# X: The Property Is Carried Off explained — Uncle Tom’s Cabin > Chapter companion for Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. ## What happens On a gray February morning, Uncle Tom and Aunt Chloe share a final, sorrowful breakfast before Tom is taken away to be sold down the river. Chloe expresses her grief and anger at the injustice, while Tom tries to comfort her with faith. Young Master George arrives to say goodbye, outraged at the sale. Tom is fettered and driven off by Haley, leaving his family behind. ## Themes in this chapter ### Family and Separation The chapter centers on the forced separation of Tom from his wife Chloe and their children, highlighting the emotional devastation of family breakup under slavery. ### Slavery and Inhumanity Tom's sale and fettering, along with Haley's callous remarks about slaves dying 'tol'able fast' on plantations, underscore the brutal inhumanity of the institution. ## Character check-ins ### Uncle Tom Tom is being sold away from his family; he comforts Chloe and says goodbye to his children and young Master George. ### Aunt Chloe Chloe prepares Tom's last breakfast, weeps bitterly, and voices her anger at the injustice of the sale. ### George Shelby Young Master George arrives to bid Tom farewell, expressing outrage at the sale and promising to free him someday. ### Haley Haley takes possession of Tom, has him fettered, and drives him away from the Shelby estate. ### Mr. Shelby Mr. Shelby is absent during the departure, having sold Tom out of financial necessity and to avoid witnessing the scene. ## Key lines > S’pose we must be resigned; but oh Lord! how ken I? If I know’d anything whar you’s goin’, or how they’d sarve you! Missis says she’ll try and ’deem ye, in a year or two; but Lor! nobody never comes up that goes down thar! They kills ’em! I’ve hearn ’em tell how dey works ’em up on dem ar plantations. I suppose we have to accept it, but how can I? If I only knew where you're going or how they'll treat you! The mistress says she'll try to buy you back in a year or two, but nobody ever returns from down there—they kill them! I've heard stories about how they work them to death on those plantations. _Aunt Chloe expresses her despair and fear about Tom being sold south, reflecting the common belief that slaves sent to the Deep South were worked to death._ > I’m in the Lord’s hands; nothin’ can go no furder than he lets it;—and thar’s one thing I can thank him for. It’s me that’s sold and going down, and not you nur the chil’en. Here you’re safe;—what comes will come only on me; and the Lord, he’ll help me—I know he will. I am in God's hands; nothing can happen beyond what He allows. I can thank Him that I am the one sold and going south, not you or the children. You are safe here; whatever happens will happen only to me, and the Lord will help me—I know He will. _Tom comforts Chloe by accepting his fate and expressing faith that God will protect him, while finding solace that his family remains safe._ > These yer prime fellers, they hates it like sin. No way but to fetter ’em; got legs—they’ll use ’em—no mistake. These high-quality slaves hate being sold so much that you have to chain them; they have legs and will use them to run away, without a doubt. _Haley explains to the blacksmith why he is putting handcuffs on Tom, revealing the slave trader's cynical view that valuable slaves are the most likely to escape._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters/volume-i-x-the-property-is-carried-off - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/uncle_tom_s_cabin_se/chapters