Arthur Shelby
Appearance: "...Mr. Shelby, had the appearance of a gentleman;..."
Personality: "...the arrangements of the house, and the general air of the housekeeping, indicated easy, and even opulent circumstances." Arthur Shelby is a kind man, but he is also the kind of man who cannot manage his money, and never knows the true value of something until he has lost it.
Family:
Biography: Uncle Tom has always been his caretaker of sorts, ever since Arthur was presented to the then-young slave. At the time of the book's beginning, Tom manages Arthur's property. However, Arthur is in debt to Mr. Haley, for Mr. Shelby doesn't know how to manage his money well. Haley offers to forget the debt in exchange for Harry Harris and Uncle Tom. Eliza Harris takes Harry and flees, after trying to convince Tom to do the same. Uncle Tom is so loyal to Arthur that the slave would rather be sold than see his master in debt, so he remains behind. Arthur really does not realize how important Tom is in his life, so the master sells the slave.
In the time that Tom is gone, Arthur continues to have trouble managing his money. He refuses to let others help in this task, so the Shelby family remains financially unstable. Soon, Arthur takes ill of a fever and dies. Before his untimely death, he leaves his manor to his wife, Emily Shelby.
Personality: "...the arrangements of the house, and the general air of the housekeeping, indicated easy, and even opulent circumstances." Arthur Shelby is a kind man, but he is also the kind of man who cannot manage his money, and never knows the true value of something until he has lost it.
Family:
- Emily Shelby-Wife
- George Shelby-Son
Biography: Uncle Tom has always been his caretaker of sorts, ever since Arthur was presented to the then-young slave. At the time of the book's beginning, Tom manages Arthur's property. However, Arthur is in debt to Mr. Haley, for Mr. Shelby doesn't know how to manage his money well. Haley offers to forget the debt in exchange for Harry Harris and Uncle Tom. Eliza Harris takes Harry and flees, after trying to convince Tom to do the same. Uncle Tom is so loyal to Arthur that the slave would rather be sold than see his master in debt, so he remains behind. Arthur really does not realize how important Tom is in his life, so the master sells the slave.
In the time that Tom is gone, Arthur continues to have trouble managing his money. He refuses to let others help in this task, so the Shelby family remains financially unstable. Soon, Arthur takes ill of a fever and dies. Before his untimely death, he leaves his manor to his wife, Emily Shelby.
Emily Shelby
Appearance: Not elaborated upon.
Personality: "Mrs. Shelby was a woman of high class, both intellectually and morally. To that natural magnanimity and generosity of mind which one often marks as characteristic of the women of Kentucky, she added high moral and religious sensibility and principle, carried out with great energy and ability into practical results. Her husband, who made no professions to any particular religious character, nevertheless reverenced and respected the consistency of hers, and stood, perhaps, a little in awe of her opinion. Certain it was that he gave her unlimited scope in all her benevolent efforts for the comfort, instruction, and improvement of her servants, though he never took any decided part in them himself. In fact, if not exactly a believer in the doctrine of the efficiency of the extra good works of saints, he really seemed somehow or other to fancy that his wife had piety and benevolence enough for two -- to indulge a shadowy expectation of getting into heaven through her superabundance of qualities to which he made no particular pretension." Mrs. Shelby believes that slavery is "a curse to the master and a curse to the slave!" and that slavery is a sin, even if laws permit it.
Family:
Biography: There is no information on her upbringing. Before the novel's beginning, Arthur buys a slave for Emily as a gift. This slave is Eliza. Emily soon has Eliza married to George Harris, a union supported by all related parties. Emily makes sure that the two get to see each other often, but deep in her heart, she knows that a marriage between slaves is about as useful as a thread tying together two bears. any time, George and Eliza could be separated from each other. At the beginning of the book, Eliza Harris is serving Emily after having overheard that Harry Harris is to be sold to Mr. Haley. Emily assures her that Harry is perfectly safe because Arthur would never associate with a slave trader, and so Eliza's fears are soothed.
That night, when Emily consults her husband, she is shocked and appalled that he could have done such a thing. She tells him that to sell Eliza's child when Emily has taught her to love and care for her child is just wrong, and when Arthur tells Emily that he cannot go back on his word, his poor wife is distraught. When she finds out that Eliza has escaped alongside Harry, Emily does everything she can to delay Mr. Haley. She knows that Eliza is on foot and that Haley has a horse, so Emily gets some of her slaves to let loose Haley's horse into the pasture, and to confuse Haley as to where Eliza might have gone. Later, after Uncle Tom has been sold to the St. Clare's, Aunt Chloe asks Emily if she can go work for a confectioner in order to raise money to buy back her husband. Seeing Chloe's distress, Emily grants Chloe permission to do so, and soon the black woman is on her way.
