is that someone in the world is left to love him: Eliza. At some point, the two have two children, but both die soon after birth. Five years before the story begins, the two finally have Harry.
Soon after the novel starts, George comes to visit Eliza, and voices his opinions: he wishes that he and Harry had never been born, and that he had never seen Eliza. Eliza immediately bursts into tears at this statement, but then George rectifies his error: He wishes that none of that would have happened so that he and his family would not have to be slaves subject to the will of their master. George tells his wife of how Carlo the dog has been killed out of spite, and how George himself has been tormented. He explains that Harris's next plan is to keep George from the one bright part of his life: Eliza and Harry.
Now George comes to the real reason he has visited: He plans to flee to Canada to escape his cruel master. When Eliza begins to tear up once more, George explains that he will not be gone forever. He plans to return to America as a free man, with money, and buy Eliza and Harry himself in order to free them, too. With this resolution, he bids Eliza and Harry a tearful farewell. The next day, he is gone. Little does George know that his son has just been sold, and that his wife, too, has escaped in order to protect the child.
A few days later, George arrives at a tavern with an old slave named Jim, and Jim's mother. However, the intelligent George Harris has disguised himself as a Hispanic traveler. This is only possible because George is not a pure African-American: Half of his blood is European! Jim and his mother appear to be George's slaves, but truly they are his fellow escapees. Upon reaching the tavern, George spots Mr. Wilson, the owner of the factory where George almost managed to sell his invention! This meeting is purely coincidental, so it takes Mr. Wilson a moment to realize who it is, but once he does, the man tells George that running is not the way to go. This naive idea sparks a passionate outburst from George, an outburst that leaves Mr. Wilson unable to reply. Instead, Wilson gives George money, and wishes him a safe journey.
Some time later, George arrives at a Quaker settlement only to find his wife and child sleeping there! George is so overcome with emotion that he sits right there at Eliza's side and sobs, waking her. Soon after this, the Harris family, Jim, and Jim's mother plan their next path to escape, helped along by the Quakers. They discover that Tom Loker and Marks are searching for them. Jim has several loaded pistols on his person just in case, and sure enough, Tom Loker, Marks, and eight other men are spotted traveling toward them. Phineas, the Quaker charged with the five slaves' successful escape, pulls over and has tehm all get of the wagon.
He races up a tall rock, followed closely by his charges, and has tehm leap across a chasm to another rock. On this huge boulder there is a tree, and Phineas has them all climb up into it, except George. George has one of Jim's guns, and as the 10 enemies come up the slope before him, he warns them that if they get closer, he will shoot. Tom, not the type for thinking, charges in, and tries to shoot at George. The bullet nearly hit Eliza, so Jim, hidden in the tree, returns fire, hitting Loker. The man is badly injured, but he leaps across the chasm anyway, only to be met by a shove from Phineas, sending the slave hunter into the chasm below.
After trying unsuccessfully to get Tom back into a saddle, Marks and his remaining allies quickly retreat, and leave Loker to die. At first, George doesn't feel sorry for the villain at all, but has a change of heart and has the otehrs load him into a wagon to be cared for at their next destination. Some time later, the five fugitives have disguised themselves to cross into Canada by ship. MArks is there, waiting, but their disguises are too good, and they make it to Canada.
George proceeds to get himself and his son an education, and has a daughter with Eliza, who they name after her mother. One day Madame de Thoux and Cassy appear out of nowhere and suddenly Madame de Thoux cries out that she is George's sister Emily! Needless to say, she and Cassy are quickly welcomed into the family. They move to England, then to Africa, in order to make an African country strong enough to prove that Africans are not an inferior species, thus ending slavery in America.
Personality: Smart and somewhat protective of his pride, George would be willing for his whole family to die rather than be recaptured. He wishes to become Christian, but as long as he is enslaved, George cannot except the existence of a loving God. George is a very brave, determined, loving and passionate person, if slightly arrogant.
Family:
- Eliza Harris-Wife
- Harry Harris-Son
- Little Eliza Harris-Daughter
- Emily de Thoux-Sister
- Cassy-Mother-in-law
Biography: Before the novel's beginning, George is married to Eliza thanks to the interference of Emily Shelby. The two really do love each other, with Eliza even giving George a dog, which he dubbed Carlo. At some point, George uses his natural intelligence to create a machine for cleaning hemp. His invention is comparable in complexity to the cotton gin, but just before George was able to sell his invention at the bidding of his master, Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris himself became angry with George. He was enraged that his slave, his property, could go around inventing things and acting like a gentleman.
