Simon Legree

Simon Legree is a fictional character from Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel *Uncle Tom's Cabin*. He is portrayed as a cruel, brutal slave owner who mistreats his enslaved workers with violence and inhumanity. Legree symbolizes the harsh exploitation and moral corruption associated with slavery. His character is often used to represent the cruelty of the oppressive system and the moral evil of slavery itself. In broader usage, calling someone a "Simon Legree" can imply they are excessively cruel or abusive, especially in a position of power.