Uncle Tom's Cabin

Eva’s room is arranged for the wake. Augustine remains in dazed state of shock at the loss of his beloved daughter. Topsy visits the room and Augustine allows her to place a rosebud by Eva’s body. Topsy breaks down, crying over the loss of the only person who has ever told her she loves her. Ophelia gently leads Topsy from the room, promising that she can and does love her. From those words, Ophelia “acquired an influence over the mind of the destitute child that she never lost” (432).

Augustine remains in mute sorrow during the funeral. Marie accuses him of being hard-hearted. She goes into eccentric spasms, diverting the servants’ attention from their own grief. Tom, however, recognizes the depth of Augustine’s despair, and takes to following his master around.

Augustine’s restless grief takes them back to the city, and once there, he seeks diversion in any way possible. Marie complains about his behavior. Eva, in death, has reached an estimation of value that Marie never felt in her in life.

Tom begs Augustine to look to Heaven for comfort. Augustine is wracked with doubt; he cannot believe in the Bible. Tom earnestly tells him that he has felt Christ’s love in his soul.