captiveboatman

EastTennesseeStateUniversityDigitalCommons@EastTennesseeStateUniversityElectronicThesesandDissertationsStudentWorks8-2004ComingHome,StayingPut,andLearningtoFiddle:HeroismandPlaceinCharlesFrazier'sColdMountain.
HeatherRheaGilreathEastTennesseeStateUniversityFollowthisandadditionalworksat:https://dc.
etsu.
edu/etdPartoftheEnglishLanguageandLiteratureCommonsThisThesis-OpenAccessisbroughttoyouforfreeandopenaccessbytheStudentWorksatDigitalCommons@EastTennesseeStateUniversity.
IthasbeenacceptedforinclusioninElectronicThesesandDissertationsbyanauthorizedadministratorofDigitalCommons@EastTennesseeStateUniversity.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactdigilib@etsu.
edu.
RecommendedCitationGilreath,HeatherRhea,"ComingHome,StayingPut,andLearningtoFiddle:HeroismandPlaceinCharlesFrazier'sColdMountain.
"(2004).
ElectronicThesesandDissertations.
Paper921.
https://dc.
etsu.
edu/etd/921ComingHome,StayingPut,andLearningtoFiddle:HeroismandPlaceinCharlesFrazier'sColdMountainAthesispresentedtothefacultyoftheDepartmentofEnglishEastTennesseeStateUniversityInpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeMastersofArtsinEnglishbyHeatherRheaGilreathAugust2004Dr.
TheresaLloyd,ChairDr.
MarkHollandDr.
ThomasAlanHolmesKeywords:ColdMountain,CharlesFrazier,AppalachianLiterature,SouthernLiterature,CivilWarLiterature,TheOdyssey2ABSTRACTComingHome,StayingPut,andLearningtoFiddle:HeroismandPlaceinCharlesFrazier'sColdMountainbyHeatherRheaGilreathInhisnovelColdMountain,CharlesFrazierweavesanintricatewebofhumanstories,allconvergingtomakeamemorablestatementaboutlove,war,life,anddeath.
Thisstudyexaminesthesestoriesandthemythological,literary,andfolkmodelsFrazieremploys,andinsomecasesrevises,totellthem.
ThefirstchapterexploreshowFrazierrecreatesOdysseusinInman,hismainmalecharacter,todepictthepyschologicaltraumainflictedbywar.
ThesecondchapterfocusesonAda,Inman'spre-warsweetheart,andRuby,agirlwithwhomAdabonds,aschallengestothemalepastoraltradition.
Ruby'sfatherStobrodastrickster,culturehero,andultimatekeeper/creatorofsongsisthesubjectofthethirdchapter.
BecauseAppalachiasostronglyinfluenceseachofthesecharacters,whethernativeoroutsider,thisthesiswillalsodiscusssuchsenseofplaceandprovethatthesestories,thoughuniversal,couldnottakeplacejustanywhere.
3Copyright2004byHeatherRheaGilreathAllRightsReserved4ACKNOWLEDGMENTSI'mnotacryingperson,butIcryeverytimethatIreadColdMountain.
AndnotonlybecauseInmandiesintheend,butbecausethestorysinkstomy"deepheart'score,"asYeatssays.
IwasborninthewrongcenturywithabugfortheCivilWarandlivingthe"old-timeyway,"asIsaidwhenIwasachild.
MyrootsrundeepinAppalachia,andIamcurrentlyrestoringanineteenth-centuryhouseandfarm.
Nowonder,then,thatColdMountainisabookofmyownheart.
MyrelationshiptothisnovelismuchlikeInman'sistoBartram'sTravels,andIoftenpickoutpassagesatrandomandsteepmyselfinthem—descriptionsofCivilWarbattles,asgrislyastheyare,vignettesofAppalachianlife,withcharacterslivingmuchasmyancestorsdid,anddepictionsofboththehardshipsandrewardsoffarmlife,whichIamexperiencingnow.
Ifindinspirationineverycharacter,everypainfullybeautifulscene.
Thisismyproverbial"desertislandbook,"althoughIwouldprefertobestrandedonsomehighandlonesomemountain.
Forthisgift,ImustfirstandforemostthankCharlesFrazier.
Secondly,Iwouldliketothankmythesiscommitteemembers,whohavegraciouslyofferedtheirtimeandadvice.
Dr.
Lloyd—ThankyouforteachingthisbookinyourSouthernAppalachianLiteratureclassandguidingmeevenfartherintoitsprofounddepths.
Andthankstooforencouragingmetocontinuemydreamofowningafarm.
Dr.
Holland—Thankyouforallthe"mythological"tipsandespeciallyfortheshootinglesson,whichnotonlybroughtmeclosertoInman,butwasalsooneofthemostinteresting"fieldtrips"Ihaveeverbeenon.
Dr.
Holmes—Thankyoufor"extending"yournine-monthscheduleandbringingmyattentiontogrammaticalissues,especiallypassivevoice.
Myproofreadingeyesandearsaresharpernow.
Lastly,Imustthankmyfamily,whosespiritIfeelinthisbook.
IamhonoredtobeapartoftheGilreath-Lockhart-Rheaweb,andIonlyhopethatIcanbeasstrongastrandasyouallare.
Mom—Thankyouespeciallyforputtingupwithadaughterwholikes"oldstuff"anddoingthingstheold-fashionedway,asromanticandimpracticalasthispassionmaybe.
Differencesaside,youaremybestfriend.
AndLance,myhusband—ThankyouforreadingthisbookwhenIknowyoureallywantedtoreadIsaacAsimov.
Thanksfortheconstantencouragementandburstsofgoofiness.
Somehow,allmystressvanisheswhenIseeyouinthepaintisleinHomeDepotwithabucketonyourhead.
Ilookforwardtobeginningourveryownlongjourneyofrestoringahouseandpracticingsemi-self-sufficientlivingonourfarm.
5CONTENTSPageABSTRACT…2ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…4Chapter1.
INTRODUCTION…62.
"I'VEBEENCOMINGTOYOUONAHARDROADANDI'MNOTLETTINGYOUGO":INMAN,ODYSSEUS,ANDTHEHEROICJOURNEYHOME………103.
"WARORPEACE,THERE'SNOTATHINGWECAN'TDOOURSELVES":ADA,RUBY,ANDFEMALESURVIVALONTHEFARM…314.
TO"COMEBACKFROMSOMETHINGLIKETHEDEAD":STOBROD,THETRICKSTER,ANDTHEWONDER-WORKINGPOWEROFMUSIC……………505.
CONCLUSION…68WORKSCITED…70WORKSCONSULTED…73VITA…746CHAPTER1INTRODUCTIONThoughsetduringtheCivilWar,CharlesFrazier'sColdMountainisnotaboutmilitary,economic,orpoliticalaffairs;nordoesitconveythestereotypicalnostalgiaandglamourassociatedwithAmerica'sdefiningmoment.
Morethananationdivided,Fraziertellsthestoryofarelationshipdivided,andindoingsoheomitsthepoliticians,militarymen,mills,andplantationsthatusuallyfactorsoprominentlyintotheliteraturesetduringthattimeperiod.
Frazieradmitsthatheis"largelyuninterestedinthegreatmovementsoftroops,thefamouspersonalitytraitsofthenoblegeneralsandtragicpresidents,"butinthepeoplethathistorybooksleaveout,thepeoplewhofacedthewarratherthenconceivedit("ColdMountainDiary"2).
Asheexplains,hisinspirationforwritingthenovelstemmednotsomuchfromtoweringbronzememorialsorneatlygroomednationalcemeteriesasfromunmarkedandanonymousgravesonthesideofamountain.
Heoffers,therefore,notthe"marble"characterswhoseidealism,movingspeeches,andbravefeatsonthebattlefieldsotypicallycharacterizetheCivilWarexperience,butcharacterswhoaredisillusionedbyorisolatedfromthewar,andwhoundergoindividualstrugglesthatseemasrealandintenseasthoseencounteredbehindmahoganydesksincapitalcitiesoronthefrontlinesofgreatbloodybattles.
Intellinghishumanstory,Frazierusesandinsomecasesrefusesheroicmodelsfrommyth,literature,andfolklore.
FrazierpatternsInman,thenovel'smainmalecharacter,afterOdysseus,heroofHomer'sIliadandOdyssey.
Warripsbothmenfromhome,andtheybothtravellongandgruelingjourneystoreturn,meetingsimilarfriendsandfoesalongtheway.
Bothtooare"menofconstantsorrow,"sufferingfromhomesickness,fatigue,hunger,andinOdysseus'scase,divinewrath.
UnlikeOdysseus,whoisacelebratedcommander,mastermindoftheTrojanhorse,andadeeplyreligiousman,InmanisadeserterwhoshowsnoneofthestereotypicalélanattributedtoHomericwarriors(orSouthernsoldiers)andislargelydisconnectedfromGod.
Heisaquietandreluctantherowhoisperpetuallyharrowedbyrepulsiveimagesofbattlelitter–nightmaresthatmakehimfeelasiftheworldisirrevocablycruelandrandom.
Infact,Inman'swar-prompteddespairdistinguisheshimmostfromOdysseus,who,likeotherHomericwarriors,believesstronglyinkleos,immortalglory,andviewsbattleasanoblepathtodeath.
Thoughplaguedbyothermyriadphysicalandmentaldiscomforts,7Odysseusneverdreamsaboutseveredlimbspopulatingadisorderedworld.
Forhim,warandallitsmiseryisoverafterthefight.
InFrazier's"epic,"though,warfollowsInmanhome,tormentinghismindasmercilesslyasthewoundonhisneckpestershisbody.
Histragicdeathintheendisapowerfulstatementaboutthepsychologicaltraumacausedbyviolenceandthekillingoffellowmen.
Ada,Inman'spre-warbelovedwhoawaitshisreturn,undergoesadifferent,thoughequallychallengingstruggleinBlackCove,herfather'sfarmatthebaseofColdMountain.
WhenInmanleaves,AdaappearstobeastereotypicalSouthernbelle—thecharming,fair,andculturedyounggirlfeaturedinthepopularplantationromancesofthemid-nineteenthcentury.
HavingbeenraisedinCharleston,Adawearsdressesofsilkandlace,speaksseverallanguages,playspiano,andrenderslandscapesbeautifullyinwatercolor.
Andlikemanyotherliterarybelles,sheistightlyboundtoherfather,Monroe—arepresentationofthestrictpatriarchygoverningtheOldSouth.
WhenMonroediesandleavesAdaaloneinAppalachia,sheseemsasdoomedashercrumblingsociety.
ButwiththehelpofRuby,alocalgirlwhohasraisedherselfinthehills,Adaturnsthefarmfromanenigmaticburdenintoaself-sufficiententerprise.
NotonlydoesRubyteachAdamountainloreandmethodsoffarming,butmoreimportantly,shereassuresAdathattheworldisanorderedplace,evenaswarthreatenstotearitapart.
LearningthelessonthatInmandoesnot—thattheworldisnotmerelya"heapofrandomsweepings"—isapowerfulmotivatorforAdatoshedthesuperficialityofherformerlifeandgainthedeeperstrengthandresolveneededtobeafarmer(18).
JustasFrazierrevisesOdysseusandtheHomericepics,therefore,healsoreshapestheSouthernbelleandthepastoralromancebycreatingaheroinewithbothexternalgraceandinternalgritandofferingafemalefriendshipasstrongandenduringasthetraditionallovebetweenmanandwoman.
Thenovel'smostironicheroisRuby'sfather,Stobrod,anineptparent,disloyalsoldier,andgiftedfiddleplayer.
Inhisegotism,laziness,andaffectionforthieving,Stobrodisinmanywayseasytodespise,asRubysoferventlydoeswhenhereturnsfromthewar.
Yetwithhismusic,forwhichhedevelopsapassionafterenlisting,heconvertsthechaosofwarandthespiritofAppalachiaintofiddletunes.
Inthisway,heoffersaninvaluablegiftbypreservingtheexperiencesandemotionsofsoldiersandmountainfolklongaftertheydie.
Andhe,too,learnsthelessonthatescapesInman:thatlifecanbeorderedandsensecanbemadeoutoftheseeminglynonsensical.
Inhisduality,Stobrodisatricksterfigure,onewhosimultaneously8destroysandcreates,onewhoisknaveandroguebutalsoculturehero.
ThoughStobrodhimselfisarevisedman,Frazierdoeslittletochangeorchallengethetraditionaltrickstermotif,ashedoeswiththeHomericepicandpastoralromance.
Instead,hechoosesthemostunlikelycharactertobethenovel'smostenduringhero.
AndjustasInman'sdeathemphasizesthehorrorsofwar,Stobrod'ssurvivalcelebratestheimportanceofmusicandstorytellingasculturalunifiersratherthanbanes.
IntheBlueRidgeMountains,Frazierchoosesanappropriatesettingforhisnovelofpersonaltragedyandtriumph.
HistorianJohnInscoeincorrectlyassumes,"Canthetale'sAppalachiansettingmakeanyclaimforitsappealAlas,probablynot.
Thereisnoreasontothinkthatthesamestory,asbeautifullytoldbutsetinsomeotherpartofthewar-tornSouth,wouldhavebeenequallyaspopular"(332).
Appalachia,however,isnot"war-torn"likethelowlands.
ThoughitisamyththatAppalachiaplayedlittleifnoroleintheCivilWar,theSouthernmountainsneverthelessharboredindividualslargelyunfamiliarwiththelifeofgenteelfarming,andthemountainsweresparedthewidespreaddevastationwroughtbybattlesorYankeesmarchingtothesea.
EvenInscoehimselfadmits:Thewardepicted[inColdMountain]isindeedverydifferentfromthewar.
.
.
whichRobertE.
Leeexperienced.
Therearefewifanyplantations,slaveholders,orslavesonthishomefront.
ThemanycharacterswhopeopleFrazier'ssagaarefarremovedfromthosewhomadeupMargaretMitchell'sorJohnJake'sfictionalizedConfederacy.
Withveryfewexceptions,thesepeoplearepoor,leadinglivesofquiet—andoftennotsoquiet—desperation.
Forallparticipants,thewarhasbecomeoneofdisillusionment,ofresentment,ordesolation,andofbrutalityastheyengageinaprimalquestforsheersurvival.
(333)TheAppalachiansetting,therefore,isresponsibleforColdMountain'sappeal.
ThoughFraziercouldhave,asInscoesuggests,craftedabeautifulnovelsetintheMississippiDelta,thecoastofSouthCarolina,ortheGeorgiacountryside,itwouldnothavebeenthesamestory.
Evenifthecharacterswerepredominantlylower-class,saltoftheearth,self-sufficientfarmers,theywouldlikelyfeeltheterribleswiftswordofwaronthehomefrontmorethanthemountaineers.
Becauseoftheirisolation,theNorthCarolinamountainsaffordtheperfectplaceforthe9characterstoescapewar,andalsoforFraziertocreateabelievablestorysetduringnationalconflict,butnotaboutbattlesandpolitics.
AsFraziersaysofthemountaingraveshefinds,"Thepeopleinthemwerecaughtinthecrossfireoftwoincompatibleeconomies.
Fornoneofthose…deadcouldhavehadmuchtodowitheitherofthewarringsides,nostrongtiestoslaveagricultureorindustrialcapitalism"("ColdMountainDiary"2).
Likewise,noneofFrazier'scharactersownplantationsorfactories,nordotheyexhibitzealousfidelitytoLee,Grant,Lincoln,orDavis.
ThoughInmanenlists,hisheartyearnsforColdMountain,notvictory,andhedesertswithnoregretorshame.
Thoughanoutsider,AdatoofindsstrengthinAppalachia.
ShehasnodesiretoreturntoCharleston,wherethewarhasragedandleftitsscars,andeventhoughsheisstarvingonherfarm,thesurroundingmountainsareacomfortingcushionfromwarandaperfectplacetotransform.
StobrodandRubyarealsoboundtoAppalachia.
Morethananyone,Rubyisaproductofthemountainlandscape,and,liketheplantssheharvestsformedicine,shebecomesahumanpoulticeforAdaandhergreatestlinktosurvival.
Thoughlackingthestrongsenseofplacefeltbytheothercharacters,Stobrodneverthelessbecomesaculturaliconbypreservingtheexperiencesandessenceofhill-folkinhisfiddletunes.
ColdMountain,therefore,ismorethansimplyaplace,asetting,butasKatherineStriplingByersays,itis"theompholos,sourceandcenter"ofthenovel.
Morethanloyaltytoacause,lossoflovedonesorproperty,ColdMountainisthecommonbondbetweenthecharacters.
JustasthisthesiswilldiscussFrazier'suseofheroicmodels,itwillalsoexplorehowAppalachiashapesthecharacters'heroism,andinturn,howtheirheroismshapesthenovel'sAppalachia.
10CHAPTER2"I'VEBEENCOMINGTOYOUONAHARDROADANDI'MNOTLETTINGYOUGO":INMAN,ODYSSEUS,ANDTHEHEROICJOURNEYHOMELikemanymodernstorytellers,CharlesFrazierturnedtotheHomericepicswhencraftinghisstoryofloveandwarinnineteenth-centuryAmerica.
Frazierremembers,"ThestoryseemedlikeanAmericanodyssey.
.
.
.
SoIsetoutonInman'strailandfolloweditforfiveyearsofwriting"("ColdMountainDiary"3).
Inpart,Inman's"trail"isOdysseus'sinanothertimeandplace—anostos,orhomecoming,fromforeignbattlefieldtofamiliarhearthwithplentifulandgruelingwanderinginbetween.
BothInmanandOdysseushaveawomanwaitingattheendoftheirjourney—Penelope,Odysseus'swife,whomustfendoffgreedysuitors,desirousofherhandandthecrownofIthaca,andAda,Inman'spre-warbeloved,whowaitsintheBlueRidgeandadjuststoherfather'sdeathandthehardshipsoffarmlife.
Likewise,ontheirjourneyhomethetwoheroesmeetsimilarcharacters,bothwishingthemwellanddoingthemharm.
