Uncle Tom's Cabin: Chapter 41 Summary & Analysis

George Shelby, Jr., arrives at the Legree plantation. His father has recently passed away, Mrs. Shelby is now manager of the estate, and after hearing only that Tom has been sold at public auction, George headed south to inquire after him. The search took several months. George now asks Legree where Tom can be found. Legree points to the shed, where Tom is dying.

Cassy sneaks out from the garret, briefly, to hear about Tom and breaks down crying—her faith is Jesus is somewhat restored. George meets with Tom, who is greatly pleased that George has remembered him, and George begs that Tom get better. Tom says not to worry—he is going to a finer place. Tom asks George not to mention to Chloe his current condition.

George curses Legree but Tom says he must not do so. Tom passes away, and George, Sambo, and Quimbo prepare to bury him, since Legree says he “does not sell dead slaves.” George tells Legree he will take up the matter in the courts. Legree replies that, since there are no white witnesses, the case would not stand up. The three bury Tom on a low hill in an unmarked grave. Sambo and Quimbo ask for George to buy them from Legree, but George says he cannot and promises to do what is in his power, as one man, to help the cause of slaves.