Journal #18

Michelle Romero
Eng. 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford

Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe

"Now, it was a very unusual thing for gentle little Mrs. Bird ever to trouble her head with what was going on in the house of the state, very wisely considering that she had enough to do to mind her own" (1721).

From this passage, we discover that Mrs. Bird is not usually one to challenge her husband or to inquire about his business affairs. However, we also see in the context of this passage, that she is in fact, at this very moment, asking about what is going on in the Senate in regard to slavery. She wants to know just what kinds of laws are being passed and just what exactly the men are up to.

I find it sarcastic the way Stowe describes "gentle little Mrs. Bird" because although Mrs. Bird is said to be this gentle little thing of a woman, her dialogue is quite strong and adamant in seeking the truth. She does not seem like a meek little character.

It is also important to acknowledge that Mrs. Bird is kind of known for not prying in to matters of the state. Perhaps in the past she did keep her nose out of it. However, the fact that she is so insistent here in regard to the Fugitive Slave Act suggests that there is a need for women to stand against its passage. Stowe calls for the women to join the slaves in their cause and be the compassionate Christian women they are supposed to be. There is no gray middle here; Stowe makes it very clear through Mrs. Bird's character that there is a clear right and wrong and that the Fugitive Slave Law is clearly wrong. She denounces those who would actually turn their back on a slave and declares that she will stand and break that law the second she can.

I think Stowe is trying to inspire the white women of the slave era to stand firm in their beliefs and by their conscious, not to let distortions of the truth steal away their Christianly qualities.