InInman,however,FrazierdoesnotcreateanexactreplicaofOdysseus,forInmanisneitherkingnorgreatwarrior,andterriblememoriesofbattlesthathaveallthegutsbutnoneofthegloryoftheTrojanWarplaguehim.
UnlikeOdysseus,adescendentofAutolycus,thearchtricksterofancientGreece,andoneoftheleadersofagreatcivilization,Inmanappearstobe"kinless,"andasanAppalachian,heispartofasocietythatislargelymarginalizedfromtheNorthandSouth,thetwogreatAmericanregionsatwar.
Thoughpractical,Inmanlacksmetis,theinstantaneouswisdomthatcharacterizesOdysseus.
Fatiguedanddispirited,Inmanoftenfindshimselfatalossforwordsandactionandoftenattributeshissurvivaltoluckratherthancraftiness.
Furthermore,heiscaughtinanexistentialdilemma,understandinglittleofhispurposeandlackingthedivinesupportofhyacinth-hairedOdysseus,favoriteofgrey-eyedAthena.
AndthoughInmanandOdysseussharethesamegoalofsurvivalandhomecoming,Inman'syearningforhomeseemstosurpassthatofOdysseus,forInmanisboundbynothing—notevenGod—buthislongingtoreturntohisbelovedColdMountain,wherehecanescapewar'sevilpullforever.
EventhoughhesucceedsinhisjourneyandclimbstothetopofColdMountain,whereheisreunitedwithAda,hisfatereflectsmoreofhisdespairthanreconciliationorrejuvination.
Thoughheenjoysa"redemptionofsomekind,"henevergetsthechancetore-11integrateintoapeacefullifestyle,andhedies,likesomanysoldiershehasknown,arathercommondeath—beingshotbyastranger(334).
ThesedifferencessuggestthatInmanisamodernrenderingofaclassichero.
AsasoldieroftheAmericanCivilWar,heisonthecuspofmodernwarfare,whichevolvesfromthehallmarkopenfightingoftheTrojanWar,theCrusades,andtheAmericanRevolution,tothemore"furtive"strategiesoftrenchbuildingandgassingthatbeginwiththeIndustrialRevolution.
Thelattertechniques,thoughreflectiveoftechnologicalandmilitary"advancements,"alsobackfireinthattheywageapsychologicalwaronthesoldierswhomustusethem.
Nolongerdomenmarchsinglefileacrossatreelessfieldintotheenemy,buttheymustholethemselvesupformonthsindampditchesthatbreeddiseaseandboredom.
Nolongeraretheykilledonebyoneinhand-to-handcombat,butfaceexterminationenmassbychemicalsandbombs.
ThroughInman,Fraziershowshowthismilitary"revolution"takesthegloryfromfightingandaddsinsteadmentalanguishandinnerturmoil.
HisrecreatedOdysseus,therefore,isthebearerofasombermessage—thatwarfollowsyouhome.
Frazier'snegativetonetowardswarisevidentfromthebeginningofColdMountain,asfliesswarmaroundawoundatInman'sneck:"Thesoundoftheirwingsandthetouchoftheirfeetweresoonmorepotentthanayardfulofroostersinrousingamantowake"(1).
ThisopeningcouldhardlybemoredifferentthanHomer'ssweepinginvocationtotheMuse,towhomhepleads,"throughmetellthestory/ofthatgreatmanskilledinallwaysofcontending,/thewanderer,harriedforyearsonend,afterheplunderedthestronghold/ontheproudheightofTroy"(I,1-5).
FromFrazier'sinitialdescriptionofInman,weseethathehasrunthegauntletofwar,beenbadlyinjured,andisgreatlysufferingfromadeepgashthatnearlyseveredhishead.
Yethehasconquerednocity,mastermindednocleverbattlestrategy,norledtroopstovictory.
Heismerelyoneofthethousandsofmencaughtinthegreatcloudofwar,andheappearsratherpitifulandforlorn,fearingthat"hehadseenthemetalfaceoftheageandhadbeensostunnedbyitthatwhenhethoughtintothefuture,allhecouldvisionwasaworldfromwhicheverythinghecountedimportanthadbeenbanishedorwillinglyfled"(2).
Lyingonhiscot,withoozingwounds,InmanexperienceswhathistorianPaulFussellcallsa"primalscene,asurvivor'srecollectionofaspecificbattleexperienceso'undeniablyhorrible'thatitbecomesafocalpointofrecurringnightmareandpsychologicaltrauma"(qtd.
inMcCarron1).
Inadream,Inman'smindrecreatesthehorrorsofFredericksburg,wherethousandsofUnionsoldiersfutilelystormed12theConfederatestrongholdbehindastonewall.
Anegativeenergybreatheslifeintothemutilatedslain:theaurorablazedandthescatteredbloodypieces—arms,heads,legs,trunks—slowlydrewtogetherandreformedthemselvesintomonstrousbodiesofmismatchedparts.
Theylimpedandreeledandlungedaboutthedarkbattlefieldlikeblindsotsontheirfaultylegs.
Theyjouncedoffoneanother,buttingbloodycleftheadsintheirstupor.
Theywavedtheirassortedarmsintheair,andfewofthehandsmadeconvincingpairs.
Somespokethenameoftheirwomen.
Somesangsnatchesofsongoverandover.
Othersstoodtothesideandlookedoffintothedarkandurgentlycalledtheirdogs.
(10)ThisgrislyimageofwarsuggestsaconsiderabledifferenceinthemindsetsofInmanandOdysseus.
Firstofall,itillustrateshowInman,ashisnamesuggests,liveslargelyinhisheadandisoftenunabletoloosehimselffromatangleofwar-madenightmaresandflashbacks.
Asmanifestedbythecrowthatlikeashadowfollowshimonhisjourney,Inmancannotfreehimselffromhisexperienceasasoldier,andsuchcorrosivedreamandmemoriessoonhollowhimout.
Odysseus,however,isnotsuchamanofpsychologicalturmoil.
Heisnostrangertostrife,buthelackstheinnerdimensionthatdefinesInman.
Weneverseehimrememberwithdisgustthehorrorsofwarthathesurelyexperiences,nordoweseehisthoughtsdominatehisactions.
AsW.
B.
Stanfordnotes,"thetotalportrait[ofOdysseus]isthatofamanwellintegratedbothinhisowntemperamentandwithhisenvironment.
AsAtheneemphasized,hewasessentially'self-possessed,'fullyabletocontrolconflictingpassionsandmotives.
.
.
.
Suchwashisinnerharmonyandstrength"(79).
ThoughInmanisamanofvirtueandaskilledfighter,hecanneverachievesuchharmonybecauseofhisplaguedmind.
Inmna'snightmareofFredericksburgalsoshowsthathehasasignificantlydifferentviewofwarthanOdysseusorotherHomericheroesdo.
Warinanytimeandplacemeansdeath,yetdeathfortheheroesoftheTrojanWarbringswithitkleos,orimmortalglory.
Furthermore,forsuchheroes,asdescribedintheIliad,thereisaclean,quickseparationbetweenlifeanddeath—anintense,thoughbriefmomentofpain,andthenaswiftsuctionintotheUnderworld.
Inhisbook,HomeronLifeandDeath,JasperGriffinnotesthatHomer"dislikesanyaccountofmenbeinggravelywoundedbutnotdying;awoundedmaneitherdiesquicklyorrecoversandfightsagain"(90).
Therearenofieldhospitals,bloodysaws,orpilesofblacklimbsinHomer,13yettheyaboundinFrazier'sworld,wheremenremaintormentedonearthevenaftertheydie,asdepictedinInman'sdream.
Stubbornwoundsseemmorecommonthanmortalones,andtheyoftenbringaboutaslowandagonizingdeath,asforInman'sward-mate,Balis,whoseleg"stubseemednottowanttohealandhadrottedinchbyinchfromtheankleup.
Hisamputationshadnowproceededpasttheknee,andhesmelledallthetimelikelastyear'sham"(3).
Inman'sownwoundeventakesonapersonalityofitsown,asifitwereaparasitelivingonthesideofhisneck:"Beforeitstartedscabbing,itspitoutanumberofthings:acollarbuttonandapieceofwoolcollarfromtheshirthehadbeenwearingwhenhewashit,ashardofsoftgreymetalasbigasaquarterdollarpiece,andunaccountably,somethingthatcloselyresembledapeachpit"(4).
Asasoldier,Inmanseesthat"greatwoundssometimeshealed,smallsometimesfestered.
Anywoundmighthealontheskinsidebutkeeponburrowinginwardtoaman'scoreuntilitatehimup.
Thewhyofit,likemuchinlife,offeredlittleaccesstologic"(327).
Inmantoorealizestheblindnessofdeath,thatitcomesforgood,bad,young,andoldalike,somuchthatitbecomes"arandomthingentirely"(180).
SuchagrimphilosophycharacterizesInman'sinternalworldandleadshimtoconcludethatwarisnotonlyhellish,butfutileaswell.
ForInman,fightingalsolacksthegloryofthatdepictedintheIliad,whoseheroes,eventheminorones,Homeroftensinglesoutaslonewarriorsfightingaduelandfollowingaparticularscript,firstexclaimingtheirnameandlineage,andthenbattlinguntildeath.
AsM.
I.
FinleynotesinTheWorldofOdysseus,"NoonewhoreadstheIliadcanfailtobestruckbythepeculiarcharacteroffighting.
Therearetensofthousandsofsoldiersonhand,yetthepoethaseyesonlyforAjaxorAchillesorHectororAeneas"(74).
ForInman,however,fightingentailsamassconfusionofmen,blindedbybodies,bothaliveanddead,hackingateachotherwithmercilessrage,killingeasilywithoutknowingthenamesoftheirvictims.
HeremembersthecrateratPetersburg:Itwas.
.
.
asifhundredsofmenwereputintoacave,shouldertoshoulder,andtoldtokilleachother.
Therewasnoroomforfiringmuskets,sotheymainlyusedthemasclubs.
.
.
.
Allunderfootwerebodiesandpiecesofbodies,andsomanymenhadcomeapartintheblowupandtheshellingthatthegroundwasslickandthrewaterriblestinkfromtheirwetinternalments.
.
.
.
Theykilledeverybodythatdidn'trunaway.
(124)14ThecollectiveenergyofsuchfightingdistinguishesitfromHomer,whosedescriptionsarealsofullofgore,butwhichcomeinalistasifdeathtrulywashappeningtoonepersonatatime.
NotonlydoesInmanharborunsettlingthoughtsofbattle,buthealsoexhibitsnoloyaltytotheSoutherngenerals—"[t]heallegedlygodlikeLee,grimJackson,gaudyStuart,stolidLongstreet"(343).
Heviewsthem,andtheFederalleaders,aslittlemorethan"gang[s]ofdespotslaunchingattacksupon[one]another,"andhehopesthathewouldbeableto"judgehimselfbyanothermeasure.
.
.
inatimewhenpeopleweren'tdyingsomuch"(343).
ToInman,therefore,the"greatcelebratedwarriors,"whohavebeenpasseddownthroughthegenerationsaskindsofOdysseanfigures,arelittlemorethanbloodthirstymen,whosegoalistoperpetuateslaughteruntilnomanisleftstanding(343).
With"OldLee"Inmanparticularlyhasproblems(8).
WhenhearingofLee'sfamousstatementthat"it'sagoodthingwarissoterribleorelsewe'dgettolikingittoomuch,"Inmanjustshakeshishead,for"itappearedtohimthatwelikefightingplenty,andthemoreterribleitis,thebetter.
AndhesuspectedthatLeelikeditmostofallandwould,ifgivenhispreference,generalthemrightthroughthegatesofdeathitself"(8).
Lee'sviewthat"war[is]aninstrumentforclarifyingGod'sobscurewill,"however,troublesInmanmorethanhislustforbattleanddeath(8).
Inmanseessuchthinkingasegotisticalandflawed,for"followingsuchlogicwouldsoonleadonetodeclarethevictorofeverybrawlanddogfightasGod'scertifiedchampion"(8).
ForInman,Godseemsadistant,neutralobserverinthefight,andwhicheversidewinsismorelikelytheonethatkillsthemostfoes,nottheonehandpickedbyGodasvictor.
SuchatheorynotonlyalienatesInmanfromhiscomradeswhoviewLeeaslittlelessthanGodincarnateandtheirmissionasafulfillmentofHisplan,butitalsoseparatesInmanfromOdysseus,whoisinextricablyboundtothewilloftheOlympicgods,whocanrewardorpunishonawhim.
AsJasperGriffinobserves:TheHomericpoemsarepervadedfromendtoendbyanelaboratepolytheism.
TheIliadbeginswiththeangerofApolloandendswiththegodsconductingPriamtoAchillesandorderingAchillestoyieldtohimthebodyofPriam.
TheOdysseybeginsonOlympusandendswiththeinterventionofAthenawhichmakespeacebetweenOdysseusandthekinsmenoftheslaughteredSuitors.
Actiononearthisaccompaniedbyaction,decision,andconflictinheaven,andgodsandgoddessesinterveneinthehumanworld.
(144)15Moreover,godschoosesidesinHomer'sworld,andtheirshiftingallegianceoftensteersthecourseofthemortals.
AsGriffinnotes,"TheworldoftheOdyssey[andtheIliad]isaworldinwhichthereisnoplaceforchance.
.
.
thedivineisconstantlyatwork,leadingmenandshapingtheirdestiny—whetherornottheyareawareofit"(165).
IntheIliad,forinstance,ApollosideswiththeTrojans,andhisblowcausesPatroclustolosehisarmorandbeslainbyHector,anactwhichthenprecipitatesAchilles'sreentryintothefight.
Likewise,intheOdyssey,OdysseusisafavoritemortalofAthena,goddessofwisdomandwarfare,whooftenguideshimtosafetyandrelisheshisabilitytooutwithisopponentswithoutherhelp.
YetPoseidon,whosesonPolyphemusOdysseusblinds,despisesOdysseusandsendscountlessobstacleshiswaytostallhisprogress.
BeingpulledbetweenPoseidon'swrathandAthena'sadoration,Odysseus'spath,therefore,islargelypavedbythegods.
ThoughInmancallshimself"God'smostmaraudedbantling,"heseemsforthemostpartdisconnectedfromhisMaker,whetherasatreasuredsonortorturedorphan(53).
Heneverprays,blesseshisfoodonlyonce,andattributesmostphenomenatochance,believingthat"[t]hecomeliestorderonearthisbutaheapofrandomsweepings"(18).
Ashebelievesthathisfellowsoldiersarenarrow-mindedinthinkingthatGodisontheirside,heneitherlooksforguidancenorsupportfromasupremebeing.
Divineintervention,whetherforbetterofforworse,therefore,isabsentinInman'sexperience.
FillingthetraditionalroleofreligionandfaithinGod,however,isInman'srelationshiptoColdMountain,whichbecomesbothhistonicforwarsicknessandhisspiritualcenter.
Weseethatforhim,ColdMountainisakindofpersonalaxismundi,orworldnavel,aroundwhicheverythingrevolves,andhisjourneyacrossNorthCarolinabecomesapilgrimageaswellasahomecoming(Campbell45).
Inhisconvalescence,hestaresinto"anopentriple-hungwindow"andpictures"theoldgreenplacesherecollectedfromhome,"wherehelefthisantebellumsweetheartonhiswaytojoinLee'sarmy(1).
ForbothInmanandOdysseus,whoalso"hungeredforhomeandwife"whilebeingtossedmercilesslybywindandwave,thevisionofafuturereunionoverpowersthetemptationtogiveup,tostopinone'stracksandwasteawayonforeignsoil(I,21-22).
Obviously,AdaisvitaltoInman'simageofColdMountain,forheleavesheratitsbaseonhiswaytowar.
Alongwithnightmaresofmonstrousbeasts,composedofseveredbodypartsandbattlelitter,hedreamsofher,wrappedinmysteriousbeauty.
Inonesuchdream,hethrowshisarmsaroundherwaistandexclaims,"I'vebeencomingforyouonahardroad.
I'm16neverlettingyougo.
Never"(102).
UnlikePenelope,however,AdaisnotInman'swife;theirrelationshipismerelybuddingwhenInmaniscalledtowar,andshehasnoformaltiestobindhertohim.
WhereasOdysseushasTeiresias'sassuranceofhisreunionwithhiswife,InmanknowsthatAdamayverywellbegonewhenhereturns.
Certainlytherewillbenolotofsuitorsatherdoorstep,foralleligiblemenare"offwarring"ordead,yetsheandherfather,Monroe,awealthyCharlestonian,willlikelyhavegivenupanunforgivingrurallifeandreturnedtothecity.
AllInmancandoishopethatsheremainsandthatshewill"knowhimineveryfeature"whenhereturnsandwill"rushacrosstheyardandthroughthegateinaflurryofpetticoats"andembracehim(312).
InadditiontohisloveforAda,InmanpossessesastrongsenseofplacethatlinkshimtothelandscapeofColdMountain:Hethoughtonhomeland,thebigtimber,theairthinandchillalltheyearlong.
Tulippoplarssobigthroughthetrunktheyputyouinmindoflocomotivessetonend.
HethoughtofgettinghomeandbuildinghimacabinonColdMountainsohighthatnotasoulbutthenighthawkspassingacrossthecloudsinautumncouldhearhissadcry.
Oflivingalifesoquiethewouldnotneedears.
AndifAdawouldgowithhim,theremightbethehope,sofaroffinthedistancehedidnotevenreallyseeit,thatintimehisdespairmightbehonedofftoapointsofineandthinthatitwouldbenearlythesameasvanishing.
(65)ToInman,therefore,ColdMountainiswhatWilbertM.
Geslercallsa"therapeuticlandscape,"oraplaceof"restorativepowers.
"(735).
AsstrongasanypoulticeorbandageappliedtoInman'swounds,memoriesofhomeworktodrawoutthepaincausedbybattleandbecomeamentalsalvethatsootheshisdespair.
OneofInman'sfirstguidestothehealingcapacityofColdMountainisSwimmer,aCherokeeboywhomhemeetswhilegrazingcowsintheBalsams.
