Aunt Martha: the Uncle Tom who Struggles

"The God-breathing machines are no more, in the sight of their masters, than the cotton they plant, or the horses they tend" (11). I feel this sentence sums up this entire book. Despite that slaves "breathe God," they are still just property to their masters, no better than a plant or a horse. Perhaps the breath of God is what renders them to the low state they're in. Does a slave's loyalty to God further enable the system of Slavery? Well, we all saw what happened to Uncle Tom.

Aunt Martha is a product of Slavery, and she reminds me so much of Uncle Tom as a result. She is God-fearing and believes utmost in virtue. She was loyal to her mistress and is now living quietly among Slavery as a free slave. She has earned respect, but why does she not refute the system that continues to enslave her grandchild and great grandchildren? She refutes not at all, then a little, and then a lot.

When Linda's father dies, Aunt Martha consoles her as most do: "'Who knows the ways of God?' said she. 'Perhaps they have been kindly taken from the evil days to come'" (12). Does Aunt Martha assume that evil days on earth are inevitable? That the only way out is through death, the path to God? Linda doesn't seem to think so, and neither does Benjamin.

When Benjamin was in jail for disobeying his master having tried to run away, her advice was: "Put your trust in God. Be humble, my child, and your master will forgive you" (22). Should a person beg the forgiveness of another who treats them as a dog, as property? I don't think so, and I'm not sure Aunt Martha really thinks so, either. Why else would she cop an attitude with Dr. Flint in later chapters and in chapter 12 say to a white soldier going through her possessions: "You may be sure we didn't pilfer 'em from your houses," (57) insulting him with the implication that he could never afford, "all dis sheet an' table clarf" (57)?

And then, as we all know, she houses Linda in her attic. This refutes Slavery to the fullest. She could be killed for this, but for some reason or another, her loyalty to God which beckons her loyalty to Slavery is shaking. She is seeing another way.

Maybe Aunt Martha's love and loyalty to God is a facade she created to fool the white men around her. She does seem clever enough to do this, but I'm still not so sure. Instead, I think she may just be realizing there's a way out, and it's not God's way at all.