Because of this, Mr. Harris took George away from the factory, even though Harris himself would have earned the money from George's machine. To spite the slave, Harris begins to give him the hardest work, the most tiring, the most painful, whipping him when he does wrong, and whipping George's sister Emily just so George has to hear her scream, and then sells her. The only form of comfort that George has is that someone in the world is left to love him: Eliza. At some point, the two have two children, but both die soon after birth. Five years before the story begins, the two finally have Harry.
Soon after the novel starts, George comes to visit Eliza, and voices his opinions: he wishes that he and Harry had never been born, and that he had never seen Eliza. Eliza immediately bursts into tears at this statement, but then George rectifies his error: He wishes that none of that would have happened so that he and his family would not have to be slaves subject to the will of their master. George tells his wife of how Carlo the dog has been killed out of spite, and how George himself has been tormented. He explains that Harris's next plan is to keep George from the one bright part of his life: Eliza and Harry.
Now George comes to the real reason he has visited: He plans to flee to Canada to escape his cruel master. When Eliza begins to tear up once more, George explains that he will not be gone forever. He plans to return to America as a free man, with money, and buy Eliza and Harry himself in order to free them, too. With this resolution, he bids Eliza and Harry a tearful farewell. The next day, he is gone. Little does George know that his son has just been sold, and that his wife, too, has escaped in order to protect the child.
A few days later, George arrives at a tavern with an old slave named Jim, and Jim's mother. However, the intelligent George Harris has disguised himself as a Hispanic traveler. This is only possible because George is not a pure African-American: Half of his blood is European! Jim and his mother appear to be George's slaves, but truly they are his fellow escapees. Upon reaching the tavern, George spots Mr. Wilson, the owner of the factory where George almost managed to sell his invention! This meeting is purely coincidental, so it takes Mr. Wilson a moment to realize who it is, but once he does, the man tells George that running is not the way to go. This naive idea sparks a passionate outburst from George, an outburst that leaves Mr. Wilson unable to reply. Instead, Wilson gives George money, and wishes him a safe journey.
Some time later, George arrives at a Quaker settlement only to find his wife and child sleeping there! George is so overcome with emotion that he sits right there at Eliza's side and sobs, waking her. Soon after this, the Harris family, Jim, and Jim's mother plan their next path to escape, helped along by the Quakers. They discover that Tom Loker and Marks are searching for them. Jim has several loaded pistols on his person just in case, and sure enough, Tom Loker, Marks, and eight other men are spotted traveling toward them. Phineas, the Quaker charged with the five slaves' successful escape, pulls over and has tehm all get of the wagon.
He races up a tall rock, followed closely by his charges, and has tehm leap across a chasm to another rock. On this huge boulder there is a tree, and Phineas has them all climb up into it, except George. George has one of Jim's guns, and as the 10 enemies come up the slope before him, he warns them that if they get closer, he will shoot. Tom, not the type for thinking, charges in, and tries to shoot at George. The bullet nearly hit Eliza, so Jim, hidden in the tree, returns fire, hitting Loker. The man is badly injured, but he leaps across the chasm anyway, only to be met by a shove from Phineas, sending the slave hunter into the chasm below.
After trying unsuccessfully to get Tom back into a saddle, Marks and his remaining allies quickly retreat, and leave Loker to die. At first, George doesn't feel sorry for the villain at all, but has a change of heart and has the otehrs load him into a wagon to be cared for at their next destination. Some time later, the five fugitives have disguised themselves to cross into Canada by ship. MArks is there, waiting, but their disguises are too good, and they make it to Canada.
George proceeds to get himself and his son an education, and has a daughter with Eliza, who they name after her mother. One day Madame de Thoux and Cassy appear out of nowhere and suddenly Madame de Thoux cries out that she is George's sister Emily! Needless to say, she and Cassy are quickly welcomed into the family. They move to England, then to Africa, in order to make an African country strong enough to prove that Africans are not an inferior species, thus ending slavery in America.
