Simon Legree Character Analysis in Uncle Tom's Cabin

A cruel master, hateful of religion, superstitious, and determined to “break” Tom, Simon Legree is the novel’s antagonist. His plantation near the Red River is characterized by its state of physical and moral disrepair. Legree encourages his slaves and overseers, Sambo and Quimbo, to be cruel to one another in order to maintain total control over the lives of those on his estate. Legree beats Tom to death and cannot be tried for his crime, because there were no white witnesses to the act, and, according to law, he has only destroyed his property. Nevertheless George Shelby, Jr., curses Legree.

Simon Legree Quotes in Uncle Tom's Cabin

The Uncle Tom's Cabin quotes below are all either spoken by Simon Legree or refer to Simon Legree. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Mas’r, if you mean to kill me, kill me; but, as to my raising my hand agin any one here, I never shall,—I’ll die first!”

Related Characters: (speaker),

Related Symbols:

Page Number and Citation: 406

Explanation and Analysis:

O, Mas’r! don’t bring this great sin on your soul. It will hurt you more than ‘twill me! Do the worst you can, my troubles’ll be over soon; but, if ye don’t repent, yours won’t never end!

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 469

Explanation and Analysis:

Simon Legree Character Timeline in Uncle Tom's Cabin

The timeline below shows where the character Simon Legree appears in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Tom is put up to auction and is sold to Simon Legree, a cruel plantation owner living by the Red River who does not believe that Tom... (full context)

Legree sizes up Emmeline, whom he finds attractive and warns to look happy, so that he... (full context)

Christianity and Christian Charity Theme Icon

The stranger argues to another gentleman that, if all slave-owners were as vile as Legree, the system would collapse under its own cruelty. Benevolent slave-owners are the ones who perpetuate... (full context)

Tom marches behind Legree’s wagon with the other recently-purchased slaves. When Legree demands they sing a song, the slaves... (full context)

Legree’s plantation is in disrepair, with a ragged lawn and a dilapidated interior and exterior. He... (full context)

Though Tom is tired and uncomfortable, he quickly adapts to his work on the plantation. Legree notices Tom’s abilities and resolves to “harden” him to make him suitable for overseeing other... (full context)

...that it is Cassy, he goes away sheepishly. Sambo has seen Tom aiding Luce, and Legree resolves that the way he will “harden” Tom is by forcing him to whip her. (full context)

...Luce, saying he will do any work himself but will not hurt another. In response, Legree beats and kicks him mercilessly, and announces that Tom’s soul belongs to him. At this... (full context)

...tends to Tom, moving him onto cool, wet sheets. Cassy tells Tom to stop resisting Legree, as it will only end in Tom’s destruction. He responds that he must try, otherwise... (full context)

The chapter begins in Legree’s sitting room, where he is complaining of the complications introduced by Uncle Tom’s refusal to... (full context)

Cassy reveals that she has come to see Legree to argue with him over Tom’s treatment. Legree feels he will eventually “break” Tom, but... (full context)

Legree’s life story is briefly sketched. His father was a difficult, tyrannical man, and his religious... (full context)

Legree is shaken by the coincidence of Eva’s and his mother’s hair-locks, thinking that the hair... (full context)

Cassy enters to find a scared Emmeline, who thought Cassy might have been Legree. Emmeline asks Cassy if she has ever thought of or tried escape, and Emmeline vows... (full context)

Legree consumes an impressive amount of alcohol in order to drown his superstitious fears. He has... (full context)

Legree finds Tom and tells him to “beg pardon” for his impudence the previous day. Tom... (full context)

Legree comes to him one night and asks if Tom’s religion does him any good now.... (full context)

Legree discusses Tom’s more cheerful mood with Sambo, who suggests that Tom might wish to run... (full context)

Cassy comes to Tom later and tells him that she has drugged Legree via his brandy—they can murder Legree with an axe and escape to freedom, perhaps even... (full context)

Cassy works out an escape plan. Legree’s house has a “garret,” or attic area, consisting of unused rooms and clutter. Once, Legree... (full context)

...to be the most superstitious. Later, after turning over the garret’s haunting in his mind, Legree asks Cassy if she believes in spirits, and she answers, cunningly, that “it doesn’t matter”... (full context)

Cassy takes a trip with Legree to another town near the Red River, memorizing routes she and Emmeline might travel. One... (full context)

Legree is incensed at Emmeline and Cassy’s disappearance, and he takes his anger out on Tom,... (full context)

Legree tells Quimbo to beat Tom until he reveals any knowledge of Emmeline and Cassy’s escape.... (full context)

Legree encourages Sambo and Quimbo to beat Tom mercilessly. They realize they are doing something “wicked”... (full context)

George Shelby, Jr., arrives at the Legree plantation. His father has recently passed away, Mrs. Shelby is now manager of the estate,... (full context)

George curses Legree but Tom says he must not do so. Tom passes away, and George, Sambo, and... (full context)

Legree is driven slowly crazy by the noises from the garret and begins drinking more heavily.... (full context)

...composite of different tales, it is based heavily in fact. Eliza, Uncle Tom, Old Prue, Legree, and others all come from stories Beecher Stowe has heard from others. St. Clare, too,... (full context)

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Simon Legree Character Analysis

Simon Legree Quotes in Uncle Tom's Cabin

Simon Legree Character Timeline in Uncle Tom's Cabin

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