Chloe

Aunt Chloe is the wife of Uncle Tom in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, published in 1852. A virtuous Christian, Chloe is the self-effacing cook for the Shelbys, and certainly brings to mind the enforced stereotype of slavery, the black “Mammy”. Chloe loves her husband and children, does her duty, and accepts her fate. When Tom is sold off the plantation, however, Chloe becomes determined to try to redeem him, along with the help of Mrs. Shelby and her son. Chloe works for years in order to save the money needed. Such virtue must be its own reward; however, as Chloe’s cruel fate is to learn that her husband has died. Her last appearance has her sobbing on her mistress’ shoulder, while apologizing for doing so.

This one is definitely an obscure reference. “Daphnis and Chloe” is the only known work of the 2nd century Greek novelist, Longus. The story would later become an inspiration for an operetta written by Offenbach (1860) and the subject of a ballet written by Maurice Ravel (1912). “Daphnis and Chloe” is the story of a boy (Daphnis) and a girl (Chloe), each of whom is abandoned at birth and discovered, respectively, by a goat-herder and a shepherd who decide to raise the children as their own. The two children grow up together and eventually fall in love. Naïve and innocent, they do not understand these feelings. So, a wise old cow-herder explains to them what love is, and tells them that the only cure is "kissing." They do this. Later, Daphnis is educated in the art of love-making by a woman from the city. The woman warns Daphnis not to test this newly-acquired skill on the virginal Chloe because he will cause her great pain. In the meantime, Chloe is courted by many suitors some of whom try and abduct her until she saved by the intervention of the god Pan (in Greek mythology the God of shepherds and flocks). In the end, Daphnis and Chloe are recognized by their parents, get married, and live out their lives in the country.