Intheiradolescentrevels,SwimmerintroducesInmantoaworldofCherokeemyth,legend,andlore:thebeliefthatanimalcharacteristics—"wheelinggrace,soarandstoop,grimsingle-mindedness"—cantransfertohumans(15);methodsofcastingspellsthatwould"producemisfortune,sickness,death"(14);andmostimportantlyofhisownbeliefthat"ColdMountain[is]thechiefmountainoftheworld"(14).
AsEdPiacentinoobserves,"BecauseofhishighregardforSwimmer,InmansubsequentlycomestoperceivetheCherokee'sbeliefsasrelevanttohisownpersonalneedsofrestoring17wholenesstohis'lostself,'"andhetakesthemonaspartofhis"religion"(4).
SubscribingtothepantheismoftheCherokeethusseparatesInmanfromtheGod-basedpracticesofChristiansandallowshimtobecomeevenclosertothelandscape.
InadditiontoSwimmer,InmanmeetsanoldCherokeewoman,withacolorlesseyeand"headasslickandwhiteasaboiledbirdegg,"whotellshimoftheShiningRocks,alandmarkonColdMountainthatisthegatewaytoalandofpeaceandplenty(197).
Eventually,InmantoolookstoColdMountainasaportaltoanotherplace,wheretheterrorsofwarandhardshipsofearthlylifeareunknown:ColdMountain.
.
.
soaredinhismindasaplacewhereallhisscatteredforcesmightgather.
Inmandidnotconsiderhimselftobeasuperstitiousperson,buthedidbelievethatthereisaworldinvisibletous.
Henolongerthoughtofthatworldasheaven,nordidhestillthinkthatwegettogotherewhenwedie.
Thoseteachingshadbeenburnedaway.
Buthecouldnotabidebyauniversecomposedonlyofwhatwecouldsee,especiallywhenitwassofrequentlyfoul.
Soheheldtotheideaofanotherworld,abetterplace,andhefiguredhemightaswellconsiderColdMountaintobethelocationofitasanywhere.
(17)Inman'sconfidenceintherenewingpowersofColdMountainissostrongthathedecides"[i]f[Ada]wouldnothavehim"hewouldcontinuetoclimbupthemountainandseeiftheShiningRocks"wouldopentohim,"andiftheywould,"[h]ewouldwalkrightoutofthisworldandkeepongoingintothathappyvalley"(312).
IffaithinColdMountainprovidesInmanwithspiritualstrength,thenhiscopyofWilliamBartram'sTravelsishis"Bible.
"Having"pulleditfromaboxofbooksdonatedbyladiesofthecapitaleagerfortheintellectualaswellasphysicalimprovementofthepatients,"InmanrealizesthatitisfullofdescriptionsoftheBlueRidge,andjustafterreadingashortpassage,hebegins"formingthetopographyofhomeinhishead"(11).
Attractedbyitspowertodescribeandconjurefamiliarimages,Inmancarriesthebookwithhimonhisjourneyhome,andalongwithhisLeMat'srevolverandafewcrumbsoffood,itbecomesanessentialiteminhishaversack.
Hedragsitwithhimacrossthestate,andthoughitbecomes"wetanddryandwetagainformonths,"itisstillintactwhenhefinallymeetsAda.
Herelatestoher"howithadhelpedsustainhimonhisjourney,howhehadreaditmanyanightbythefirelightofalonesomebivouac,"andthatinhismind,"thebookstoodnightoholinessandwasofsuchrichnessthat18onemightdipintoitatrandomandreadonlyonesentenceandyetbesureoffindinginstructionanddelight"(330).
ForInman,BartramnotonlytakestheplaceoftheBible,butbecomesarevelator,adivinerwiththemysticalqualityofpredictingandleadinghimintothefuture.
Infact,BartramlargelyspursInmantoleavethewar.
Lyinginthehospital,readingitssoothinglinesandinhalingtherankodorofdyingmen,Inman's"onlythoughtlookingontheenemywas,Gohome"tothehillsandAda(9).
So,InmandecidestodesertthearmyandtakehischancesontheroadtowardsColdMountain.
WhereasOdysseusbeginshishomecomingasadecoratedwarrior,"formidableforguileinpeaceandwar,"whose"famehasgoneabroadtothesky'srim"(XI,22-23),andleavesTroywithalegionofshipsandmen,Inmanbeginshisjourneybackto"thevasthumpofColdMountain"asadeserter,acowardlytraitorintheeyesofmany,whohaslongforgotten"theCause"andhasbecomedisillusionedwithwar(2).
Heleavesonlywithhimselfandwhatevermeagerrationshishaversackholds.
UnlikeOdysseus,whohasnumerousmentoloseonhisjourney,Inmanhasnoonebuthimself.
Inthisway,Inmanseemsquitetheoppositefromtheconspicuous,successfulOdysseus,butinfactOdysseustooisalonelyman.
AsW.
B.
Stanfordnotes:TheIliadsaysnothingofOdysseus'sprivatelifeduringtheTrojancampaign.
.
.
.
Therewasnoone,apparently,amonghisassociatesatTroytowhomhecouldopenhisheartandspeakwithoutsuspicionorcaution.
AchilleshadhismotherandPatroclustocomforthiminhistroubles.
AgamemnonandMenelaussharedthefamiliarityofbrothers.
ButOdysseuskepthisinnerthoughtsandfeelingstohimself.
IntheOdyssey,too,evenamonghisshipmatesOdysseusisalonelyfigure,morelikeCaptainAhabinMelville'sMobyDickthanthegenialprincethattheIthacanshadknownbeforethewar.
(43)InhisHerowithaThousandfaces,JosephCampbellnotesthatsuchsolitarinessisacrucialtraitoftheclassichero.
The"calltoadventure,"whichpropelsacharacterontotheheroicjourney,alsoseparateshimfromothers—lovedones,family,community(58).
Answeringthiscall,voluntarilyorinvoluntarily,"signifiesthatdestinyhassummonedtheheroandtransferredhisspiritualcenterofgravityfromwithinthepaleofhissocietytoazoneunknown"(58).
ForOdysseus,thestartoftheTrojanWarandcalltodutybeginshistwenty-yearabsencefromhome,butitisnotuntilhishomecomingjourney,whereheisoftenalone,thathisheroictraitsstandout.
ThereisnoAchillesorHectororAjaxwithwhomtosupportorcontend.
Likewisefor19Inman,NorthCarolina'sseccessionfromtheUniongoadshimtojointheranksofotherladsfromDixie,butnotuntilhisdecisiontodesertishetrulytestedasahero.
LikeOdysseus,Inman'sjourneywillbethe"axleof[his]life"(52),andtomakeithome,bothheroesmustbecomesolitarywanderers,or"wayfaringstrangers.
"Assuggestedinhissolobeginningandhisintrospection,Inman'sisolationevensurpassesOdysseus's,forInmanseemstohavelittleconnectiontootherpeople,evenathome.
AsMartinCrawfordnotes:Inmanisanoutsiderbydintoftheauthor'sfailuretoprovidehimwithanythingbutthemostfragmentaryofhistories.
WeliterallyknownothingofInman'ssocialroots;heseemstohavenofamily,community,orculturalaffiliations.
.
.
.
WediscovernothingfromthenarrativeaboutInman'scompanycomrades,menfromhiscommunitywhohavefoughtanddiedalongsidehim.
190)Asamilitaryleader,Odysseusoverseesmanymen,andasaGreekking,heenjoysaroleasrulerofagreatcivilization.
Inman,though,is"saltoftheearth,"fromAppalachia,aplace"hidden"betweenthetwomoreprominentgeographicregionsofAmerica,andheseemstohavefoughthispartofthewarinabubble,befriendingnoothersinhisunit.
Furthermore,heremembersonlyahandfulofpeoplefromhispastwithanyclarity,namelyAdaandSwimmer.
WhereasOdysseushasanimpressivelineageandafamilywaitingforhimathome,Inmanappearstobeseveredfromhisfamily,makingonlytwomentionsofthem,oncewhenheremembershisfather"drivingcowsdowntothebarnatdusk"(2),andanotherwhenhestatesthathecanborrowmoneyfromhisfamilytobuyequipmentforasawmill(344).
Heoffersnootherdetails,nodescriptionofhisboyhoodhome,nomemoriesofhismother'scooking,nothingthatatypicalsoldierwouldtendtoclingto.
Neitherdoesheoffermemoriesoftheirfuneralsorexplanationsofafeudorriftthathasalienatedhimfromthem.
Intheirobscurity,therefore,hisparentsarebasicallynonexistent,andwecanhardlyassumethattheyarewaitingforhimtoreturnhomewithopenarms.
Likewise,theonly"friend"heremembersfromhisyouthisSwimmer,andInmanhaslosttouchwithhimovertheyears.
EvenAda,withwhomInmanisobviouslyinlove,mayhaveassumedhimdeadandfledthehills.
Inman,therefore,haslivedlargelyontheperipheryofsocietyevenbeforehebeginshisjourneyhome.
Inhisseparateness,Inmanmayassumetheroleofclassichero,butifgiventhepersonalchoice,hewouldshunit.
AfterhisreunionwithAda,herealizesthat"whatheknewhemost20wantedwastodisburdenhimselfofsolitude.
Hehadbecometooproudofwalkingsingular,ofhisoneness,hisloneness"(331).
AsKatherineStriplingByernotes,"Relationshipiswhat[Inman]desires,notheroism"(116).
Likewise,Odysseusdoesnotsavorhisstationasalonemanwashedbywindandwave.
AsW.
B.
Stanfordobserves,"Odysseushadneverwishedtoleavehome.
HissoleaimintheTrojancampaignwastofinishitsuccessfullyassoonaspossible.
Hehadneverwishedtobeawanderer,ortraveler,orexplorer.
.
.
[andadmits,]'Thereisnothingworseformortalmenthanwandering'"(86).
Odysseusmayrelishtheopportunitytoprovehisheroism,buthedreadstheseclusionthatcomeswithit.
Campbellexplainsthatsucha"refusaltothecall"isnotuncommonwithheroes,butitdoesnotmeanthattheywillnoteventuallyfilltherole(56).
ThoughInmanmayrejecttheroleofhero,hisjourneyhomehasplentyofheroicepisodesthatcloselyparallelthoseofOdysseus.
WhereasOdysseus'sjourneyissplitbyasojourntotheUnderworld,Inman'sbeginsthere,inafetiddepositoryforthewoundedandforsakenofbattle,andhisfirststepinreturninghomeisakindofreversenekyia,ajourneyoutofratherthanintothehomeofdeadandnear-deadsouls.
Inman'stimeinthe"Underworld"ischaracterizedbyameetingwithanelderlyblindmanwhosellsroastedpeanutsandnewspapersoutsidethehospital.
Thisman,however,isnotagreatsageor"princeofthosewithgiftofspeech"likeTeiresias,whomOdysseusseeksintheUnderworld;neitherdoesheofferadetailedprophecyofInman'sfuture(XI,111).
TeiresiascanseeclearlythatOdysseuswillbe"shakenfrom[his]track,implacable,/inrancorforthesonwhoseeyeyoublinded"andthathewilleventuallyseethehearthfiresofIthaca(XI,15-16),butalltheblindmancansaytoInmanafterhearinghisaccountofwar,is,"Youneedtoputthatawayfromyou"(9).
AlthoughlackingtheclarityandspecificityofTeiresias'sprophecytoOdysseus,theblindman'swordsofadviceareremarkablytrue,forInman,thoughfacingphyscialimprisonementandimpedimentshisjourney,willaboveallbeheldcaptivebyhisdiscouragingthoughts.
LikeOdysseusandothermythicalheroes,Inmanmustcrossathresholdseparatingpastfrompresentandmarkingthebeginningoftheheroicjourney;andbecauseheembarksfromarepresentativeUnderworld,histhresholdisariver—theCapeFear,aflooded"smearonthelandscape"thatwas"foulasthecontentsoftheouthousepit,"butwhich,liketheStyx,mustbecrossedinordertoentertheworldbeyonddeath(65).
Growinginthemoistgroundaroundtheriverare"strangeandhairy"flesh-eatingplants,mini-Scyllasthateat"fatbackfromtheendofasplinter,"orsnapattheendofaman'sfinger(65).
Suchminiatureravenousorganismsarenota21threatbythemselves,butInmanfearsthattheirhabitat—thesurroundingbogandflatwoods—is"onlyastepawayfromlearningthetrickonagranderscale"(65).
SuchanominouspremonitionsetsthemoodofInman'sjourney—onethatwillbefilledwithscavengers,bothmenandanimalalike,hungryforhisblood.
Onthebanksofthe"broadditch"(65)isasignthatreads,"Ferry.
$5.
YellLoud.
"(66).
AfterInmandoesso,afigureasobscureasCharonappearsontheoppositebankand"set[s]outrowinghardupstream.
.
.
untilitlookedlikeheplannedtojustkeepongoing"(66).
WhentheboatmanreachesInman'sside,however,Inmandiscoversthatthedugoutis"pilotedbynoferrymanbutanapple-cheekedgirl,"whoprovestobethe"thresholdguardian,"beyondwhomis"darkness,theunknown,anddanger,"butalsothegreenhillsofhome(Campbell77).
Sheisnot,however,thetypicalguardianwhoCampbelldescribesas"morethancontent.
.
.
evenproudtoremainwithintheindicatedbounds"(78),forwhentakingInman'smoney,thegirlexclaims,"I'llstartsavingforahorse,andwhenIgetone,I'llthrowthesaddleoveritandturnmybacktothisriverandbegone"(67).
Nevertheless,sherecognizesherdutyastemporarystewardoftheriver,andagreestocarryInmanacrossthroughadelugeas"hugeandurgentasbreathfromadrowningcow"(67).
Midwayacross,theybecomethetargetsofdistantgunman,andsothrow"themselvesintotherivertoletthecurrenttakethem,bearingthemupandaway,spinningthemoffdownstream"(69).
Atthispoint,therivermimicsCharybdis,the"whirlingmaelstrom"thatOdysseusnarrowlyavoidsatsea(XII,125-126),andInmanstruggleswiththecurrentasit"boom[s]alongatthespeedofamillrace"(69).
Afterhoursadrift,however,theriverdepositsInmanandthegirlsafelyatabend.
Inmanthencompensatesherforthecanoe,andshegiveshim"directionsforfindingtheroadswest"(70).
Hesets"offagainwalking,"havingsuccessfullysurvivedhisfirsttest(70).
NotonlyisthisepisodeathresholdcrossingandoneofseveralbrusheswithdeathInmanencounters,butitalsoreinforcesInman'ssharpdesiretoreturnhome,foritillustrateshowheusestheforeignnessofhiscurrentsituationtosparkimagesofhisfinaldestination.
UponseeingtheCapeFearRiver,InmanissuddenlyremindedoftheriversintheBlueRidge,notbecausetheyresembletheCapeFear,butbecausetheydiffersomuchfromit.
ToInman,theCapeFearisnothingmorethananobstacle,awide,"shit-brownclogtohispassage,"whosewaterresembles"molassesasitfirstthickens";but"wherehewasfrom,thewordrivermeantrocksandmossandthesoundofwhitewatermovingfastunderthespellofagreatdealofcollected22gravity"(65).
Infact,theunfamiliarterrainthatInmancrossesduringthefirstlegofhisjourney—thescrubbyflatlandsofeasternNorthCarolinaandthescantyhillsofthePiedmont—notonlyencourageshishomesickness,butalsothreatenshimbyharboringindividualswhowillsignificantlyhinderhisjourneyorattempttokillhim.
TheseregionsbecomewhatE.
V.
Waltercalls"sickplaces,"anditisnotuntilInmanreachesclosertothemountainswillhebemetwithaltruismandhealinghands(qtd.
inGesler735).
AsInmaninchesclosertohomeintheseunpleasantlandscapes,hefacesmoreOdysseantrials.
AftercrossingthethresholdoftheCapeFearRiver,hestumblesuponapotentialmurderscene,whereamaniscontemplatingtossinganunconsciouswomanintoagorge.
Inmandiscoversthattheman,namedVeasey,isapreacherwho,inanadulterousact,hasimpregnatedthiswoman,druggedher,andthrownheracrossahorselikeasackofmeal,"onelimparmswinging,acascadeofblackhairbrushingtheground"(87).
Thinkingofnobetteralternative,Veaseyhasdecidedtodoawaywithherandtheshamefulreminderofhissin.
InmanallowsVeaseynosuchchance,however,forhereturnsthewomantoherbedandtiesVeaseytoatreewithanoteexplaininghisstory.
ThissceneestablishesInman'slackofmetis,orgiftforinstantaneouswisdom,forfromthemomentheseesVeasey,rockingfrom"sidetosideonthebonesofhisass"andcrying,"Lord,Oh,Lord,"Inmanisatalossforaction:"WhattodoInmanwondered.
Anotherstoneinhispassway.
Couldn'tgoback.
Couldn'tgoaround.
Couldn'tstandtherelikeapennedheiferallnight"(87).
AndafterlisteningtoVeasey'spitifulstory,"Inman[does]notknowwhattodonext,andhisthinkingseemedallgrainyandsluggishfromlackofsleepandhardwalking"(89).
Odysseus,ontheotherhand,neversuffersfromsuchaloss;heispolytropus,"themanofmanyturnings,"thegrandsonofthearchtricksterAutolykos,whoiseverclear-headedandclever(Pucci16).
WhenapproachedbyAthena,whoisdisguisedasashepherd,forinstance,Odysseusimmediatelybeginsbrewingafalsetaleofhispast,inwhichhesubtlyillustrateshisfairness—"Hereismyfortunewithme.
Ileftmysonsanequalpart"(VIII,330-31),hisabilitytoseekrevenge—"Ikilled/Orsilokhos,"who"desiredtotakeawaymyTrojanplunder"(VIII,332-34),andhisdesireforfood—"Allfamished,buttootiredtothinkoffood"(VIII,358).