Later, when George is in New Orleans, we discover that Mr. Shelby had been ill, even as the Shelby's finances fail, and that Emily cared for him every day. Just before Arthur was claimed by death, he left his money and property in his wife's care. After finding Uncle Tom, George sends a letter back home. The only thing it says is that George will be returning to Kentucky that night around dinnertime. Emily believes the lack of words to mean that something has gone wrong, but in order to keep hope alive, she acts like nothing is amiss. When George walks in alone, Emily starts crying even as Aunt Chloe does, for their dear Uncle Tom. The story ends soon after this.
Personality: "Mrs. Shelby was a woman of high class, both intellectually and morally. To that natural magnanimity and generosity of mind which one often marks as characteristic of the women of Kentucky, she added high moral and religious sensibility and principle, carried out with great energy and ability into practical results. Her husband, who made no professions to any particular religious character, nevertheless reverenced and respected the consistency of hers, and stood, perhaps, a little in awe of her opinion. Certain it was that he gave her unlimited scope in all her benevolent efforts for the comfort, instruction, and improvement of her servants, though he never took any decided part in them himself. In fact, if not exactly a believer in the doctrine of the efficiency of the extra good works of saints, he really seemed somehow or other to fancy that his wife had piety and benevolence enough for two -- to indulge a shadowy expectation of getting into heaven through her superabundance of qualities to which he made no particular pretension." Mrs. Shelby believes that slavery is "a curse to the master and a curse to the slave!" and that slavery is a sin, even if laws permit it.
Family:
- Arthur Shelby-Husband
- George Shelby-Son
Biography: There is no information on her upbringing. Before the novel's beginning, Arthur buys a slave for Emily as a gift. This slave is Eliza. Emily soon has Eliza married to George Harris, a union supported by all related parties. Emily makes sure that the two get to see each other often, but deep in her heart, she knows that a marriage between slaves is about as useful as a thread tying together two bears. any time, George and Eliza could be separated from each other. At the beginning of the book, Eliza Harris is serving Emily after having overheard that Harry Harris is to be sold to Mr. Haley. Emily assures her that Harry is perfectly safe because Arthur would never associate with a slave trader, and so Eliza's fears are soothed.
That night, when Emily consults her husband, she is shocked and appalled that he could have done such a thing. She tells him that to sell Eliza's child when Emily has taught her to love and care for her child is just wrong, and when Arthur tells Emily that he cannot go back on his word, his poor wife is distraught. When she finds out that Eliza has escaped alongside Harry, Emily does everything she can to delay Mr. Haley. She knows that Eliza is on foot and that Haley has a horse, so Emily gets some of her slaves to let loose Haley's horse into the pasture, and to confuse Haley as to where Eliza might have gone. Later, after Uncle Tom has been sold to the St. Clare's, Aunt Chloe asks Emily if she can go work for a confectioner in order to raise money to buy back her husband. Seeing Chloe's distress, Emily grants Chloe permission to do so, and soon the black woman is on her way.
Later, when George is in New Orleans, we discover that Mr. Shelby had been ill, even as the Shelby's finances fail, and that Emily cared for him every day. Just before Arthur was claimed by death, he left his money and property in his wife's care. After finding Uncle Tom, George sends a letter back home. The only thing it says is that George will be returning to Kentucky that night around dinnertime. Emily believes the lack of words to mean that something has gone wrong, but in order to keep hope alive, she acts like nothing is amiss. When George walks in alone, Emily starts crying even as Aunt Chloe does, for their dear Uncle Tom. The story ends soon after this.
George Shelby
Appearance: As a thirteen-year-old, George is somewhat small.
Personality: "...a small, bright boy of thirteen who appeared to fully realize the dignity of his position as [Tom's writing] instructor." George is also giving (as seen when he gave cake to Mose and Pete) and charitable (like how he presented freedom to all of his slaves). George is also rather religious, reading the bible to his slaves every day, but when his temper is roused, he tends to leave his Christian sense behind. George is a man of his word however, and faithful to his friends.
Family:
Biography: At the beginning of the book, George is in Uncle Tom's cabin teaching Tom how to read. While he is there, he talks to Aunt Chloe about how much better her cooking is than all others, not to put them down, but to show George's pride in Chloe. All of his slaves are amazed by his reading ability, and so he loves to read to them from the bible. George is gone on a short trip to his friend's house when Tom is taken away by Haley, but he still manages to meet up with him, and threatens Haley. Tom tells his to stop, as hurting Haley will do no one any sort of good, so instead George promises to buy Tom back as soon as possible, giving him a silver dollar strung on a cord to prove it.
Years later, George does come for Tom, only to find him beaten and dying in a dirty shed. As George speaks to the dying man, Tom doesn't recognize him, but then Tom hears him say his name: George Shelby. With this, Tom asks that George not tell Chloe the details of his death, so that she doesn't worry, and George accepts this. Then George begins to become angry, as Legree comes into the shed to look at the victim of his flogging. George begins to say all manner of threats toward Legree involving Hell, but Tom stops him, telling George that as long as Legree repents, even he should be allowed into Heaven. With this, Tom passes away. George feels that Tom must be buried away from his final repulsive master that George offers to buy the body. Even the greedy Simon Legree refuses to sell the corpse, giving it to George for free. George lets his temper flare one last time, punching the worthless tormentor of his old friend. Then, George takes the body and buries it a ways away from Legree's plantation.
