Uncle Tom's Cabin Chapter 35 Summary

  • Cassy confronts Legree about his cruel treatment of Tom.
  • Legree tells her to shut up. She can behave herself or she can stay down in the quarters and work like the rest.
  • Cassy has some influence over Legree, despite her position.
  • She warns Legree to watch out, saying, "You’re afraid of me, Simon, […] and you’ve reason to be! But be careful, for I’ve got the devil in me!"
  • We get the picture that Cassy isn’t a regular fieldworker – she’s more of Legree’s concubine. The only reason Legree put Cassy out in the field with Uncle Tom the other day was because she had quarreled with him.
  • The reason for Cassy’s anger? Legree’s purchase of Emmeline. Not because Cassy’s jealous – she actually really hates Legree – but because she doesn’t want the poor girl to be ruined by him.
  • Legree’s treatment of Tom has also outraged her. She lets him know that he will never break Tom.
  • Sambo enters and tells Legree that he’s found some kind of charm on Tom, "Something that n*****s gets from witches. Keeps ‘em from feeling’ when they flogged." This charm had been tied around Tom’s neck. It’s a silver dollar with a blonde curl of hair (i.e., the gifts from Eva).
  • Legree screams in fear when he sees it and tells Sambo to take the relics and burn them.
  • While Legree is wondering where Tom got that "witch thing," Emmeline begins to chant a hymn. Legree screams and curses, but she keeps singing.
  • Legree decides he’ll leave Tom alone from now on.
  • Legree gets Sambo and Quimbo to come keep him company. They all get drunk together.
  • Cassy sees them singing, whooping, and knocking over chairs as she comes inside.
  • Cassy goes upstairs to Emmeline’s room.