Odysseus'sdefensemechanismissosuccessfulthatevenAthenaadmitshisguileistantamounttoherown:"Twoofakind,weare,/contrivers,both.
Ofallmennowaliveyouarethebestinplotsandstorytelling.
/Myownfameisforwisdomamongthegods--/deceptionstoo"(VIII,379-83).
In23OdysseusPolutropus,PietroPuccinotesthatsuchmetisandtrickery,ordoloi,allowOdysseustocontrolthethreatsofthe"empireofnecessity,"whichinclude"death,self-forgetfulness,dissemination(driftingawayforever),andlossofself"(17).
Furthermore,Odysseus'sbie,orabilitytousecunningoverstrengthaswhenheoutwitstheCyclops,isperhapshisgreatestattribute.
Inman,however,oftenmustresorttofightingtoclearhispathwayhome.
Notlongafterleavingthehospital,forinstance,heencountersthreemen,"layabouts"nearacountrystore,whostepinhisway.
ThoughInmanwantstopasswithouttrouble,theycomeathimwithfistandblade,andseembentonkillinghim.
Withhisgiftforhand-to-handcombat,however,Inman"eventuallysmote[s]thethreedowntotheirkneesinthedirtofthestreetsotheylookedlikethoseoftheRomishfaithatprayer"(58).
Victory,therefore,comesnotthroughnegotiationortrickerybutthroughbruteforce.
ThoughInmanisaskilledfighter,hedoesnotembracethechancetobrandishhisknifeorfirehisgun.
Inmostcases,hewantstodotherightthing,butherarelyhasaclearideaofwhatthatis.
Suchlackofclarity,therefore,createsloopholesinInman'ssenseofjustice,butasCampbellremindsus,"mythologydoesnotholdasitsgreatestherothemerelyvirtuousman"(44).
Andevenifitdid,aconsensusonmoralitywouldlikelyneverbeachieved,forinboththeOdysseyandColdMountain,justiceishighlysubjectiveandboundmorebycultureandcircumstancethanbyanytranscendenttruth.
TheOlympicgods,forinstance,whoareproductsofapatriarchalsociety,arguewiththeFates,divinitiesofanolder,matriarchalculture,aboutthepunishmentofOrestes,whoavengeshisfather'sdeathbykillinghismother,Clytemnestra,andherlover,Aigisthos.
TheFatesarguethatOrestescommitsmatricide,asinofthebloodline,andshouldthereforebeputtodeath.
TheOlympians,however,favorabstractjusticeandconcludethatClytemnestraandAigisthosdeservetodieandOrestesrightlyexecutesthem.
Likewise,inColdMountain,Inmanwillinglydesertsthearmy,acrimepunishablebydeath,yetheseesnoneedtocontinuefightingwhenhiswillandloyaltyaregone.
Furthermore,iftheHomeGuardfindshim,heislikelytosufferfromtheirwarpedsenseofjusticebybeingstarved,beaten,orshot,notbyreceivingafairtrial.
Justice,whetherpersonalordictatedbyhigherauthority,therefore,isambiguous.
Veasey'sfateturnsouttobedifferentthanInmanexpects.
AsInmanpredicts,thetownspeoplechastiseandexilehim,butratherthanblameInmanforruininghislife,Veaseyseekshimoutontheroadandexclaims,"Imeantothankyou.
Yousavedmefrommortalsin"24(117).
Severelyregrettingthis"reunion,"butnotwishingtokillamanwhomeanshimnoapparentharm,InmanagreestotakeVeaseyonasatravelingcompanion,andafterseveraldaysofwalking,theycometoamantryingtopryadeadbulloutofacreek:"Thebranch,hesaid,wastheirwatersource,anditsnormalneutralflavorhadtakenonacertaintartranknessthathadsenthimwalkingupitsbankslookingforthereason"(161).
InmanandVeaseyoffertohelp,andtheydismemberthebullandremoveitsseveredbodyfromthecreek,themanofferswhatseemstobeagenerousproposition:"Comeeatsupperwithus.
.
.
Andwe'veahayloftthat'sgoodforsleeping"(163).
Uponacceptingtheofferfromthisman,Junior,whose"littleroundmouth"recallstheominouseyeofPolyphemus,InmanandVeaseyunknowinglyagreetotakeamini-nekyiaintotheUnderworldofJunior'shouse,wherelustandabuseaboundandhospitalityisscarceWhenthemenreachJunior'shouse,ashacktiltingseverelytooneside,Inmanrealizestheunpleasantnessofhissituation,foragroupofharlotsandchildrenwhohavebeen"raisedwithlittlemoreguidancethanapairofferalhogs"arehishosts(164).
Thewomen,whoarevilemanifestationsoftheSirens,offertheirguestsaputridpieceofunidentifiedmeatandadramofstrongliquor,butseemmoreinterestedinconvincingthemtobesexualpartnersthaninnourishingthem.
Lila,a"towheaded,ample-haunchedthinginacottondresssothinandbleachedfromwashingthatamancouldverynearlyseethetextureofherskinthroughitsparchment-coloredfabric"(167),climbsatopthedinnertableandspreadshernakedlegsinfrontofInmanandasks,"HowaboutthatWhatdoesthatfavor"(173).
BeforeInmancanrespond,Juniorburstsintotheroomandbrandishesashotgun,whose"rawholeattheendofbarrelwasblackandenormous"andasportentousasLila'svagina(173).
Bothhumanandmetalaperturesseemagatewaytohell.
Atthispoint,InmandiscoversthathissojournwithJuniorhasbeenanuttermistake,muchliketheoneOdysseusmakesbygoingintothecaveofPolyphemus.
Junior,liketheCyclops,isclearlyasubhuman,wholivesbylawsofhisownmakingratherthanthoseagreeduponbysociety,a"lout…whodeal[s]outroughjusticetowifeandchild,/indifferenttowhattheothersdo"(IX,114-124).
AsJennyClayStraussnotesinTheWrathofAthena,Polyphemuscommits"blatantviolationsofthenormalproceduresforwelcomingstrangers"andthusseverelyviolatesoneofthemostimportantaspectsofHomericetiquette—xenia(117).
JuniorlikewisemakesnoefforttobesincerelyhospitableandstopsshortofdevouringInmanandVeaseyby25turningthemovertotheHomeGuard,whogiveshim"fivedollarsaheadforeveryoutlier"heturnsin(174).
JustbeforeInmanandOdysseusleaveonthe"chaingain,"JuniorstagesaweddingbetweenInmanandLila,inwhichthe"wordsboundanddeathandsicknesswerefeaturedprominently"(176).
Junior'sgoalinthisridiculousceremonyistohumiliateInmanandshowcasehispowertoimprisonmenandreducethem.
AswellasPolyphemus,therefore,hebecomeslikeCirce,thewitchthatturnsOdysseus'smentoswine.
Inman'ssubsequentcaptivityundertheHomeGuardprovesthelowestpointofhisjourney.
Heseesnowayoutofthispredicamentandfearsthathewillenduprottingawayinaprisonorbackinthegrimlineofbattle.
Now,morethanever,herealizesthefutilityofwaranditsabilitytostripawayhopeandmeaning:Likethevastbulkofpeople,thecaptiveswouldpassfromtheearthwithouthardlymakinganymarkmorelastingthanplowingafurrow.
Youcouldburythemandknifetheirnamesontoanoakplankandstanditupinthedirt,andnotonething—nottheiractsofmeannessorkindnessorcowardiceorcourage,nottheirfearsorhopes,notthefeaturesoftheirfaces—wouldberememberedevenaslongasitwouldtakethegougedcharactersintheplanktoweatheraway.
(177)Whentheleaderannouncesthat"youpackofshitarejustwastingourtime"anddecidestokillthecaptivesinaquickvolley,Inmanfeelsthathisfateissealed,thathisjourneyhasended,andthatColdMountainandAdawillforeverbebeyondhisgrasp.
Inman,however,isnotmortallywoundedfromthefire.
TheGuardsmenmerelyknockhimunconsciousandburyhimalongsideVeaseyandtheotherprisonersinashallowgrave.
AgainInmanhasnarrowlyescapeddeath,butheattributesitnottothegraceofagodorhisowncunning,buttopurerandomluck.
HecouldeasilybeasdeadasVeasey,whose"facewaslockedinanexpressionofnumbbewilderment"(180).
Atthispoint,Inmanismostclearlya"manofpain.
"JennyStraussClayoffersthisinterpretationofOdysseus'sname,which"canmeanboth'Suffering-much-pain'and'Causing-much-pain'"(61).
NotonlydoesOdysseusachefromhomesickness,starvation,lackofsleep,andPoseidon'smercilessantics,butmortalswhocomeincontactwithhimtoosuffergrimfates—tobedevouredbythebrutishPolyphemus,rentbynine-headedScylla,orturnedtostoneaboardship.
Likewise,Inman'sjourneyisoneofphysicalagony,wherethepangsofhungerand26noxiouswarwoundsincessantlytormenthim,buthealsoinadvertentlydragsVeaseyalongintoJunior's"cave"andeventuallyintodeath.
TheintensityofInman'spain,however,soondiminishes,andheenjoysatypeofresurrection,beginningwithasemi-burialthatparallelsOdysseus'slongslumberontheshoresofthePhaeaciankingdom,wherehelies"swollenfromheadtofoot.
.
.
scarcedrawingbreath,unstirring,deathlyspent"(V,479-81).
Likewise,Inmanfeelsthat"dying[intheground]seemseasierthannot"andresolvestoremaininthemakeshifttombuntilhewastesaway.
Awildhog,however,beginsfeedingonthenearbycarrion,andInmansuddenlywishesto"riseandbloomagain"(179).
HefreeshimselffromVeasey,who"emerge[s]fromthegroundlikeabighookedbasspulledupfromamuddylake,"andexperiencesarebirthofspiritandenergy(180).
Inman'srelease,though,isnotbythegraceofapatrongoddess,asitisforOdysseus,uponwhom"Athenashoweredsleep/thathisdistressshouldend,andsoon,soon.
/Inquietsleepshesealedhischerishedeyes"(V,517-519).
InmanoweshislifetotheinaccurateaimoftheHomeGuardandahungryferalpig.
ForbothInmanandOdysseus,thisneardeath/subsequentresurrectionprovesapivotalpointintheirjourney,forsoonafterwardstheyaregivenheartfeltguidanceandrenewedhopeofhomecoming.
OdysseusisfoundbyNausicaa,whowithAthena'surging,ushershimintothePhaeaciancitywherethekingshowershimwithgiftsandgiveshipsandmenwithwhichtosailtowardsIthaca.
Inmantoomeetsa"yellowslave,"whothoughowningnohouseofhisown,clearlydisplaysthehospitalitythatJuniorlacked(181).
Riskingbeingcaughtbyhismaster,theslaveneverthelessfeedsInman,tendstohiswounds,washeshisclothes,hideshiminthebarn,anddrawshimamapofaroutetotheBlueRidge.
InhisgenuinedesiretoseeInmanmakeithomesafely,theslavewarnshimofnearbymaraudersandinhisselflessnessrefusesInman'sofferingofcompensation.
AsEdPiacentinoobserves,"Intheslave'seyes,Inman.
.
.
isahumaninneed.
Inthisinstance,themoreadvantagedoftheparties—theyellowslave,likelyatsomepasttimevictimofdehumanizationhimselfasamemberofanoppressedrace—freelyaidsthedisadvantagedConfederatefugitive"(8).
Theslaveisthefirstinaseriesof"helpers"whomInmanmeetsaftersurvivingtheHomeGuardmassacre.
LikeOdysseus,who"undergoesvariousbirthsandisfosteredbyseveralmotherfigures"(Pucci14),Inmanmeetstwowomen,whoarereshapingsofCirceandCalypsoandrepresentationsofthe"MotherGoddess.
"Thefirstisacrone,anoldgoatwomanwholives27inthemountainsandwho"time[has]sealedaway,yet[who]isdwellingstill,likeonewhosleepsintimelessness,atthebottomofthetimelesssea"(Campbell111).
LikeCirce,thewomaniswitchlike,brewingherbsandraisinglivestock,yethergoalisnottoseduceInman,buttohelphim,andherluringismoreoutofmaternalconcernthanwomanlylust.
Sheisnotthetypicalmythologicalcronewhosuddenlymetamorphosesintoabeautifulyoungmaidenanddemandspunishmentfortheherowhoshunsher.
Rather,whenInmanlooksintohereyes,heis"surprisedtofindthattheywerewellsofkindnessdespiteallherhardtalk.
Notasoulhehadmetinsometimedrewhimoutasthisgoatwomandid,andsohetoldherwhatwasinhisheart"(218).
ThexeniaofthegoatwomanresemblesthatofEumaeus,theshepherdoftheOdysseywhoprovidesOdysseus(disguisedasabeggar)withfoodandshelter,eventhoughheisunawareofhisnobility.
Likewise,whenInmantriestofalselyexplainthathehasbeenfurloughed,buthaslosthispapers,thewomanlaughsandexclaims,"Listenhere,Ilackallaffiliation.
Idon'tcarenomorethanspittinginthatfirethatyou'verunoff"(217).
Liketheyellowslave,sheseesInmanasamaninneedandiswillingtoassisthim,nomatterwhathisbackgroundorphilosophy.
Furthermore,thegoatwomanshowsnointerestinthewarthatragesinthevalleysbelowher,where"[n]igger-owningmakestherichmanproudanduglyand.
.
.
thepoormanmean"(217).
Accordingtoher,thewaris"acurselaidontheland.
We'velitafireandnowit'sburningusdown"(217).
Withherhospitality,disgustforwar,andcaravanfullofherbs,therefore,thegoatwomanisaguideposttothenearbymountains,apersonificationofthetherapeuticlandscapewhereInmanplanstocompletehishealingprocess.
AsTerryGiffordnotes,"inthegoatwoman[Inman]meetsaprofoundlysymbolicfigureoflandscape-basedhealingqualities,"anditiswiththestrengthheregainsinherhutthathecancontinuehisjourney(4).
CalypsoandtheyoungmaidencomeintheformofSara,Inman'snextacquaintance,whohaslosthernewlywedhusbandinthewarandisraisingtheirinfantchildaloneinadarkhollow.
Likethegoatwoman,Saraexhibitsxenia,offeringInmanaplateoffoodeventhoughsheandherchildarestarving,andsaying,"I'mnotthatfargonethatIhavetotakemoneyforwhatlittleIcanoffer"(238).
BecauseofSara'syouthandbeauty,however,Inmanisdrawntohersexually.
Whenheglimpses"thefinegoldhairslyingflatandsoftagainsttheskinatthesidesofhernarrowcalves,"hewishesto"stroke[them]liketheneckofanervoushorseonewouldseektocalm";andwhenshebeginsnursingherbaby,hetries"nottolookbut[can]neverthelesssee28theroundsideofherbreast,fullandluminouswhiteinthegrainylight"(241).
SaragivesInmanachancetoactonhisdesireswhensheaskshimto"layinbedwith[her]butnotdoathingelse"(243).
AlthoughSara'srequestisinnocent,Inmancouldneverthelesstakeadvantageofhervulnerabilityandfulfillhislongrepressedlibido.
Yetheresists,andSarabecomesmoreofthepromiseofAdathananactuallover,andbeforeleavinghercabin,they"actout"asceneofdomesticserenity:"theytalkedbutlittletherestoftheevening,theysatsidebysideinfrontofthefire,tiredfromthebusinessofliving,contentandrestinghappy,andlatertheyagainlayinbedtogether"(254).
InCampbell'swords,therefore,Sarabecomes"theincarnationofthepromiseofperfection;thesoul'sassurancethat,attheconclusionofitsexileinaworldoforganizedinadequacies,theblissthatwasonceknownwillbeknownagain"(111).
SoonafterleavingSara'scabin,Inmanindeedencountershisbeloved,whohasgoneupintothemountainswithRubytosearchforStobrod,Ruby'sfather,whohasalsofallenvictimtoTeagueandtheHomeGuard.
Inmanneedsnodisguisefromagod,however,forthreeyearsofwarandsixmonthsof"exileandbrutewandering"(114)havelefthim"arankstranger.
.
.
awanderingpilgrimin[his]ownplace"(321),andAdatakeshimfora"madmanawanderinthestorm.
.
.
likelyasnottocutsomebody'sthroat"(320).
Skillwithaboworknowledgeofamarriagebed,however,donotgivehimaway,astheydoforOdysseus,forAdaasksthestrangernoquestionsbutrecognizesacertain"timberofvoice,angleofprofile"thatrevealshistrueidentity(321).
Fromthatmomenton,InmanrealizeshislongnourishedhopeofreturningtoColdMountainandAda,andaftertheconsummationoftheirreunion,heenjoystheclearmindthathassolongavoidedhim:itwaspointless,hesaid,tothinkhowthoseyears(ofwar)couldhavebeenputtobetteruse,forhecouldhardlyhaveputthemtoworse.
.
.
.
Youcouldgrieveendlesslyforthelossoftimeandforthedamagedonetherein.
Forthedead,andforyourownlostself.
Butwhatthewisdomoftheagessaysisthatwedowellnottogrieveonandon.
Andthoseoldonesknewathingortwoandhadsometruthtotell.
.
.
foryoucangrieveyourheartoutandintheendyouarestillwhereyouwere.
.
.
.
Allyoucandoisgoonornot.
Butifyougoon,it'sknowingyoucarryyourscarswithyou.
(334).
SoInmanexperiencesa"redemptionofsomekind,"provinghemaynotbe"ruinedbeyondrepair"ashehadoncethought,andhefocuseshisnewlyenlivenedattentiononthefuturewith29Ada,theirplansforpersonalenrichment,andavisionforthefarminBlackCove(334,333).
AswithPenelopeandOdysseus,however,reunionandpleasantreveriesofthefuturedonotmarktheendofthehero'sstory,forOdysseusmusteventuallycarryanoarinlanduntil"somepasserby"asks,"Whatwinnowingfanisthatuponyourshoulder";andatthatpoint,hemustmakeagreatsacrificetoPoseidon(XI,141-42).