Eliza Harris
Appearance: "At this moment, the door was pushed gently open, and a young quadroon woman, apparently about twenty-five, entered the room. There needed only a glance from the child to her, to identify her as its mother. There was the same rich, full, dark eye, with its long lashes; the same ripples of silky black hair. The brown of her complexion gave way on the cheek to a perceptible flush, which deepened as she saw the gaze of the strange man fixed upon her in bold and undisguised admiration. Her dress was of the neatest possible fit, and set off to advantage her finely moulded shape;—a delicately formed hand and a trim foot and ankle were items of appearance that did not escape the quick eye of the trader, well used to run up at a glance the points of a fine female article. "
Personality: Completely possessed by maternal instinct, Eliza will do anything to protect Harry. She is possesive of much tenderness, passion, and courage, as well as a servant's timidity. She is a loving, anxious person, and these two traits serve her well.
Family:
Biography: Eliza Harris was bought at a young age in New Orleans by Mr. Shelby. She was bought from a man named Mr. Simmons, who charged a high price for her on account of her beauty. Mr. Shelby gave her to his wife as a gift, and Eliza was soon Emily's personal servant. Eliza was married to George Harris, another slave from a nearby area, thanks to Emily Shelby's influence. The two really do love each other, with Eliza even giving George a dog, which he dubbed Carlo. At some point, the two have two children, but both die soon after birth. Five years before the story begins, the two finally have Harry.
Soon after the novel starts, Eliza overhears Arthur Shelby talking to the slave trader Haley about selling away Harry. Eliza, scared that her child might be taken from her, goes immediately to her mistress. After hearing the reason for Eliza's distress, Emily soothes her by explaining that Arthur would never associate with a George comes to visit Eliza, and voices his opinions: he wishes that he and Harry had never been born, and that he had never seen Eliza. Eliza immediately bursts into tears at this statement, but then George rectifies his error: He wishes that none of that would have happened so that he and his family would not have to be slaves subject to the will of their master. George tells his wife of how Carlo the dog has been killed out of spite, and how George himself has been tormented. He explains that his master's latest plan of torture is to keep George from the one bright part of his life: Eliza and Harry.
Now George comes to the real reason he has visited: He plans to flee to Canada to escape his cruel master. When Eliza begins to tear up once more, George explains that he will not be gone forever. He plans to return to America as a free man, with money, and buy Eliza and Harry himself in order to free them, too. With this resolution, he bids Eliza and Harry a tearful farewell. Eliza, still bothered by what she had overheard earlier between Arthur and Haley, decides to spend the night eavesdropping on Emily and Arthur. She discovers that Harry really had been sold, and so she takes off into the night. Before leaving, she stops by Uncle Tom's cabin to see if he will accompany her, but he does not.
Eliza continues walking, driven by maternal instinct, until she reaches a town near a river. Passage across is not available at this point in time, so she finds a place to stay the night. Suddenly, Haley appears, and the slave accompanying the trader makes a distracting noise in order to draw Haly's attention away from Eliza, but fails. As a last resort, Eliza runs to the river and jumps across the blocks of ice on its surface to reach the other side. There, she meets Mr. Symmons, who directs her to the house of Senator Bird and Mrs. Bird. They tend to her (even though Senator Bird has just supported the Fugitive Slave Act) and look after Harry, but as soon as she is well, she and Senator Bird take off in a carriage through the mud.
Eliza soon ends up in the hands of the Underground Railroad. Some time later, she is in a Quaker settlement with Harry, though she still refuses to relax. Upon learning that her husband is to arrive, she faints dead away. She has a dream of being in a lovely field of flowers with Harry, and then George is there. At this point, she wakes up and finds that he is there, sobbing at her side. Soon after this, the Harris family, Jim, and Jim's mother plan their next path to escape, helped along by the Quakers. They discover that Tom Loker and Marks are searching for them. Jim has several loaded pistols on his person just in case, and sure enough, Tom Loker, Marks, and eight other men are spotted traveling toward them. Phineas, the Quaker charged with the five slaves' successful escape, pulls over and has them all get of the wagon.
