Uncle Tom’s Cabin · Chapter
XXVII: “This Is the Last of Earth” explained
In the aftermath of Eva's death, St.
What happens
In the aftermath of Eva's death, St. Clare struggles with grief and doubt, while Tom tries to comfort him with faith. Topsy mourns Eva, and Miss Ophelia promises to love her. Marie complains of St. Clare's lack of visible grief, but Tom sees his silent sorrow. St. Clare returns to New Orleans, restless, and confesses his inability to believe, despite Tom's earnest prayers.
Themes in this chapter
Christianity and Morality
St. Clare's crisis of faith and Tom's unwavering belief highlight the tension between intellectual doubt and heartfelt religion.
Motherhood and Sacrifice
Miss Ophelia's tearful promise to love Topsy echoes Eva's sacrificial love, showing a maternal care that transcends blood.
Family and Separation
Eva's death creates a profound void, separating St. Clare from his daughter and Topsy from her only source of love.
Characters to notice
- Augustine St. Clare
Grieving Eva, he wrestles with doubt and longs for faith, finding comfort in Tom's prayers.
- Uncle Tom
Devotedly tries to comfort St. Clare, sharing his own faith and praying for his master.
- Topsy
Mourns Eva's death, feeling abandoned, but receives comfort from Miss Ophelia.
- Miss Ophelia St. Clare
Moved by Eva's example, she promises to love and guide Topsy.
- Marie St. Clare
Self-absorbed in her grief, she criticizes St. Clare's lack of visible emotion.
- Mammy
Defends St. Clare, noting his thinness and silent grief.
Key passages
“I want to believe this Bible—and I can’t.”
St. Clare confesses his desire for faith but his inability to achieve it.
Reveals his spiritual struggle after Eva's death.
“Felt Him in my soul, Mas'r—feel Him now!”
Tom testifies that he experiences God's presence directly in his heart.
Tom's faith is based on personal experience, not intellectual proof.
“I jist wish I hadn't never been born.”
Topsy expresses despair and a sense of worthlessness after Eva's death.
Highlights the emotional devastation of a child who had found love.