Frazierislessforgivingofhishero,forduringthejourneyfromthepeakofColdMountaintoAda'shouseatitsbase,theHomeGuard,thistimeledbyamercilessmannamedTeague,findsInman,andoneofitsmembers,awhitehairedboy"wholookedasifhisfirstshavelaystillaheadofhim"(351),shootshim.
Uponhearingthegunshots,Ada,whoisaheadonthetrailwithRuby,turnsandrunstotheplacewhereInmanliesdyinganddreaming"abrightdreamofahome"with"[e]verythingcomingaroundatonce"(353).
Shepullshisheadintoherlap,andtheyembraceina"sceneofsuchquietandpeacethat[an]observerontheridgecouldavouchtoitlaterinsuchawayasmightleadthoseofgladtemperamentstoimaginesomeconceivablehistorywherelongdecadesofhappyunionstretchedbeforethetwoontheground"(353).
AsTerryGiffordnotes,"Thispastoraltableauisactuallyanimageof'EtinArcadiaEgo':evenattheArcadiannarrativeclimaxofthecomingtogetherofInmanandAda,deathispresent—arbitrary,unexpectedandultimatelyunavoidable"(5).
Inthisway,Inman'sfate,thoughtragicandunexpected,actuallyemphasizeshisownviewofdeath,that"itseemedasnormaltobeshotasnot,"andthatone'smoralityorredemptionhasnothingtodowithbeingkilled(327).
Duringbothbattleandhisjourneyhome,hewitnessesthousandsofmenblowntopieces–thesamementhatwouldlaterputthemselvestogetherasgrotesquechimerasinhisdreamsandtrytogoonliving,thesamementhatwouldlikelybeburiedinunmarkedgravesliketheonehepullshimselfoutof,nevertobefoundbylovedones.
Inhisill-starreddemiseInmansuccombstotherandomchancethatheseesworkingamorallyfromthetimeheleavestoenlist.
Frazierforgoesthetraditionalandreader-friendlyresolutioninordertosendagrimmessageaboutwar.
Hisloverscannotsimplylive"happilyeverafter"becausewarhasbeatenandbruisedoneofthem,somuchsothatheis"naughtbut[a]scar"inbodyandspirit(181).
Asrepresentedby"agreatnumberofcrows,oratleastthespiritofcrows,dancingandsingingintheupperlimbs"ofthetrees,thewarhasplaguedInman'smindandhasfollowedhimhometotakehislife(353).
HisfuturewithAdaisquelled,andhisheroicjourneystopsshort.
Heisnevergiventhechancetocleansehismindofbattleorre-assimilateintoalifefreefromwar,where30one'saimisnotattheheartoftheenemy.
Neitherwillheeverseea"timewhenpeopleweren'tdyingsomuch,"norgettheopportunityto"judgehimselfbyanothermeasure"(343).
HetravelssofarjusttobeshotdowninthesnowonColdMountain.
AsangryaswemaybeatFrazierfor"killingoff"hishero,themanwhoonlywantedtodoright,whoonlywantedtogohomeandstopkilling,theendingisactuallystrongerbecauseInmandoesnotclimbdownColdMountainwithAda.
IfFrazierallowsthemtoliveoutthefutureoftheirdreams,thenhemisseshisaimwithInman'sstory:thatwarmaymakemarbleheroesofsomemen,whose"glory"becomescrystallizedinthenationalimaginationforcenturiestocome,butformostsoldiers,whetheronthewinningorlosingside,theirexperienceisfarfromavictory.
31CHAPTER3"WARORPEACE,THERE'SNOTATHINGWECAN'TDOOURSELVES":ADA,RUBY,ANDFEMALESURVIVALONTHEFARMWhileInmanjourneysacrossNorthCarolina,Adaremains"cove-bound"atthebaseofColdMountain,whereshebalancesthehazy,distantimageofhersweetheartwiththeclearandpresentchallengeofrunningherfather'sfarm(Frazier139).
Thoughshehopesthatherpre-warlovewillreturn,Ada'sexperiencecannotsimplybereducedto"waitingaroundforInman";nordoesherdilemmacloselyresemblethatofPenelope,Odysseus'swifeandqueenofIthacawhomustwardoffaswarmofsuitorsknockingatherdoor.
Thoughraisedasa"belle"whoenjoystheluxuriesofaristocraticlivinginCharleston,AdaistransplantedintoAppalachia,aregionwhereclassboundariesaremoreblurredandwheremanhasnottamednatureashehasinthecitiesorplantations.
Furthermore,theCivilWarspursherservantstorunoffandclaimsmostallmenwhowouldthinkofcourtingher.
Ada,therefore,findsherselfaloneinthehills"inpossessionofclosetothreehundredacresofsteepandbottom,ahouse,abarn,outbuildings,butnoideawhattodowiththem"(22).
Shemust,asAppalachianwriterArtieAnnBatesputsit,"roothog,ordie"(53).
WithAda'sstory,therefore,Frazierrevisestheplantationromance,oftenstarringagenteelgirlandagallantladwhoaremarriedinthefinalchapters.
Thoughculturedandfair,Adaessentiallyoutgrowsherselfasabelleandbecomesastrong,able,andindependentwoman.
ShetooforgesafriendshipwithRuby,alocalgirl,thatchallengestheplantationromance'sidealrelationship—thatbetweenahusbandandwife.
Inthebeginning,FrazierpresentsAdaasastereotypicalSouthernbellewhowouldmorelikely"die"ratherthan"roothog"ifleftaloneonafarm.
EvenAdaadmitsherweaknessandwonders"howahumanbeingcouldberaisedmoreimpracticallyforthedemandsofanexposedlife"(22).
ThebelleoftheOldSouthwasmorefittositonapedestalthanworkinthefields.
AsAnneGoodwynJonesdescribesher,theSouthernwomanwasthe"crownofDixie,"symbolofthegloriousSouthwherefertileplantationfieldsspreadformilesandhonorandvirtueruledasitdidfortheknightsanddamselsofmedievalEngland(qtd.
inPrenshaw73).
OrinThomasNelsonPage'swords:Shewasindeedastrangecreature,thatdelicate,dainty,mischievous,tender,God-fearing,inexplicableSoutherngirl.
Withherfinegrain,hersilkenhair,hersatiny32skin,hermusicalspeech;pleasure-loving,saucy,bewitching—deepdownlaythebedrockfoundationofinnatevirtue,piety,andwomanliness,onwhichareplantedallforwhichhumannaturecanhope,andallwhichitcanaspire.
(qtd.
inPrenshaw75)ThewomenJonesandPagedescribearetheheroinesofthemalepastoraltradition,madepopularintheplantationromancesoftheantebellumera,suchasJohnPendletonKennedy'sSwallowBarn(1832),whichidealizestheSouthasanEdenanddepictssouthernwomenas"flowers"inthegardenofmalepatriarchy.
AccordingtoElizabethJaneHarrison,this"gardenarchetype.
.
.
servedthesouthernwhitepatriarchy—includingitsmaleauthors—forovertwohundredyearsasaneffectivemetaphorofownershipofbothlandandlabor"(2-3).
Thewomen,though"decorations"inthegarden,werealsoviewedaspossessions,justlikethe"virgin"landthatthemenfarmed.
Afterpickingtheappropriatebeau,orhavinghimpickedforher,forasGeraldO'HarainformsScarlet,"[f]orawoman,lovecomesaftermarriage"(36),aSouthernwomanshouldfurthermoresubscribetotheCultofTrueWomanhoodandassumewholeheartedlytheroleofwifeandmother.
Herplacewasinthehome,asRhettButlerputsit,"awayfromthisbusy,brutalworld"(678).
TheCivilWaruprootstheSoutherngarden,however,andliteraturebeginstoemploy"damned"Yankeesandfreedblacksasthreatstothearistocratic,agrarianidealandthepurityofthebelle.
InGonewiththeWind,forinstance,ScarlettO'Haraispluckedfromherlifeofleisureandcourtshipbysecessionandfacesaseriesofobstaclesthatjeopardizehervirtue,aswhenaloneUnionsoldierrobsTaraandwhensheisattackedbyruffiansonanAtlantabackroad.
Oldermatriarchs,inextricablyboundtotheirroleasplantationmistress,oftendie,asdoesScarlett'smother,oftyphoid,andCaptainMarsden'smother,whoburnsupwithhertorchedmansioninAllanGurganus'sOldestLivingConfederateWidowTellsAll.
InherbookTheSouthernBelleintheAmericanNovel,KathrynLeeSeidelnotesthatAftertheCivilWar,novelssetduringtheperiodofthewarandReconstructiontendedtoallegorizethebelleasarepresentativeoftheSouth.
.
.
.
TheEdenicGardenhasbeendevastatedbywarandReconstruction;thepureflowerofthatGarden,thebelle,suffersfromtheharsh,chaotic,forcessetloose;increasingly,thebelle'ssufferingislikenedtothatoftheSouth.
(18)33Thenewgenerationofromancenovelists,writingduringReconstructionandespousingthethemeof"reconciliationbetweentheSouthandNorth,"envisionedamorepositivefateforthebellebyweddinghertoa"northernsoldierorgentlemantosymbolizethehealingoftheUnion"(Harrison3).
Eveninthisscenario,theSouthernwomancouldassumeherroleinapatriarchalsystemaftermovingawayfromthedevastated,defeatedSouth.
Ada,however,followsnoneofthesepaths;shedoesnotwitherawayinherownhelplessness;sheisnotravagedbyinvadingYankeesorslavesrunawayfromtheirplantations;andshemarriesnonorthernbeau.
Infact,onceshemovestoAppalachiaandsubsequentlylosesherfather,hersignificanceasaSouthernbelleisdiminished,andshebecomesaheroineofthe"femalepastoraltradition,"whichElizabethJaneHarrisondescribesasanattempttosubvertthemalepastoralby"rescuingthefemaleprotagonistfromherroleasplantationmistress"(13).
Inthefemalepastorals,suchasthosebyWillaCather,EllenGlasgow,WilmaDykeman,MargaretMitchell,andHarrietteArnow,Harrisonnotesthat"landscapeitselffiguresprominentlyinthetext,butinsteadofrepresentingSouthernwomanhood,itis're-visioned'asanenablingforceforthewomanprotagonist.
Herinteractionwithlandchangesfrompassiveassociationtoactivecultivationoridentification"(10).
Ada,likethesewomen,extendshercosmosfromindoorstooutdoorsandbecomesan"activeagent"onthefarm.
Sheprovesthatsheismorethanjusta"lovelyshell"byfindingasenseofplaceandpurposeinAppalachiaandsurvivingbothwarandwilderness(Harrison10;Seidelxv).
CrucialtoAda'ssuccess,however,isRubyThewes,alocalgirl,whoashernamesuggests,ishardenedbutalsovaluable.
Even"saltier"thanInman,RubyhasfendedforherselfinthehillssinceherfatherabandonedherasasmallgirlandthusbecomesanearthmotherforAdabyteachinghermountainlore,gardeningtechniques,andmethodsofcanningandpreservingfood.
AstorehouseofAppalachianways,RubyteachesAdahowtotamethemountainlandscapethatistakingoverherfather'sfarm.
Rubymakesitclear,however,thatsheisnotanurseorservant,aEurycleia,ormoreappropriately,amammy,whowilllaceupAda'scorsetandemptyhernightjar,butthatsheisanequalpartnerintheirattempttorevivethefarm.
ByemphasizingRuby'sroleinAda'sdevelopment,Fraziercombinestwocategoriesoffemalepastoral:theplantation(asdescribedabove)andthe"poorwhite"or"folk"tradition,which"re-imagine[s]thepoortenantfarmer[ormountaingirl]asanindependentlandowner[orpartnerinafarm]"(Harrison13).
Inthiscombination,Frazierhighlightsacross-class/cross-regionalbond34betweenthelowlandandhighlands,areconciliationthatisnot,however,sealedbyamarriageasinthepastorals,butinafemalefriendship.
AdaandRuby'srelationshipchallengesthemalepastoral,inwhichlittletimeisdedicatedtofemalefriendshipsoutsideofsuperficialsocialcircles.
AsElizabethJaneHarrisonnotes,"Inmaleversionsofthepastoral,bondingbetweenwomenwoulddigresstoomuchfromtheromanticplot"(60).
Womenwiththeirhoopskirtsandcharmingpersonalitiesmaycolorthestory,buttheyarenonethelessflat,superficialcharacterswhosesolepurposeistobecomethewifeofthenovel'shero.
"Byrevisingandreversinggenderroles"andrescuingwomenfromsuchconfined,emptystations,Harrisonsuggeststhatfemalepastoralists"rejectthecodeofchivalrycentraltosouthernsociety"(46).
AsKatherineStriplingByerobserves:Inthesectionsdevotedtokitchen,garden,animalsandtheendlessdomesticandagriculturalchorestowhichAdaandRubymustdevotethemselvesinordertosurviveonAda'sneglectedfarmduringthedislocationsoftheCivilWar,Fraziershowshimselfcompletelyathome.
ThisisjustasmuchhisworldasthewildernessthroughwhichInmantravels.
Thesearethescenesinwhichthenovel'stendernessandhumanityaremostmemorablyrevealed.
(116)AdaandRuby'srelationship,asByer'sanalysisimplies,isnotbasedonfashion,gossip,andpotentialbeaus,butonsurvival;therefore,theyareabletoforgeabonddeeperthanonemadeoverteacakesandmintjuleps.
ThoughAdaandRubyarenotthesoleheroesofColdMountain—asaremanywomeninfemalepastoralssuchasScarlettO'Hara,AlexandraBergsonofWillaCather'sOPioneers!
,LydiaMcQueenofWilmaDykeman'sTheTallWoman,DorindaGrayofEllenGlasgow'sBarrenGround,andGertieNevelsofHarrietteSimpsonArnow'sTheDollmaker—theirstoryisdefinitelynotsecondtoanyofthemen's.
Whereasmalecharactersinplantationromances"stealthescript"fromwomen,themenofColdMountain,namelyInman,sharethescriptwiththewomenonthehomefront(Harrison43).
Atfirst,AdaandRubyappearthe"dividedheroine"ofthedoppelgangermotif—"thestrong-willedprotagonistandherdependentfoil"thatPeggyWhitmanPrenshawdescribesasafavoredmotifinsouthernwriting(81).
Adaisthepamperedbelle,navetosurvivalinthewilderness,andRubyisthewisemountaingirlwhobecomesAda'sfriendanddrivesherlikeamuleuntilshesucceeds.
Unlikemostfemalepairs,suchasScarlettandMelanieinGonewiththeWind,however,AdaandRubydonotremainseparated.
Intheendtheybecomefused,35understandingeachother'sthoughtsandpredictingeachother'sactions,buildingasynergysothattheyfunctionmoreasonewomanthantwo.
BeforeRubyappearsandmakespossibleAda'stransformationintoaheroineofthefemalepastoraltradition,Adaisahelplessoutsider,aloneonthefarmshehasinheritedfromherrecentlydeceasedfather.
Wefirstseeheratoddswithherfoodsource,agardenthatshouldbeburgeoningwithvegetablesbutisinsteadbreedingweeds:Shelookedoffacrosstheyardtothekitchengardenwherethebeansandsquashandtomatoesborevegetableshardlybiggerthanherthumbdespitethefullnessofthegrowingseason.
Manyoftheleaveswereeatenawaytotheirveinsbybugsandworms.
StandingthickintherowsandtoweringoverthevegetableswereweedsthatAdacouldnotnameandhadneithertheenergynorthehearttofight.
(20)Adaisobviouslynogardener,butevenifshewere,shewouldbeincapableofpreparingtheharvest,for"[c]ookeryhadbecomeapressingissue,"and"shewasperpetuallyhungry,havingeatenlittlethroughthesummerbutmilk,friedeggs,salads,andplatesofminiaturetomatoes"—mealsthat"[f]orallthesatisfactiontheygaveher,shemighthavejustbreathedair"(21,27).
Thefarmthatonceproducedthemeatandvegetablesthatfilledhertableisnowgoingtoseedbecausethehiredhelphasrunofforgone"warring"(39).
LiketheYankeetroopsinvadingtheSouthernlowlands,naturebecomesAda'sfoeinthishighlandsetting,wherethesurroundingflora,whose"junglelikerateofgrowth"threatenstoencompassthehouseas"completelyasthebramble-coveredpalaceofSleepingBeauty,"graduallypensherin(39).
Theimageofafairytaleprincessemprisonedinhercastleisaptatthispoint,forAda'sonlychanceofsurvivalseemstobeifsomeonewillrescueher.
Whilewastingawayinher"castle,"AdaquicklyrealizesthatherlistofaccomplishmentsasaCharlestongirl—"filledwithopinionsonartandpoliticsandliterature.
.
.
.
AfaircommandofFrenchandLatin.
.
.
.
Apassablehandatfineneedlework.
Acompetencyatthepiano.
.
.
.
Theabilitytorenderlandscapeandstilllifewithaccuracyineitherpencilorwatercolor"—aresuperficialandfutiletalentswhenputtouseonafarm(22).
These"skills"givehersomepleasure,"butnotenoughtocompensateforherrecentrealizationthatshecouldnotweedarowofyoungbeanplantswithoutpullinghalfofthemoutalongwiththeragweed"(22).
Adadisplaysthisfaithlessnessinherformer"attributes"bybeginningto"shed"herbelle"skin,"an36actshewillcontinuethroughoutthenoveluntilsheacquiresa"wantofdelicacyin[her]aspectandcostume"andassumesthespirit,clothing,andphysicalstrengthrequiredforfarming(257).
Herfirstactofvoluntarytransformation,inwhichsheabandonsthehairstylescurrentlyinvogue,however,accentuatesmoreofherhelplessnessthanherbuddingresilience.
SinceMonroe'sdeath,herhairhasbeenincreasinglyfulloffarmdebris,andshelosesherpatienceforthe"updos"ofhighsociety(25).
