Uncle Tom’s Cabin · Chapter
XXXI: The Middle Passage explained
Tom is transported by boat up the Red River as the property of Simon Legree, who strips him of his fine clothes, sells his belongings, and threatens him with violence.
What happens
Tom is transported by boat up the Red River as the property of Simon Legree, who strips him of his fine clothes, sells his belongings, and threatens him with violence. Tom clings to his faith despite the brutal treatment. The chapter also introduces Emmeline and a mulatto woman, both fellow slaves, who share their sorrows and fears about their new master.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
The "Endnotes" chapter serves as the dramatic climax because it abruptly shifts the narrative focus from the c…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Slavery and Inhumanity
Tom is treated as a chattel, stripped of his identity and possessions, and subjected to Legree's brutal threats and dehumanization.
- Resistance and Agency
Tom silently resists Legree's claim to be his 'church,' holding onto his faith and the biblical promise that he belongs to God.
Characters to notice
- Uncle Tom
Tom is chained and transported on a boat, stripped of his fine clothes and belongings by Legree, but holds onto his Bible and faith.
- Simon Legree
Legree asserts dominance over Tom and the other slaves, boasting of his brutality and threatening them with violence.
- Emmeline
Emmeline is chained to a mulatto woman, horrified by Legree's advances, and shares her sorrow with her fellow slave.
Key passages
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look upon iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”
God is too pure to look upon evil, so why does He allow the wicked to destroy the righteous?
The epigraph questions divine justice in the face of Tom's suffering.
“I'm your church now! You understand—you've got to be as I say.”
I am your new authority; you must obey me completely.
Legree asserts total control over Tom, replacing his religious faith with brute force.
