In Chapter XVII of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Stowe uses the character George Harris as a Christ-like figure that has come to bring freedom to those he loves, as well as lay the groundwork for black freedom in America. George, Eliza, Harry, and the Quakers had evaded Tom Loker and his band of slave catchers, only to make their strategic final stand on an “isolated pile, or range of rocks” (Stowe 187). George’s physical location above Loker and his gang, while simultaneously putting himself between them and his family, position him in a place of authority and power, thus making him a heroic figure reminiscent of Christ, who stands between good and evil.
George Harris is a free black man who has redeemed himself by escaping the bonds of slavery, setting an example as a pious man, risking his own life for others. He is now literally above those who have oppressed him – physically, morally, spiritually – holding a gun (an instrument of power) with the intent to fight for what is right: “and now, as this matter is ours, let us take all the risk, and do all the fighting” (Stowe 188). He is the David to Loker’s Goliath. Although he has the power to kill him, he does not seek it, and remains virtuous in his pursuits. The power of his faith in God and himself are reflected in the confidence and strength he exudes as he addresses his assailants: “I am George Harris. A Mr. Harris, of Kentucky, did call me his property. But now I’m a free man, standing on God’s free soil; and my wife and child I claim as mine” (Stowe 189).
Therefore, through this scene of the “freeman’s defense” and by placing George atop his mountain of piety, Stowe subverts the narrative of who black people are or what they are “supposed” to be in America. Society and those like Loker want them to be slaves, and believe them to be inherently suited for this role. Yet George believes and prominently shows that they can stand up for themselves and be free individuals, with intelligence and piety. George’s actions thus represent and indeed personify a change in mindset. George does not limit himself, and he is subsequently no longer limited by his masters. In fact, he conquers them: “Down [Loker] fell into the chasm, crackling down among trees, bushes, logs, loose stones, till he lay, bruised and groaning, thirty feet below” (Stowe 192). He is now free to do what he wants, including bring freedom to others. Stowe uses the character of George Harris to communicate the need for an alteration in mindset with regard to how black and enslaved people are perceived and understood. They are not meant to be slaves, and are not biologically, morally, spiritually, or otherwise inherently inferior to white people. As George says, “We don’t own your laws; we don’t own our country; we stand here as free, under God’s sky, as you are” (Stowe 190). Both black people – like Topsy who initially believes herself to be nothing more than a slave – and white people – like Loker, who believes black people are nothing more than slaves – must understand this. George, through his actions, his ethics, his philosophies, and most notably his physical placement above those who previously held authority over him, proves that only once this fundamental truth is recognized, true black freedom may ensue.
Discussion Question: Is George’s religious piety what sets him apart from other enslaved people seeking freedom? Is it his specifically Christian ethos that allows for his success against Loker, or does he possess other, secular attributes that contribute to his enlightened position and mindset?