Sherealizesthat"[s]hecouldgoaboutlookinglikeamadwomaninabookplateanditdidn'tmatter,forshesometimeswentuptoaweekortendayswithoutseeinganothersoul"(25).
Physicalappearance,socrucialtoaSouthernladyofhertime,becomesofminimalconcern,andthoughtheimageofAdaoverher"marble-toppedwashstand"withloosedhairfullofleavesisratherpitiful,itisalsooneofherfirststepstowardsfreeingherselffromtheconstraintsofsociety(25).
By"lettingherhairdown"andexhibitingalackofconcernforherappearance,sheshowsthatsheisturninghereyesfromCharlestonandfocusingthemonthefarm,whichisblindtobraidsandcurls.
AddingtoAda'sdilemmaisthefactthatsheislivinginaforeignregion,whichis,accordingtoherCharlestonfriends,"aplaceofwildernessandgloomandrainwhereman,woman,andchildgrewgauntandbrutal"andwhere"[o]nlymenofgentryaffectedunderdrawers,andwomenofeverystationsuckledtheiryoung,leavingthecivilizedtradeofwetnurseunknown"(42).
TheCharlestoniansobviouslysubscribetothepopularhill-folkstereotypeofthetime,onethatwouldlaterbeutilizedbylocalcolorwriterssuchasMaryNoillesMurfreeandRebeccaHardingDavistocreatea"mythical'Appalachia'—acivilizationfabricatedduringthelate19thandearly20thcenturiesasacounterpointtoAmericanmodernity"(Crawford185).
HistorianMartinCrawfordnotes:Isolated,fatalistic,fearful,andpronetoinexplicableboutsofviolence,theSouthernmountaineersofferedlate19thandearly20th-centuryAmericansthereassuringimageof"otherness,"apsychological-culturalyardstickwithwhichtomeasuretheirownincreasinglyanxiousandstatus-consciouslives.
(185)Ada'sneighbors,especiallySallyandEscoSwangerwholiveinnearbyNoCreekCove,hardlyfitthisnegativestereotype,buttheynonethelessseemstrangetoAdaintheiradherencetosuperstitionand"oldsigns"(35).
Intheir"otherness,"however,theSwangersbecomeafoilnotforAda'shighbreedingbutforherhelplessness.
SheturnstothemforsupportafterMonroe'sdeathandimmediatelyrealizestheirself-sufficiencyandtoughness.
AsshedoeswithRuby,who37appearslater,AdaassociatestheSwangerswiththelandscapeinwhichtheylive.
Esco,"tallandthinwithatinyheadandagreatshockofdrygreyhairwhichroacheduptoapointlikethecrestonatitmouse,"hasdark,stronghandsthatAdalikenstotheboardshecutsfromtrees(33).
Sally,longexposedtolifeinthemountains,is"shapedroundineveryfeature"with"skin.
.
.
aslucentandshinyasatallowcandle"and"greyinghair.
.
.
hennaedtothecolorofthestripedownamule'sback"(33).
Herpantryisfullofpreserves,chutneys,andcannedvegetables,andherporchhangsfullofleatherbritches,dryingforwinterconsumption.
AndindeedwhenAdavisitsthemafterMonroe'sdeath,theyarebreakingandstringingbeans,showingaskillatgardeningandputtingupfoodthatAdalacks.
In"ColdMountainDiary,"FrazierdescribesthecommunitytowhichEscoandSallybelong:Fewerthan5percentoftheirkindownedslaves,andmostofthemneverworkedforanyonebutthemselves.
Theyweremembersofasmall,oldeconomy,existingintheseamsbetweenthetwogreatincompatiblepowers.
Idon'tknowatermforwhattheywere—perhapsarough,redneckversionofJefferson'sagrarianideal.
Theylivedbyfarmingalittlebitoftheirownland,andbyopen-rangeherdingofcattleandhogs,byhuntingandfishing,gatheringandgleaning.
Itwasaveryoldwayoflifethathadnurturedhumanbeingsformillennia,alifedependentonsparsepopulationsandlargetractsofcommonland.
Andoninternalmatttersaswell:thelimitationofdesire,stability,makingdo,ahealthysuspicionofchangeforitsownsake,extremeindependenceofthoughtandaction,reluctancetoacknowledgeauthority.
Beneathitall,ahintofdeepearthspirituality.
(3-4)ThislifestyleisinstarkcontrasttotheoneAdaisaccustomedto,forshegrowsupinthemidstofoneofthe"greatincompatiblepowers";butasshelingerslongerinBlackCove,shefindsherselfbecomingmoreliketheSwangers,likethenativeAppalachians—growingandkillingherownfood,buildingherownfences,assuminga"deepearthspirituality,"makingherselfstewardoftheland.
Thoughlandscape,war,andculturecontributetoAda'sisolation,Adafeelsmostalonebecauseshehaslostherfather,Monroe,forwhomshehasbeena"knowledgeablecompanion.
.
.
alivelyandattentivedaughter"(22).
Untilhisdeath,Ada'smostimportantpurposehasbeento38attendtohim,listeningashereadsexcerptsfromEmersonandWordsworth,paintingstilllifesforhim,playingsonatasforhimonthepiano;asalovingandloyalchild,sheadmitsthatshewouldhave"follow[edhim]toLiberiaifheasked"(41).
AlthoughnottoAfrica,AdadoesfollowhimtoBlackCove,NorthCarolina,wherehemovestohealfromconsumptionandtofinda"mountainchurchofhisdenominationlackingapreacher,reasoningthatusefulworkwouldbemoretherapeuticthan[the]reekingsulfurwater"ofhighlandresorts(39).
AtthebaseofColdMountain,wherehefavorsthe"picturesquesetting,thelayoftheland"(45),hesettlesandbuildsafarmthatis"moreofanideathanalivelihood"(22).
Hedoesnot,however,becomea"mountainman,"forhehireshelpand"rents"slavestoplowthefieldsandtendthelivestock,andhebuildsalargehouse—"tightlycoveredinwhitewashedclapboardsoutside,darkbeadboardwallsinside,adeepporchallacrossthefront,attachedkitchenextendingfromtheback,agreatbroadfireplaceinthesittingroom,andwoodstovesinthebedrooms,ararityinthemountains"—toreplacethecrudelogcabinthathadhousedtheformerowners.
Andevenafterthewarbegins,heandAdaliveacomfortablelife,notmuchdifferentthantheonetheyleadinCharleston.
Theircontentmentends,however,whenMonroediesquietlyunderthepeartreeintheyard,afavoritereadingplacewhereAdaleaveshimwhenshegoestopaintthe"newlyopenedblossomsonarhododendronbythelowercreek"(29).
Whenshereturns,heisdead,witheyesandmouthopenandfleshthatis"completelyinert"(29).
Selfishly,shewishes"thatshecouldhavegonebeforeMonroe,thoughsheknewinherheartthatnaturehasapreferenceforaparticularorder:parentsdie,thenchildrendie.
Butitwasaharshdesign,offeringlittlerelieffrompain,forbeinginaccordwithitmeansthatthefortunatefindthemselvesorphaned.
"(29).
JustasInmannotesthathisjourneyhomewillbethe"axleofhislife,"soisMonroe'sdeathforAda,foritpropelsherfirstintohelplessnessandthenintoindependence(55).
Symbolically,Monroe'sdeathrepresentsAda'sbreakfrompatriarchyandaristocraticroots.
RepresentativeoftheOldSouth'smale-dominatedstructureandtherelianceofwomenonmen,thefather/daughterbondisacommonthemeinantebellumplantationromances.
InTheSouthernBelleintheAmericanNovel,KathyrnLeeSeideldescribesthefirstfictionalbelle,BelTracyofJohnPendletonKennedy'sSwallowBarn:[Bel]ismotherlessandhasafatherwhodotesonher.
Sheisexuberant,abitvain,andrathernave.
Sheistalentedasahorsewomanandskilledinmusic.
Proudof39heraristocraticheritage.
.
.
.
Shelteredbyherfather,shehasnomothertoinstructheraboutwhattoexpectfromlife.
Sheisfinallyrescuedfromherfantasiesbyastalwartlad,andthenovelendswiththeirmarriage.
(3)Likewise,Ada'smotherdiesduringchildbirthandleavesherwithapamperingfatherwhobringsheruptobeculturedandfairandcompletelydependentuponhim.
OnceMonroedies,however,thelikelihoodofa"stalwartlad"rescuingherandrenewinghertiestopatriarchyisslim.
Asmentionedbefore,mostavailablesuitorsarefightingindistantbattles,andAdahasnointerestinreturning"assomedesperatepredatoryspinster"toCharleston,whereshehasbeen"dreadfullyboredbysuitors"andhas"foolishlysquanderedthefleetingfewyearsofcourtshipwhenyoungladieswereelevatedtotheapexoftheirculture,andmenkneltindeferencewhileallofsocietystoodatattentiontowatchtheirprogresstowardmarriage"(49).
Furthermore,andmostimportantly,sheisinlovewithInman,abeauwhoishardlydashingorpatriarchal,andtogethertheyagreethattheydon'tgive"twohoots.
.
.
astohowmarriageswerenormallyconducted.
Theywoulddoastheypleasedandruntheirlivesbytherolloftheseasons.
.
.
.
Theywouldgrowoldtogethermeasuringtimebythelifespansofasuccessionofspeckledbirddogs"(344).
AsJanZlotnikSchmidtobservesofAdaandRalph,theloversinEllenGlasgow'sVeinofIron,AdaandInmandreamofbecominga"newAdamandEve.
.
.
tovivifyasurvivalethic,andconstructanewpastoralandaredemptivelegend,"onethatdoesnotrelyonpatriarchyorconventionasitsfoundation(qtd.
inHarrison39).
InadditiontoMonroe'sdeath,Ada'ssubsequentbattlewiththe"macassared"rooster,whoattacksherwhensheisdesperatelysearchingforeggsundertheboxwoods,representsherbreakfrompatriarchy(25).
Withhis"goldenhelmetoffeathers"and"fluffedandswelled"neck,theroosterisabarnyardequivalentofaplantationsire,thepaterfamilius,andwhenAdastumblesuponhiminthehedge,hehisabouttoshowcasehismaledominancebypreparingtotreadahen(25).
UpsetatAda'sintrusion,therooster"launche[s]himselfatherface,twistingintheairsothathearrive[s]spursfirst,wingsfloggingaway"andmanagestoslashherwristwithhisspur(25).
Pursuingherasshetriestoescape,heseizesherdress,againshowinghismaledominance,andstrikesatherlegs.
ThismockrapesceneprovesthatthemalenessthathadonceguidedandprotectedAda,nowattacksherandrunsheroff.
Thoughaproductofpatriarchy,sheiswoundedandslightedbyit.
40TheinitialimageofAdaasdisplacedbelle,severedfrompatriarchyandstrugglingonamountainfarm,setsthestageforherdevelopmentasafemalepastoralheroine.
"[T]hegroundbeneathherhands"thatisatfirstanenigmaticenemybecomesbytheendofthenovelasourceofherstrength,andnotonlycanshesuccessfullytacklevegetablegardens,butshecanalsofelllargetrees(21).
HistorianJohnInscoecommentsthat,"Itisratherrefreshingtoseeahome-frontheroineasunabashlyhelplessasAdais"inthebeginning(332).
ButevenmorerefreshingisthefactthatAdadecidestostayinBlackCove,evenbeforeshemeetsRuby.
Mostbelleswhohavelosttheirfathersandarealoneandstarvingwouldlikelyreturntotheplacetheyhavebeenraised,tofamiliarwaysandfaces,butAdarejectsCharleston,whereshewouldbeinthemidstofacrumblingsocietyandbeleagueredcityandwouldhaveto"attachherselftofriendsofMonroe'sinsomemildlydisguisedparasiticrelationship"(49).
"Evennow,"shethinksassheweighsheroptionsafterMonroe'sdeath,"returntoCharleston"is"abitterthought.
.
.
There[is]nothingpullingherbackthere"(50).
ShechoosesinsteadtoestablishnewrootsinAppalachia,adecisionthatiscrucialnotonlybecauseitrepresentsherrejectionof"belleness"butalsobecauseitprovesthatsheisformingasenseofplace,acharacteristiccrucialtothefemalepastoralheroine.
Harrisonpointsoutthattheoriginofthe"female'pastoralimpulse'"is"oneinwhichthefemalecharacter'sidentityistiedtoplace"(84).
ScarlettO'Haradreamsofreturningtoandrevivingthe"redearth"ofTara(1037);AlexandraBergsonestablishes"autonomy"ontheprairiewhereherfamilymoves"throughanempoweringbondwithnature"(Harrison9);LydiaMcQueenfindsstrengthfromthesurroundingmountainstocopewithahusbandgonetowar,aretardedchild,andthehardshipsofprovidingforherfamily.
Likewise,AdaformswhatCaroleGanimcallsan"identificationofbodyandmind,ofnatureandspirit,aparadigmofthefemaleunionbetweentheconcretenessofthephysicalworldandthepsychological,philosophical,moral,andpoliticalexpressionofthisearth-basedexistence"(qtd.
inHarrison84).
WhereasCharlestonholdsnopromiseforAda,themountainssurroundingherfarmdo,andevenassheisstrugglingtosurvive,shesensesthatfromthemountainsshemaybeabletotaptheenergyandinspirationneededtocontinue:"[T]hisplace,thebluemountains,seemedtobeholdingherwhereshewas.
Fromanydirectionshecameatit,theonlyconclusionthatleftheranyhopeofself-contentwasthis:whatshecouldseearoundherwasallthatshecouldcounton"(50).
Theconfinementofthemountainsistherefore41simultaneouslyfrighteningandstrengthening,andAdarecognizesthatthehillsframingBlackCoveharborsomethingdeeper,moremysterious,morepowerfulthanCharleston:Likingthisclouded,humpedland,shefoundwasanaltogethermoredifficultandsubtlerthingthanappreciatingthecalmvoiceofCharlestonduringaneveningwalkalongtheBatterywithFortSumteroffinthedistance,thegreatwhitehousesatone'sback,palmettosrattlingtheirleavesinaseabreeze.
Incomparison,thewordsthiscantedlandscapespokewerelesshushed,harsher.
Thecovesandridgesandpeaksseemedclosedandbaffling,agoodplacetohide.
(27)Likewise,thewomanAdaeventuallybecomesismoreprofoundthantheoneshehasbeenbeforemovingtoAppalachia.
ComingoutofthelandscapethatissostrangelyappealingtoAdaisRuby,thepersonwhowillteachherhowtominethemountains'resources,discovertheirsecrets,andultimatelyrevivethefarm.
AppearingasAdaissittingbythewindowand"wonderingsincerelyandwithsomeconfusionwhathernextactionshouldbe,"Rubyisnotastereotypical"knightinshiningarmor,"butsheisnonethelesstherescuerwhowillbecomethe"rootinghormone"thatAdaneedstosurvive(51).
AsRubynearsthehouse,Adanoticesthatsheisthinasachickenneckexceptacrossthepointsofhersharphipbones,whereshewasofsubstantialwidth.
.
.
.
Asastructure,shewasstableasadragsled,lowinhercenterofgravitybutknobbyandslightinalltheextremities.
Sheworeasquare-neckeddressofcoarsehomespuncloth,thedustycolorofbluethatcomesfromdyemadeoftheinsideofragweedgalls.
.
.
.
Shewasadarkthing,cordedthroughtheneckandarms.
Frail-chested.
Herhairwasblackandcoarseasahorse'stail.
Broadacrossthebridgeofhernose.
Bigdarkeyes,virtuallypupil-less,thewhitesofthemstartlingintheirclarity.
Shewentshoeless,butherfeetwereclean.
Thenailstohertoeswerepaleandsilverasfishscales.
(51).
ThefactthatAdacomparesRubytonaturalfloraandfaunaandfarmimplements—"chickenneck,""dragsled,""fishscales"—provesRuby'sconnectiontonature,acharacteristicthatDannyL.
Millercalls"[t]hefirstandmostobviousattributeofwomeninAppalachianfiction"(3).
"Mountainwomenlovethelandandlongforthesecurityitprovides,"Millernotes,"landisperhapsnature'schiefmanifestation,andthemountainwomanisalmostinseparablefromboth42natureandearth"(7).
EventhemostromanticizedAppalachianheroines,younggirlsthatmorecloselyresemblethestylizedSouthernbellesofplantationromances,likethoseinthefictionofMaryNoillesMurfree,aredescribedas"flower[s]orblossom[s]"(Harrison86).
ThoughRubyisyoung,shehasmoreofthespiritofaweedthanafragilebloomandresemblesmoreofthegritty,tough-as-nailsAppalachianheroineslikeGertieNevelsofTheDollmaker,who,asElizabethJaneHarrisonnotes,isphysically"large[enough]todressinmen'soverallsandshoes,"andwhobecomestheemotionalcenterofherfamilywhentheymovefromKentuckytoDetroit(86).
WelearnthatRuby'sclosenesswithnaturecomesfromrawexperienceinthewilderness,forwhensheisjustayounggirl,herfather,a"notoriouslocalne'er'do-wellandscofflawcalledStobrodThewes"(82),leavesher"highanddry"onthemountaintofendforherself(84).
Withnomotherorrelativestoturnto,Rubysetsouttoforageforfoodandevenaskforcharityfromneighbors,asAdahasbeenforcedtodo.
Atherlowestpoint,whensheisstarvingandstuckinabriarpatch,Rubyhasanintense,almostmythical,bondingexperiencewithnature:shewasspokentobyavoiceinthedark.
Itstalkseemedtoarisefromtherushandsplatteroftherivernoise,butitwasnocannibaldemon.
Itseemedsometenderforceoflandscapeorsky,ananimalsprite,aguardianthattookherunderitswingandconcerneditselfwithherwell-beingfromthatmomenton.
(83)Rubyhassinceturnedtothis"guardian"asheronlykinandmostsignificantfriendandhaslivedalifeofpuresurvival,virtuallyisolatedfromthejudgingeyeofsocietythatAdaisbroughtupunder.
