- 1
Why does Miss Ophelia struggle so much with Topsy?
As St. Clare probably suspected, Miss Ophelia has to struggle against her own internal prejudices to make any real connection with Topsy. Miss Ophelia claims that she believes all black people should be educated for the sake of their immortal souls, but when she's entrusted with the education of a real person, she is too impatient and upset with the reality. Only Eva, dying, can show Miss Ophelia the real way to connect with Topsy, which is through their shared grief and, ultimately, love.
- 2
Why did Stowe create the characters of Eva and Topsy? What is their significance to the novel as a whole?
Eva seems to be the...
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