Linguistic expression of ‟sadness” emotion in the novel ‟Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe

The article presents a linguistic analysis of the emotion ‟sadness” in the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe. The study is based on theoretical concepts regarding the role of emotions in artistic discourse and it explores the dimensions of ‟emotions and language” and ‟emotions and the author”. The primary lexical means of expressing ‟sadness” are identified, forming a vast field with a core represented by the words sad and its derivatives, as well as a periphery that includes units with the implicit seme ‟sadness” (desolate, doleful, mournful, etc.). Various ways of localising the emotion ‟sadness” are analysed at the levels of the body (heart, eyes, face), voice, mental sphere, inanimate objects, and temporal intervals. The analysis demonstrates that in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s work, the emotion ‟sadness” receives a deeply nuanced realisation: ‟sadness” in the novel functions as a multifaceted phenomenon, reflecting a wide range of emotional states and enhancing the artistic impact of the text. The quantitative and qualitative diversity of linguistic means allows the author conveying the full palette of the characters’ emotional world in detail. The study also highlights Harriet Beecher Stowe’s skillful use of lexical-semantic and stylistic devices to create dramatic effects and deepen the reader’s emotional engagement.