Whenshemakesalistofherachievements,shedoesnotlikeAdamentionany"cultured"skill,butvaluesmost"thefactthatbytheageoften,sheknewallfeaturesofthemountainsfortwenty-fivemilesinanydirectionasintimatelyasagardenerwouldhisbeanrows"(84).
Inheryearsofsolitarywildernessliving,Rubylearnstotapnature'ssecrets,allowinghertogrowfoodsuccessfullyaswellashealbodies.
Shegainsakeenknowledgeofplants'medicinalproperties,andwithgoldenseal,yarrow,ginseng,andothernativeplantsshecanmakepoulticestocurewoundsorteastocomfortachesandpains.
WhenAdaasksherhowshehascometoknow"suchthings,"Rubyrepliesthatshehaslearnedwhatsheknowsintheusualway.
Alotofitwasgrandmotherknowledge,gotfromwanderingaroundthesettlementtalkingtoanyoldwomanwhowouldtalkback,watching43themworkandaskingquestions.
SomecamefromhelpingSallySwanger,whoknew,Rubyclaimed,agreatmanyquietthingssuchasthenamesofallplantsdowntotheplainestweed.
Partly,though,sheclaimedshehadjustpuzzledoutinherownmindhowtheworld'slogicworks.
Itwasmostlyamatterofbeingattentive.
(106)ThisstorehouseandmountainknowledgeandskillinhealinglinkshertotypicallyolderwomeninAppalachianliterature,likeGrannyYoungerofLeeSmith'sOralHistoryandAuntGenevyofEmmaBelleMiles'SpiritoftheMountains.
Ofthesewomen,Milescomments,"Ihavelearnedtoenjoythecompanyoftheseoldprophetessesalmostmorethananyother.
Therangeoftheirexperienceiswonderful;theyare,moreover,repositoriesoftriballore.
.
.
.
Theyarethenurses,theteachersofpracticalarts,thepriestesses,andtheirwisdomcommandstherespectofall"(37).
Ruby,therefore,servesAdainthesamewaythatthegoatwomandoesInman;yetshebecomesapermanentratherthantemporaryforce.
"Capableofanyandallfarmtasks,"includingcooking,RubyoffersherservicestoAda,andafterAda'saccepts,shebecomestrulyinvestedinthefarmandAda'ssuccessasitsco-steward.
Oneofherfirsttasksistomakea"to-do"listoftaskstoreadythefarmforwinter,whichiscomposed,asAdanotes,"ofverbs,allofthemtiring.
Plow,plant,hoe,cut,can,feed,kill"(80).
RubytooenrollsAdainatypeof"Survival101,"forwhichRubyherselfisthe"principaltext"(106).
ShebeginsimmediatelyquizzingAdaabouthersurroundings:"Namemefourplantsonthathillsidethatinapinchyoucouldeat.
HowmanydaystothenextnewmoonNametwothingsbloomingnowandtwothingsfruiting"(106).
Furthermore,toequipthefarmwithfoodandtoolsthatitlacksorwillnotbeabletoproducebeforethefirstfrost,Rubysetsouttotradewiththeneighborsfor"asideofbacon,fivebushelsofIrishpotatoesandfourofsweet,atinofbakingpowder,eightchickens,variousbasketsofsquashandbeansandokra,anoldwheelandloominneedofminorrepair,sixbushelsofshellcorn,andenoughsplitshakestoreroofthesmokehouse"(79).
EvenmoreimportanttoAdathanRuby'sknowledgeofnatureandabilitytonegotiatetradewiththelocalsisherbeliefinAda,that"anyoneelse[Ada]mighthirewouldgrowwearyandwalkawayandletherfail.
Rubywouldnotletherfail"(81).
Unlikethe"diversevarietyofcharacters"whomInmanmeetsonhisjourney,RubybecomesasteadypresenceinAda'slife,providinghermorethanjustameal,aplaceofrespite,orasmallboostofencouragement(Martin183).
44ThoughRuby'sdedicationtoAdaresemblesthatofEurycleia,whocoversforPenelopewhileshe(un)weaveshertapestry,orMammy,whofollowsScarletttoAtlanta,ranting,"Ahbeenknowin'yousenceAhputdefustpa'rofdiapersonyou.
Ah'ssaidAh'sgwineter'LantawidyouandgwineAhis"(548),Rubyisnoservantorslave.
SheisAda'sguide,friend,andprimalmother,butshedemands"somethingontheorderofequality"(52).
Fromthebeginningshemakesitclearthatsheis"notexactlylookingtohireout.
I'msayingifI'mtohelpyouhere,it'swithbothusknowingthateverybodyemptiestheirownnightjar"(52).
ShefurthermorechoosestoliveintheBlack'soldcabin,homeofMonroe'sformerhiredhelp,notbecausesheisinferiortoAda,whowillremaininthe"bighouse,"butbecausesheisfiercelyindependentanddoesnot"relishtheideaoflivingwithanyone"(71).
AsMartinCrawfordobserves,AdaandRubyformakindofwin/win,symbioticrelationship,eachgivingandeachtaking:AdafurnishesRubywithahome,apurpose,andevensomeattemptedmeasureoffemininerefinement.
RubyrevealstoAdatheskillsnecessaryforsurvivalinthemountains,includingthecrucialabilitytooperatethelocalbarter-exchangeeconomy.
Bothwomenforgeemotionaltiesthatcompensatefortheirrespectivefamilialdeficiencies,their'kinlessness,'asFraziertermsit.
(188)The"kinlessness"CrawfordmentionsstrengthensthebondbetweenAdaandRuby,forasAdanotes,Rubyhasalsobeena"motherlesschildfromthedayshewasborn"(51).
Ruby,likeAda,hasnevermethermother,andStobrodhas"littlerecollection"ofher(84),soshehasneithermemorynorsomeoneelse'sdescriptionuponwhichtobuildanimage.
Ada,however,hasMonroe's"courtshipstory,"whichRobertO.
Stephensnotesisthemostfrequentlytoldtypeoffamilylore,especiallyinlong-establishedfamilies,suchasthoseofSouthernsagas(10).
Thestoryoflove,rejection,andultimatereconciliationbetweenMonroeandAda'smother,Claire,therefore,notonlygivesAdaasenseofpastbutalsolinkshertotheSouth'spatriarchalsystem,whichislargelyfoundedonman'spursuitofwoman.
RubyshowsthatshehasnouseforsuchahierarchicalsystemwhenshekillstheroosterthathasfloggedAda.
Infact,ringingthecock'sneckandstewinghimsothat"[by]dinnertimethemeatoftheroosterwasfallingfromthebone,andgobsofbiscuitdoughthesizeofcatheadscookedintheyellowbroth"isthefirst"chore"thatRubydoesonthefarm(52).
Bydoingsoshenotonlyturnsanoisomebirdintoameal—ataskthathaseludedAda—butshealsoprovidesa"cleanbreak"frompatriarchyforAdaasshewringstherooster'sneck.
Neartheendofthe45novel,whenAdaandInmanarereunited,RubyfurtherreassuresAdathatlove,notneed,shouldguideherdecisionwhetherornottostaywithhim.
"Warorpeace,"shesays,"there'snotathingwecan'tdoourselves.
Youdon'tneedhim.
.
.
"(325).
FromthemomentRubyarrives,then,sheimpliesthroughherwordsandactionsthatthesurvivalofboththefarmandthewomenwilldependuponafemaleforce,notamaleone.
ThepresenceandguidanceofRubyfurtherprecipitatesAda'stransformationfrombelletofarmer,forsoonafterRubyarrives,Adacontinuestoridherselfofremnantsofherpast,bothbychoiceandforce.
RubymakesitclearthatAdawillhavetochoosebetweensuchtokensofaristocracyasherpianoandcabriolet,"[t]hetwothings[Ruby]hadmarkedinherinventoryoftheplaceasbeingvaluableandportableandinessential"(74).
ShefurtherinformsAdathatthe"finedapplegelding"willbe"reduce[d].
.
.
todrawingaplow"nomatterwhichitemAdachoosestokeep.
"He'llhavetoworkouthisfeedlikeanybodyelsearoundhere,"shesays,initiatingAdaintoherphilosophyoffarmlivingwhereeverypartofahomesteadhasapracticalratherthanaestheticplace(74).
Afterdebatingfortwodays,Adachoosestobarterthepiano,reasoningthat"therewouldbelittleroomforartinhercominglifeandwhatplaceshehadforitcouldbeoccupiedbydrawing.
Thesimpleimplementsofpencilandpaperwouldanswerherneedsinthatregard"(74).
AfterAda'sdecision,Rubyimmediatelyturnsthepiano,aniconofleisureandhighSouthernsociety,intosustenance—"apiedbroodsowandashoatandahundredpoundsofcorngrits"—andshefurthersAda'seducationinself-sufficiency(75).
ThoughAdagivesupthepianomorebyRuby'svolitionthanherown,shesubsequentlyshedsherbellenessbycalculatedchoice,aswhenshedonsthescarecrowinoneofherballgowns,"adressofmauvesilk,trimmedinlacedyedtomatch.
Itwascutcloseinthewaisttosuitherslimness.
Monroehadboughttheentireboltofclothfromwhichthedresswasmadesothatnooneelsemightwearthatcolor"(109).
WhenRubygivesherthe"pleasantandsomehowchildliketaskofmakingabigdoll,"AdarejectsMonroe'soldclothesbecauseshedoesnotwanttoseeeveryday"theeffigyofMonroestandinginthefield"(188).
Instead,shechoosestomakeaneffigyofherformerself,forthisgown,whichrepresentsherlifeasaCharlestonbelle,is"theoneshewantedtoseestandinginafieldthroughrainandshine.
"(189).
PerhapsthemosttellingsceneofAda'spartofthenovel,thisscarecrowconstructionshowsAda,likeRuby,makingsomethingpracticaloutofsomethingaristocraticthatismorefordecorationthanpragmaticuse,andshowsherpresentself,wearinga"fadingprintdressandastrawbonnet,"instarkcontrast46withthegirlshehasbeen,somuchsothatshewonders"ifanobserverstandingoffonJonasRidgeandlookingdownintothecovewouldchooserightifaskedtopickthescarecrowfromthetwofiguresstandinginthefield"(189).
Furthermore,andmostsignificantly,thecolorofthedress,whichincertainlightiscalled"ashesofroses,"suggeststhatAdaisaPhoenixwhoisarisingoutofthelimitationsofyoungSouthernladyhoodtobecomeastronger,moreself-sufficientwoman,onemoreaptlyakinto"thecolorofanoldshuck"thanroses(189).
Adashowsthatsheisnolongera"strawgoddess,"asKatherineLeeSedieldescribesthebelle,butawomanwithmoredepth,morepotential(164).
Eventually,Adaevenseestheimpracticalityofwearingadress.
FollowingRuby'sadvice,AdaputsonapairofMonroe'soldpantswhen,neartheendofthenovel,theyclimbColdMountaintoburyStobrodandhiscompanion,Pangle.
"Idon'trelishthefeelofawinterwindblowingupmydresstail,"RubyproclaimswhenAdalooksperplexedattheideaofwearingtrousers.
ButAdaquicklyseesthebenefitofpantsassheishuntingaturkeyandrealizesthat"shewasgladsheworebritches,fortryingtobestealthyinlongskirtsandtheirunderlyingpetticoatswouldbeimpossible,likewalkingthroughthewoodsflappingabedquiltaround"(318).
Anditisinthese"britches"whenAdaisreunitedwithInman,whotoohastransformedintoapersonhardlyrecognizable.
SeeingInmanrekindlesherloveforhim,butitalsoemphasizesthatsheisnottheAdahehasknownbeforeleavingforwar:"Shewantedtotellhowshehadcometobewhatshewas.
Theyweredifferentpeoplenow.
Heneededtoknowthat"(336).
AsJohnInscoenotes,"bytheendofthenovel,[Ada's]ownlifeisexpanding,withmorescopeandgreaterrange,sothatbythetimesheandherloverarereunited,shehasundergoneatransformationfullyasprofoundasthatinflictedonInmanbythetraumasofwar"(337).
Wearingpants,therefore,isnotonlyapracticalchoiceforAda,butonethatrepresentshertransformationfromabellewhowearsafrillygowntoahunter/gathererwhowearstrousers.
AndthoughshestilllovesInman,shecanfilltheroleofproviderthatamanhasoncefilled.
OtherchangesinAdaaremoresubtle,aswhenshebeginstoaddthephaseofthemoontoherdrawingsinadditiontothetimeanddateorwhenshebecomesimpatientwithliterarycharactersthathavebeforeintriguedher,wishingthat[theycouldbe]moreexpansive,notsocrampedbycircumstance,"asshehasbeeninherformerlifeasabelleinCharleston(259).
Shealsobeginstoassociatephenomenalessandlesswithmetaphorsandmorewithreality.
WhenshefirstmeetsRuby,sheviewsthe"signs"as"anexpressionofstewardship,ameansoftaking47care,adiscipline"(103),butbytheendofthenovel,inalettertoInman,shenotesthatnaturaloccurrenceshaveceasedtohavesuchmeaningforher.
"Workinginthefields,"shewrites,"therearebrieftimeswhenIgototallywithoutthought.
.
.
.
Shouldacrowflyover,Imarkitinallitsdetails,butIdonotseekanalogyforitsblackness.
Iknowitisatypeofnothing,notmetaphoric"(9).
ThislatterviewisclosertotheonethatRubyholds.
RubydoesnothavetheformaleducationthatAdadoes,sowhensheseesakettleofbubblingapplebutterora"room"madeofflatrocks,shedoesnot,likeAda,seetheMacbethwitchesorthesymbolforpi;sheseesamealandshelter.
Shedoesnotlinknaturaloccurancestoliteratureorhistory,buttoagreat,highlyorderedcycle.
WhenAdaandRubystumbleacrossasolitaryheron,"staringsoheedfully"intotheriver,forinstance,AdaimmediatelythinksofNarcissusandtellsRubya"briefversionofthetale"(150).
Ruby,however,rejectstheanalogyandsays,"Thatbird'snotthinkingabouthimselfatall.
.
.
.
He'sthinkingaboutwhatotherthinghecanstabandeat"(150).
Thefoodchain,notmythology,therefore,ishowRubyrelatestothisscene,afactthatdistinguishesherself-raisinginthewildernessfromAda'spamperedchildhood.
Likewise,whenAdasuggeststhatdogwoodleavesturnredearlierthanothertreesbecauseof"chance,"Rubyquicklycriticizesherhypothesisbysayingthat"peopleliketolayoffanythingtheycan'tfathomasrandom"(107).
Ruby,ontheotherhand,surmisesthat"dogwoodandsumacmaybeturnredtosayeattohungrystrangerbirds"thatwillingesttheirseedsandspreadthemformilesaroundintheirdroppings(107).
Ruby,therefore,possesesaDarwinianphilosophy—thatnatureisneitherstagnatenorundecipherable,butismorelikeanevolvingpuzzlethatcaneasilybeassembledwithcarefulobservation.
ThoughAda'stendencytomakeanalogiesispoetic,Ruby'slessonthateverythinginnatureisorderedisonethatiscrucialtoAda'sdevelopment,foritgivesAdasomethingtolatchonto,ahopethatshetoowillbeabletotapnature'ssecrets,predictitsdoings,andbecomeself-sufficient.
AccordingtoRuby,"aworldproperlyputtogetherwouldyieldinhabitantssuitedtotheirlivesintheirassignedplacethattheywouldhaveneitherneednotwishtotravel"(192).
ThoughAdawouldhaveatonetimechallengedthisidea,shedoesnot"botherarguing[withRuby],forshefiguredthatherlifewasmovingtowardaplacewheretravelandimportedhatswouldfiguresmall"(192).
Furthermore,Ruby'slessonisonethatInmanfailstolearn,forattheendofallhiswarringandwandering,hestillbelievesthatlifeisgovernedbyrandomchance,andheflailsaround,tryingtomakesenseandfindpurpose.
48Besidestheexchangeofknowledgeandtheteacher/studentrelationship,AdaandRubysharebondingexperiencesthatmorecloselyresemblethoseofbestfriendsorsisters.
Inonesuchscene,Adaproposesahaircontestafter"watchingRubyabsentmindedlyplaitRalph'stailinintricatepatterns"(191).
ThecontestisawayforAdatooffer,asMartinCrawfordsuggests,somekindof"femininerefinement"forRuby(188),whohas"neverseenthebackofherheadbefore"(192).
AnothersuchincidentoccurswhenAdaandRubyclimbintothebarnloft,adiversionthatresemblesthechildhoodramblingsofAdaandhercousin,Lucy,whotogetherwouldholeupinhaystacksandgiggleforhours.
WhenRubyseesthatAdaisconcernedabouttheappropriatenessofsittingIndianstyle,shesays,"IcandothisbecauseIhaveneverbeenproper,andyoucandoitbecauseyouhaverecentlyquitbeingso"(227).
Intheselight-heartedscenes,bothRubyandAdavalidateeachother.
BybraidingRuby'shair,AdaaffirmsthatRubyisawoman,thoughshehashadtoworklikeamanallofherlife,andRuby'selationoverherhernewhairstylesuggeststhatsheneedstheconfirmation.
Ruby,too,assuresAdathatsheissuccessfullymakingatransformationfrombelletofarmer.
ThefactthatRubybecomesmorefeminineandAdalesssoalsoemphasizesakindofcompromiseintheirrelationshipandsuggeststhattheyarenotthepolaroppositesastheyareinthebeginning.
Bytheendofthenovel,AdaandRubyhaveforgedafriendshipasdeepandstrongasAdaandInman'slove.
AdamakesitcleartoInmanthat"[w]hatevercomestopassbetweenyouandme,Iwant[Ruby]tostayinBlackCoveaslongasshecaresto.
IfsheneverleavesIwillbeglad,andifshedoesI'llmournherabsence"(337).
AsMartinCrawfordnotes,"Bytheendofthetale,thelivesoftheSouthernlowcountry-turnedupcountrybelleandthepoorbutinfinitelyself-reliantmountainwomanareinextricablyjoined.
