Uncle Tom's Cabin Group
Question:
Who was Mr. Shelby?
Answers:
-
eNotes Editor
Posted by jamie-wheeler on Monday May 7, 2007 at 4:04 AMMr. Shelby is Tom's first master. Tom was given to Mr. Shelby as an infant. As the novel opens, Shelby is reluctantly making arrangements to sell Tom to Haley, the slave trader. Shelby is what is known in the world of slavery as "a kind master," and his reluctance to sell Tom reveals him to be "a man of humanity." He cares about Tom, but decides he needs the money that the sale will bring.
For more on other characters in Stowe's novel, please visit the link below.

