In at least 200 words, explain what themes are established in the first five chapters of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Give three examples of moments in which those themes are revealed.

The themes that are established are how intrinsically evil the peculiar institution of slavery is and how women are intrinsically more sensitive to the suffering it causes than men, which is a very feminist notion.

Indeed, the author very adroitly shows that slavery is inherently evil and cannot be benign in any circumstances. The first example is when Mr. Shelby, who is a good master - yet when he is faced with financial difficulties - does not really hesitate to sell both Uncle Tom and little Harry, Eliza's only surviving son. The second example is how Mrs. Shelby, his wife, is unconcerned with the financial aspect of the situation since she is aware of how breaking Uncle Tom's family apart will destroy its members. She is evidently the character that has the most reliable moral compass and yet she is unable to do anything because not only does her husband do not consult an important household decision with her, depriving her of her own agency and expression but when she does express her opposition he does not listen to her and closes the deal. Then finally there is the fact that Mr. Shelby is selling Uncle Tom to a very uncouth slave trader, Mr. Haley, who obviously does not care to which kind of slave owner he will sell Uncle Tom and harry to. Mr. Shelby asks him to sell them only to a good, kind master and this situation clearly shows that under this horrible system, black slaves are completely at the mercy of an owner's whims. Slavery cannot be "benign" in any respect since it does not protect the well being of slaves, it only protects their masters' interests.