When Legree's other slaves ask to be bought away from Legree, George tells them no. This is not out of spite, but rather because George doesn't have enough money, and knows that Legree would just by more slaves with the money George would have to pay for Legree's current group. George then boards a ship back to Kentucky. While on the ship, he meets a French woman named Emily de Thoux, who apparently used to live in the same area as George. She asks if a slave owner named Mr. Harris still live there, to which George replies this. At this she asks after a slave named George Harris, and upon hearing that he has escaped, she announces that George Harris is her brother! George tells her about George's escape, and how he was married to Eliza and she escaped.
Upon asking of Eliza's background, George responds that she was a slave bought at high price in New Orleans from a man named Mr. Simmons. At this, Cassy, who was on the same ship disguised as an ill woman, faints, for she knows that Eliza must be her long-lost daughter! After parting ways with the two women, George returns home. Ahead of him he sends a letter that says only one thing: that he will be returning home that night. He does this because he does not want to tell of Tom's fate in such an impersonal manner as a letter. Upon reaching the home, he tries to comfort Chloe as she sees that her husband is not with George.
George decides then to free all of his slaves, and does so. At first his black servants are joyous--they will be free! Soon, though, that joy turns to fear as they come to the conclusion that George is abandoning them to fend for themselves. George quickly settles their fears by telling them that he merely does not want them to come to harm if he should die, and that if they still wanted to, they could stay and continue to serve him, but get paid for their work. He finishes up by telling them that he will give one man's all to fight slavery and end it.
Personality: "...a small, bright boy of thirteen who appeared to fully realize the dignity of his position as [Tom's writing] instructor." George is also giving (as seen when he gave cake to Mose and Pete) and charitable (like how he presented freedom to all of his slaves). George is also rather religious, reading the bible to his slaves every day, but when his temper is roused, he tends to leave his Christian sense behind. George is a man of his word however, and faithful to his friends.
Family:
- Emily Shelby-Mother
- Arthur Shelby-Father
Biography: At the beginning of the book, George is in Uncle Tom's cabin teaching Tom how to read. While he is there, he talks to Aunt Chloe about how much better her cooking is than all others, not to put them down, but to show George's pride in Chloe. All of his slaves are amazed by his reading ability, and so he loves to read to them from the bible. George is gone on a short trip to his friend's house when Tom is taken away by Haley, but he still manages to meet up with him, and threatens Haley. Tom tells his to stop, as hurting Haley will do no one any sort of good, so instead George promises to buy Tom back as soon as possible, giving him a silver dollar strung on a cord to prove it.
Years later, George does come for Tom, only to find him beaten and dying in a dirty shed. As George speaks to the dying man, Tom doesn't recognize him, but then Tom hears him say his name: George Shelby. With this, Tom asks that George not tell Chloe the details of his death, so that she doesn't worry, and George accepts this. Then George begins to become angry, as Legree comes into the shed to look at the victim of his flogging. George begins to say all manner of threats toward Legree involving Hell, but Tom stops him, telling George that as long as Legree repents, even he should be allowed into Heaven. With this, Tom passes away. George feels that Tom must be buried away from his final repulsive master that George offers to buy the body. Even the greedy Simon Legree refuses to sell the corpse, giving it to George for free. George lets his temper flare one last time, punching the worthless tormentor of his old friend. Then, George takes the body and buries it a ways away from Legree's plantation.
When Legree's other slaves ask to be bought away from Legree, George tells them no. This is not out of spite, but rather because George doesn't have enough money, and knows that Legree would just by more slaves with the money George would have to pay for Legree's current group. George then boards a ship back to Kentucky. While on the ship, he meets a French woman named Emily de Thoux, who apparently used to live in the same area as George. She asks if a slave owner named Mr. Harris still live there, to which George replies this. At this she asks after a slave named George Harris, and upon hearing that he has escaped, she announces that George Harris is her brother! George tells her about George's escape, and how he was married to Eliza and she escaped.
Upon asking of Eliza's background, George responds that she was a slave bought at high price in New Orleans from a man named Mr. Simmons. At this, Cassy, who was on the same ship disguised as an ill woman, faints, for she knows that Eliza must be her long-lost daughter! After parting ways with the two women, George returns home. Ahead of him he sends a letter that says only one thing: that he will be returning home that night. He does this because he does not want to tell of Tom's fate in such an impersonal manner as a letter. Upon reaching the home, he tries to comfort Chloe as she sees that her husband is not with George.
George decides then to free all of his slaves, and does so. At first his black servants are joyous--they will be free! Soon, though, that joy turns to fear as they come to the conclusion that George is abandoning them to fend for themselves. George quickly settles their fears by telling them that he merely does not want them to come to harm if he should die, and that if they still wanted to, they could stay and continue to serve him, but get paid for their work. He finishes up by telling them that he will give one man's all to fight slavery and end it.