The irony in Shelby's description of Tom lies in the fact that Tom is clearly a more moral person than Shelby. While Shelby expresses trust in Tom's character, he is simultaneously planning to sell him into slavery to pay off a debt, demonstrating a significant moral failing in Shelby himself. This contrast highlights the hypocrisy in Shelby’s attitude—he acknowledges Tom's integrity yet takes actions that betray that integrity by treating him as property rather than a human being.
In the passage below from Uncle Tom's Cabin, the slaveholder Shelby talks about Tom, the slave he plans to give to a slave trader to pay off a debt.
"Well, Tom's got the real article, if ever a fellow had," rejoined the other. "Why, last fall, I let him go to Cincinnati alone, to do business for me, and bring home five hundred dollars. 'Tom,' says I to him, 'I trust you, because I think you're a Christian—I know you wouldn't cheat.' Tom comes back, sure enough; I knew he would. Some low fellows, they say, said to him—'Tom, why don't you make tracks for Canada?' 'Ah, master trusted me, and I couldn't,'—they told me about it. I am sorry to part with Tom, I must say. You ought to let him cover the whole balance of the debt; and you would, Haley, if you had any conscience."
What is ironic about Shelby's description of Tom?
Tom and Shelby are both good Christians.
Tom is clearly a more moral person than Shelby.
Shelby trusts Tom but does not trust Haley.
Shelby has been fooled into thinking that Tom is trustworthy.
1 answer