He races up a tall rock, followed closely by his charges, and has them leap across a chasm to another rock. On this huge boulder there is a tree, and Phineas has them all climb up into it, except George. George has one of Jim's guns, and as the 10 enemies come up the slope before him, he warns them that if they get closer, he will shoot. Tom, not the type for thinking, charges in, and tries to shoot at George. The bullet nearly hit Eliza, so Jim, hidden in the tree, returns fire, hitting Loker. The man is badly injured, but he leaps across the chasm anyway, only to be met by a shove from Phineas, sending the slave hunter into the chasm below.
After trying unsuccessfully to get Tom back into a saddle, Marks and his remaining allies quickly retreat, and leave Loker to die. At first, George doesn't feel sorry for the villain at all, but has a change of heart and has the others load him into a wagon to be cared for at their next destination. Some time later, the five fugitives have disguised themselves to cross into Canada by ship. Marks is there, waiting, but their disguises are too good, and they make it to Canada.
George proceeds to get himself and his son an education, and has a daughter with Eliza, who they name after her mother. One day Madame de Thouz and Cassy appear out of nowhere and suddenly Madame de Thoux cries out that she is George's sister Emily! Needless to say, she and Cassy are quickly welcomed into the family. They move to England, then to Africa, in order to make an African country strong enough to prove that Africans are not an inferior species, thus ending slavery in America.
Personality: Completely possessed by maternal instinct, Eliza will do anything to protect Harry. She is possesive of much tenderness, passion, and courage, as well as a servant's timidity. She is a loving, anxious person, and these two traits serve her well.
Family:
- George Harris-Husband
- Harry Harris-Son
- Little Eliza Harris-Daughter
- Emily de Thoux-Sister-in-law
- Cassy-Mother
Biography: Eliza Harris was bought at a young age in New Orleans by Mr. Shelby. She was bought from a man named Mr. Simmons, who charged a high price for her on account of her beauty. Mr. Shelby gave her to his wife as a gift, and Eliza was soon Emily's personal servant. Eliza was married to George Harris, another slave from a nearby area, thanks to Emily Shelby's influence. The two really do love each other, with Eliza even giving George a dog, which he dubbed Carlo. At some point, the two have two children, but both die soon after birth. Five years before the story begins, the two finally have Harry.
Soon after the novel starts, Eliza overhears Arthur Shelby talking to the slave trader Haley about selling away Harry. Eliza, scared that her child might be taken from her, goes immediately to her mistress. After hearing the reason for Eliza's distress, Emily soothes her by explaining that Arthur would never associate with a George comes to visit Eliza, and voices his opinions: he wishes that he and Harry had never been born, and that he had never seen Eliza. Eliza immediately bursts into tears at this statement, but then George rectifies his error: He wishes that none of that would have happened so that he and his family would not have to be slaves subject to the will of their master. George tells his wife of how Carlo the dog has been killed out of spite, and how George himself has been tormented. He explains that his master's latest plan of torture is to keep George from the one bright part of his life: Eliza and Harry.
Now George comes to the real reason he has visited: He plans to flee to Canada to escape his cruel master. When Eliza begins to tear up once more, George explains that he will not be gone forever. He plans to return to America as a free man, with money, and buy Eliza and Harry himself in order to free them, too. With this resolution, he bids Eliza and Harry a tearful farewell. Eliza, still bothered by what she had overheard earlier between Arthur and Haley, decides to spend the night eavesdropping on Emily and Arthur. She discovers that Harry really had been sold, and so she takes off into the night. Before leaving, she stops by Uncle Tom's cabin to see if he will accompany her, but he does not.
Eliza continues walking, driven by maternal instinct, until she reaches a town near a river. Passage across is not available at this point in time, so she finds a place to stay the night. Suddenly, Haley appears, and the slave accompanying the trader makes a distracting noise in order to draw Haly's attention away from Eliza, but fails. As a last resort, Eliza runs to the river and jumps across the blocks of ice on its surface to reach the other side. There, she meets Mr. Symmons, who directs her to the house of Senator Bird and Mrs. Bird. They tend to her (even though Senator Bird has just supported the Fugitive Slave Act) and look after Harry, but as soon as she is well, she and Senator Bird take off in a carriage through the mud.
