# Miss Ophelia St. Clare — Uncle Tom’s Cabin character guide

> Miss Ophelia St. Clare in Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ophelia St. Clare, Ophelia, Cousin Ophelia

**First appearance:** 0014-volume-i-xv-of-tom-s-new-master-and-various-other-matters

## Snapshot

A brisk, principled New England spinster who comes south to manage her cousin's household and discovers that her abolitionist convictions have never been tested by proximity.

## Who they are

Ophelia is Augustine's cousin from Vermont, a woman of rigid order and genuine moral seriousness who agrees to run his chaotic New Orleans home and raise his motherless daughter. She arrives believing herself free of southern prejudice, yet finds that her horror of slavery coexists with a visceral discomfort at actually touching, teaching, or loving the enslaved child placed in her care. Her slow, reluctant education in what it means to treat a person as a person—rather than a cause—makes her one of the novel's most honest portraits of how prejudice hides inside good intentions.

## In the story

### [XV: Of Tom’s New Master, and Various Other Matters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-i-xv-of-tom-s-new-master-and-various-other-matters)

Augustine's cousin from Vermont, a methodical and morally upright New England woman who has been persuaded to return with him to help care for Eva.

### [Tom's Mistress and Her Opinions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-i-xvi-tom-s-mistress-and-her-opinions)

Miss Ophelia arrives and observes the household, questioning St. Clare about slavery and morality with a shrewd, practical New England perspective.

### [Miss Ophelia’s Experiences and Opinions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-i-xviii-miss-ophelia-s-experiences-and-opinions)

Miss Ophelia begins reorganizing the household, clashing with the servants and expressing horror at the treatment of slaves like Prue.

### [Miss Ophelia's Experiences and Opinions Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xix-miss-ophelia-s-experiences-and-opinions-continued)

Perseveres in her housekeeping labors, which the household finds 'curis'; engages in a serious theological and moral discussion with St. Clare.

### [Topsy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xx-topsy)

Takes on the task of educating Topsy, struggling with her wild behavior and questioning the effectiveness of traditional methods.

### [XXIV: Foreshadowings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiv-foreshadowings)

Miss Ophelia attempts to alert Marie to Eva's declining health but is rebuffed.

### [The Little Evangelist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxv-the-little-evangelist)

Frustrated with Topsy's behavior but moved by Eva's example of love.

### [XXVI: Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxvi-death)

The devoted nurse who cares for Eva with skill and precision.

### [XXVII: “This Is the Last of Earth”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxvii-this-is-the-last-of-earth)

Moved by Eva's example, she promises to love and guide Topsy.

### [Reunion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxviii-reunion)

Miss Ophelia challenges St. Clare's inaction and reveals her own growth in overcoming racial prejudice, planning to take Topsy north.

### [The Unprotected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxix-the-unprotected)

Attempts to advocate for Tom's freedom and protect Rosa, but is powerless against Marie's decisions.

### [The Young Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xli-the-young-master)

Mentioned as having written a letter to Mrs. Shelby about Tom's sale.

### [Results](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-ii-xliii-results)

Takes Topsy to Vermont; Topsy becomes a Christian and later a missionary in Africa.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/characters/miss_ophelia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/characters