Eliza soon ends up in the hands of the Underground Railroad. Some time later, she is in a Quaker settlement with Harry, though she still refuses to relax. Upon learning that her husband is to arrive, she faints dead away. She has a dream of being in a lovely field of flowers with Harry, and then George is there. At this point, she wakes up and finds that he is there, sobbing at her side. Soon after this, the Harris family, Jim, and Jim's mother plan their next path to escape, helped along by the Quakers. They discover that Tom Loker and Marks are searching for them. Jim has several loaded pistols on his person just in case, and sure enough, Tom Loker, Marks, and eight other men are spotted traveling toward them. Phineas, the Quaker charged with the five slaves' successful escape, pulls over and has them all get of the wagon.
He races up a tall rock, followed closely by his charges, and has them leap across a chasm to another rock. On this huge boulder there is a tree, and Phineas has them all climb up into it, except George. George has one of Jim's guns, and as the 10 enemies come up the slope before him, he warns them that if they get closer, he will shoot. Tom, not the type for thinking, charges in, and tries to shoot at George. The bullet nearly hit Eliza, so Jim, hidden in the tree, returns fire, hitting Loker. The man is badly injured, but he leaps across the chasm anyway, only to be met by a shove from Phineas, sending the slave hunter into the chasm below.
After trying unsuccessfully to get Tom back into a saddle, Marks and his remaining allies quickly retreat, and leave Loker to die. At first, George doesn't feel sorry for the villain at all, but has a change of heart and has the others load him into a wagon to be cared for at their next destination. Some time later, the five fugitives have disguised themselves to cross into Canada by ship. Marks is there, waiting, but their disguises are too good, and they make it to Canada.
George proceeds to get himself and his son an education, and has a daughter with Eliza, who they name after her mother. One day Madame de Thouz and Cassy appear out of nowhere and suddenly Madame de Thoux cries out that she is George's sister Emily! Needless to say, she and Cassy are quickly welcomed into the family. They move to England, then to Africa, in order to make an African country strong enough to prove that Africans are not an inferior species, thus ending slavery in America.
Harry Harris
Appearance: "There was something in his appearance remarkably beautiful and engaging. His black hair, fine as floss silk, hung in glossy curls about his round, dimpled face, while a pair of large dark eyes, full of fire and softness, looked out from beneath the rich, long lashes, as he peered curiously into the apartment. A gay robe of scarlet and yellow plaid, carefully made and neatly fitted, set off to advantage the dark and rich style of his beauty; and a certain comic air of assurance, blended with bashfulness, showed that he had been not unused to being petted and noticed by his master."
Personality: Intelligent, caring, and fun-loving.
Family:
Biography: Harry was born five years before the start of the novel, and is much-loved by his parents. His first appearance is when Arthur Shelby is having a conversation with Haley about how to rid the Shelby family of their debt to the slave trader. He has Harry come in and perform his beautifully accurate and hilarious impersonations for them. Harry is soon sold, and taken away from the Shelby's by his mother, Eliza. After that, he is always wherever his mother is, though he is never as stressed as his mother because he does not know what will happen if he is recaptured. Once he is free, he gets an education.
Personality: Intelligent, caring, and fun-loving.
Family:
- Eliza Harris-Mother
- George Harris-Father
- Little Eliza Harris-Sister
- Emily de Thoux-Aunt
- Cassy-Grandmother
Biography: Harry was born five years before the start of the novel, and is much-loved by his parents. His first appearance is when Arthur Shelby is having a conversation with Haley about how to rid the Shelby family of their debt to the slave trader. He has Harry come in and perform his beautifully accurate and hilarious impersonations for them. Harry is soon sold, and taken away from the Shelby's by his mother, Eliza. After that, he is always wherever his mother is, though he is never as stressed as his mother because he does not know what will happen if he is recaptured. Once he is free, he gets an education.
Little Eliza Harris
Appearance: She looks much like Eliza did as a child.
Personality: Unknown
Family:
Biography: Not much is known about little Eliza, except that she was born after the Harris's escape to Canada, and that she is much-loved by Cassy because she looks so much like her mother Eliza did as a child.
Personality: Unknown
Family:
- Eliza Harris-Mother
- George Harris-Father
- Harry Harris-Brother
- Emily de Thoux-Aunt
- Cassy-Grandmother
Biography: Not much is known about little Eliza, except that she was born after the Harris's escape to Canada, and that she is much-loved by Cassy because she looks so much like her mother Eliza did as a child.