AdaandRubyhavebecomevirtuallyoneperson.
.
.
"(189).
TheirrelationshipdevelopslikethoseofcharactersinthenovelsofEllenGlasgow,avanguardinthefemalepastoralmovement.
InTheMillerofOldChurch,GlasgowdescribesMollyandBlossom:Therelationofwomantomanwasdwarfedsuddenlybyanunderstandingoftherelationshipofwomantowoman.
Deeperthanthedependenceofsex,simpler,morenatural,closertotheearth,asifitstilldrewitsstrengthfromthesoil.
.
.
theneedofwomanforwomanwasnotwritteninthesongsandhistoriesofmen,butintheneglectedandfrustratedliveswhichthesongsandthehistoriesofmenhadignored.
(qtd.
inHarrison33)49InGlasgow'sBarrenGround,DorindaandhermaidFluvannashareasimilarexperience:"Theaffectionbetweenthetwowomenhadoutgrowntheslendertieofmistressandmaid,andhadbecomeasstrongandelasticasthebondtheholdsrelativestogether.
Theykneweachother'sdailylives;theysharedtheoneabsorbinginterestinthefarm"(qtd.
inHarrison33).
Likewise,AdaandRuby"outgrow"therolesofteacherandstudentandheroineandfoil.
Thelongertheyknoweachother,thelessdifferenttheybecome,andtheirsistherelationshipthatpermeatesthenovelasdeeplyasdoesthetraditionallovestorybetweenawomanandaman.
Inthiswoman-to-womanfriendship,Fraziercontinuesthedreamoftheearlyfemalepastoralists,who,asElizabethJaneHarrisonnotes,"envision[ed]newclassrelationshipsandstresse[d]notindividualbutcooperativeaction"(10).
ThoughthetransformationbelongstoAda,thestoryisnothersalone.
Rubynotonlyteachesherthebasicsoffarmingandself-sufficientliving,butshesuccessfullylinksAdatoAppalachia,crossingsocio-economicandregionalboundaries,andbuildsherconfidenceinbecominga"tallwoman.
"Andthoughintheend,bothwomenbecomemothersandRubymarries,ironicallyassumingtherolethatAdashouldplayasabelle,shedoesnotenterintoaconventionalpatriarchalsystem,forasgoverningforceinhermarriage,shegivesherhusbanda"footinthebackwhenthatwasneeded"(354).
Nordoesshelessenhervisionforthefarm—"oneofplentyandhowtogetthere"(339).
Intheend,therefore,Ada'sandRuby'sisstillastoryoffemaletriumph.
50CHAPTER4TO"COMEBACKFROMSOMETHINGLIKETHEDEAD":STOBROD,THETRICKSTER,ANDTHEWONDER-WORKINGPOWEROFMUSICInterwovenwithInman'shomecomingandAdaandRuby'ssurvivalonthefarmisthestoryofStobrod,Ruby'sscoundrelfatherwhoabandonshertoenlistinthewar,deserts,andreturnsafinefiddleplayer.
FraziermodelsStobrodafterthetraditionaltricksterfigureofmythandfolktale,onewhooftenassumestheroleofthief,rogue,orbuffoon,andforwhom,asanthropologistPaulRadinobserves,"noethicalvaluesexist"(133).
Inhisfailureasaparent,selfishness,andblatantdisregardforothers,Stobrodeasilyfitsthismold,yetasafiddlerandmusicalstoryteller,heexhibitstheother,morepositivesideoftrickster—thatofculturehero.
Radinspeaksoftrickster'sduality:Tricksterisatoneandthesametimecreatoranddestroyer,giverandnegator,hewhodupesothersandwhoisalwaysdupedhimself.
.
.
.
Heknowsneithergoodnorevilyethehisresponsibleforboth.
Hepossessesnovalues,moralorsocial,isatthemercyofhispassionsandappetites,yetthroughhisactionsallvaluescomeintobeing.
(xxii)Likewise,Stobrodisa"destroyer,""negator,"andhedonistwhoabandonshisyoungdaughterinthemountainsandridesofftopleasehisfancy.
Yetinhisabilitytomakeartfromexperience,toinspireothers,andenrichculture,heisvitallyconstructive.
Musicbecomesforhimastrongandguidingforce,andthroughitherecountsthestoriesofwar—thefearofbattle,thediscomfortofsleepingontheground,thesorrowofdefeat—andinthisway,hevalidatesthelivesofsoldiers,likeInman,whodiebeforethesurrender.
Furthermore,hebecomesaniconofAppalachia,hisfiddletuneshelpingtodefinearegionandpeople,bothinsubjectandstyle.
Hissurvivalintheend,therefore,celebrateshis"redemption"throughmusicandhisroleascreatorandpreserverofhistoryandculture.
Hemaybethenovel'smostenduringhero.
Stobroddoesnotappearuntilthelatterthirdofthenovel,butwegetathoroughdescriptionofhimthroughRuby,whodescribeshimasa"notoriouslocalne'er-do-wellandscofflaw"whofrequentlyleaveshometoparty,dance,anddrink(82).
Asafather,Stobrodisclearlyadisgrace.
The"home"hecreatesforRubyandhimselfis,asRubysourlynotes,"littlebetterthanaroofedpen":51Itwastinyandhadaboutittheairofthetemporary.
Abouttheonlythingdistinguishingitfromagypsycaravanwasitslackofwheelsandfloor.
Shehadsleptonakindofminiatureloftplatform,justashelf,really.
Shehadanoldtickformattressthatshestuffedwithdriedmoss.
Becausetherewasnoceiling,onlythegeometricalpatternmadebythelappedundersidesoftheroofshakes,Rubyawokemanyamorningwithaninchofsnowatopherpileofquilts,blownbythewindbetweenthecurlededgesoftheshakeslikesiftedflour.
(82)NotonlydoesStobrodexposehisdaughtertotheelementsintheirmake-shifthovel,buthealsodeprivesheroffood.
AsRubytellsAda,"Feedingherselfwas[hers]todoassoonasshewasoldenoughtobeheldaccountableforit,whichinStobrod'sopinionfellcloseafterlearningtowalk"(82).
ToStobrod,Rubyisnotacherishedchild,butan"inconvenience"hecouldeasilylivewithout(82).
Hegivesnothoughttoherwell-being,andwhenheleavesforwar,hetakeswithhimthe"oldhinnytodobattle"andleavesRubywithnomeansto"plowthesorryfields"(84).
Hecannoteven"recalltheseasonithadbeenwhenshearrived"(85),andRubyrecognizes:Ineverwasanythingtoyou.
YoucameandwentandIcouldhavebeenthereornotwhenyougotback.
Itdidn'tmuchmatteronewayortheother.
IfIhaddiedonthemountain,youmighthavewonderedaweekortwowouldIshowup.
Likeonecoondogofamany-numberedpackmissingwhenthehornblowsanddawncomes.
Justthatmuchregretandnomore.
(269)StobrodtreatsRubyinmuchthesamewayasPaptreatsHuckFinn—notreallyasanotherhumanbeing,muchlessarelative—andRubyispracticallyanorphanevenwhileStobrodliveswithher.
Though,asRubyadmits,Stobrod"neverlaidahandtoherinanger,"he"hadneverpattedherheadorputhishandtohercheckinamomentofkindness"either(270).
Stobrod'sapathy,therefore,seemsevenafirmerblowthanhisfist.
Stobrod'sfailureatparentingemphasizeshisselfishnessandloveofthematerial,twohallmarktraitsofthetrickster,particularlythatofprimitivesocieties.
Rubyinsightfullyobservesthat"ananimalwithamemorywasaboutherfather'sloftiestexpressionofhimself"andthat"hemighthappilyhavetakenupdwellinginahollowtree"(82).
Radinnotesthattrickstersintheirbaseststateare"amorphous,instinctualandunintegrated"andaredefinitelypre-human,ifnotpre-animal(133).
Radinfurtherdescribestricksteras"aherowhoisalwayswandering,whoisalwayshungry,whoisnotguidedbynormalconceptionsofgoodorevil,whoiseitherplaying52tricksonpeopleorhavingthemplayedonhim"(155).
Such"lifestyle"isreflectedinthetitleofDonaldDavis'scollectionofAppalachianJacktales:"JackAlwaysSeeksHisFortune.
"Similarly,theWinnebagotrickster,Wakdjunkaga,travelsaroundtheworldonlytoseekpleasure,andheissounconsciousthathebelieveshisbodyisdisconnectedfromhismind.
Inoneparticularstory,hetricksaflockofducksintoclosingtheireyessohecanwringtheirnecksandroastthemfordinner.
Beforeenjoyinghisfeast,however,Wakdjunkagabecomessleepyandinstructshisanustokeepwatchandpreventanywould-bethievesfromeatinghisdinnerwhilehetakesanap.
Uponwakingup,however,Wakdjunkagarealizesthathisduckshavebeenreducedtobonesandgoesontopunishhisanusbythrustingapieceofburningwoodintoits"mouth.
"Obviously,Wakdjunkagafeelsthepainheistryingtoinflictonaseparateentityandexclaims,""Ouch!
Ouch!
Thisistoomuch!
"(Radin18).
ThisepisodeillustratesthatWakdjunkagarespondsonlytothemostbasicofimpulses–pain,hunger,fatigue—andthoughheisatrickster,heisnot"smart"enoughtorecognizethathisanusispartofhisbody.
Likewise,Stobrodliveslargelytosatisfyhisid,particularlyhisvoraciousappetiteforliquor.
Evenafterhebecomesamusician,heseeksahedonisticlifestylewith"acollectionofheavilyarmedoutliers"wholive"inadeepcaveofthemountainlikefreewillsavages,"wishingonlyto"huntandeatandlayupallnightdrunk,makingmusic"(226).
Stobrod,likemanytrickstersofmythologyandfolklore,isalsoathief.
Hermes,theGreektrickstergod,forinstance,"isthetruepatronofallrobbery,whetherperpetratedbyheroesinthegrandstyleorbypoordevils"(Otto108).
Asthe"ingenious"and"crafty"one,heplaystricksonhisbrotherbystealinghiscows,andthegodsentrusthimwiththetaskoffreeingIofromhundred-eyedArgusandconsiderhimasameanstosecureHector'sbodyfromAchilles(Otto104).
Likewise,Jack,theAppalachiantrickster,isknownas"thecleverthief,"aswhenhelearnshowtorobfroma"trioofexquisitelyuglybrothergiants"andgoesoffstealingcows(Sobol,"ThousandFaces"92).
Whileothertrickstersoftenstealtobenefitothers,outsmartthe"badguy,"orevengetagoodlaugh,Stobrodusuallystealsbecauseheistoolazytoprovideforhimself.
Furthermore,hisknaveryrarelyinvolvesoutwittingothers,butisusuallyasimplecaseoftakingwithoutasking.
Ratherthangrowhisowncorntomakehismoonshine,forinstance,Stobrod"wouldgooutwithatowsackonmoonlessnightswhentheearswereripeandstealcorn,"fromwhichhewoulddistill"agreasyyellowliquor.
.
.
unmatchedinrawnessandpotency"(83).
Hisnameevenresultsfromhisaffectionforlooting:asRubyexplains,herfather53is"amansosorryhegothisnicknamefrombeingbeathalftodeathwithastobafterhewascaughtstealingaham"(234).
Aftermovingtothecave,Stobrodandhisfellowoutliersbecomeabandofthieves.
Inoneepisode,theyraidalocalplanter'shousetopunishhimforowningslavesandthusstartingthewar:TheyhadcomedownonthefarmatnightfallandtiedWalkerandhiswifetothestairrailsandtakenturnsslappingWalkerabouttheface.
Theyhadgonethroughtheoutbuildingsandcollectedallthefoodtheycouldeasilyfind—hamsandmiddlemeat,quantitiesofcrockedgoods,sacksofmealandcorngrits.
Fromthehousetheytookamahoganytable,silverflatwareandcandlesticks,beeswaxcandles,apaintedpictureofGeneralWashingtonoffthediningroomwall,Englishchina,Tennesseestoreliquor.
Theyhadsincedecoratedthecaveupwiththeplunder.
Washingtonproppedinanicheofthewall,candlesinsilverholders.
TablesetwithWedgwoodandsilver,thoughmanyofthemhadeatenalltheirlivesfromtableservicemadeentirelyofgourdandhorn.
(264)SuchpiraticalanticslinkStobrodandcompanytoHermes,the"godofjollyandunscrupulousprofit"(Otto109).
AsclassicistWalterOttonotes,Hermes'sroleasthiefcarriesadoublemeaning—oneinvolvingbothprofitandloss:"Ifonemanbecomesrichinatwinkling,anotherbecomesapauperinatwinkling.
Themysteriousgodwhosuddenlyputsatreasuretroveinaneedyman'sway,assuddenlymakestreasurevanish"(109).
Clearly,Stobrodandhisfriendsfeelthattheyarethe"needy"oneswhomustshiftpowerfromthegenteeltothelowlybyhumiliatingWalkerandmakinghima"pauper.
"Intheirminds,therefore,theyaremakingupfortheunfairfactthattheCivilWarisa"richman'swarandpoorman'sfight.
"Suchsubversiveanticsarecommontotricksters,whoeitherseektoprotestaparticularsocialcustomorbelongtoasubalternculture.
RobinHoodfamously"stealsfromtherichtogivetothepoor.
"Wakdjunkaga,theWinnebagotrickster,alsosatirizeshisownculturebydressingaschiefandcommittingcountlesssocialtaboossuchascallingafeastatthevergeofawarpartyandbreakingthesacredwarbundle.
AsPaulRadinnotes,"Wehavehere,inshort,anoutletforvoicingaprotestagainstthemany,oftenonerous,obligationsconnectedwiththeWinnebagosocialorderandtheirreligionandritual"(152).
John,theslavetrickster,alsoprotestsagainstthelargersocialevilofhumanbondagebyoutwittinghismasterandsubvertingtheoppressive54hegemonythathisraceissubjectedto.
Stobrodandhisfriends,however,actmorelikebulliesthanwilynonconformers,andtheirattemptatvigilantejusticeinvolvesmorebruteforcethantrickery.
Theirexpeditionturnsintoanunleashedshoppingspreeforprovisionsanddecorationsthatemphasizestheirbasenessandloveofpleasure.
CrucialtoStobrod'sabilitytopilferishisliminalness.
Asanoutlier,hehasremovedhimselfromthewarandsociety,andthereforehelivesonaperipherywherehecaneasilystealaway.
"LikeHermes,whooperatesontheboundarybetweengodsandmenandbetweenthelivingandthedead,Stobrodlivesontheedgeofcivilizationwherehecanbothlivelikeananimalyetenterintothehumanworldtoplunder.
HebecomeslikearavenousraccoonthathasjustfoundatasselingcornpatchandalsoliketheagileHermes,who,protectedbyNight,is"capableofbreakingintorichhouses…anddoinghisbusinesstherenoiselessly"(Otto115).
InclassicistKarlKerenyi'swords,"Likeeveryothertrickster,Hermes,too,operatesoutsidethefixedboundsofcustomandlaw.
Ihavedescribedhisfieldoroperationsasa'noman'sland,asealedoffHermeticregionbetweenthefixedboundsofproperty,wherefindingandthievingarestillpossible'"(185).
Asmentionedbefore,though,StobrodlacksHermes's"nimble-nessandsubtlecunning,"andheisquicklycaughtathisowngamebyhiskeenerdaughterwhonoticesthatcornhasbeenmissingfromthecribandsetsatraptocatchthethief(Otto104).
Inhisdupability,Stobrodbecomeslikemanytricksters,asourceofcomicrelief.
IntheabovementionedstoryaboutWakdjunkagaandhisanus,Wakdjunkagaissimultaneously"sly"and"stupid,"andhisinvoluntarysado-masochismspursboththeaudiencetolaughandWakdjunkagatoexclaim,"Correctly,indeed,amInamedFoolishOne,Trickster!
"(Radin18).
Whenrealizingthathehasbeenoutwitted,Stobrod,however,doesnotannouncehisstupidityorevendeviseaplanofescape,buthenonchalantlyleansupagainstthecribwall,"[c]asualasatravelerproppedagainstaroadsidetreewaitingforastagetocomeby,whilingawaythetimeabsorbedinhisownthoughts"(224).
ThesubsequentexchangewithRubyisadditionallyhumorous:HelookedatRubyandgrinnedandsaid,Theyhellfire.
—You'verunofffromthefighting,nodoubt.
—Iwasowedafurlough,beingaheroasIwas.
—You—EverybattleIwasin,Iledthecharge,Stobrodsaid.
55—I'veheardittoldthattheofficersliketorunthegreatestshitheelstothefore,saidRuby.
Theygetshutofthemquickerthatway.
(224-25)ThoughStobrodhasfailedasacornthief,henonethelesstriestotrickRubyintobelievingatalltaleabouthiswarexperience,buthercoldnessandbluntresponsemakehimseemanegotisticalbuffoon.
Atthesametime,however,hisblaséattitudeandridiculousanecdotegivehimacertainroguishcharmthatnegatestheseverityofhiscrime.
Withthishumorousepisode,FrazierassuresusthatStobrodisnotthesamekindofvillainasTeagueorJunior.
Hisgreedisnotforviolence,andthoughhehasneglectedRuby,hedoesnotactivelyseektoreducehumanity.
Stobrod'samusingcapturethrustshimintoAdaandRuby'slife,andhisreunionwithhisdaughteraffordshimwhathethinksisasure-firewayofbeingcaredforinhis"old-age.
"Withoutofferinganapologyforstealingthecorn,ormoreimportantlyforbeingsuchapoorfather,Stobrodasksfora"promiseoffood,adrybarnloftinbadweather,andmaybenowandthenalittlemoney"(269).
HetriesinvaintoconvinceRubythathehasdonehis"best"towardher,andmakesexcusesforhisincompetentparentingskillsbysaying,"Timeswashard"(269).
Unfooled,Rubysnaps,"Youdidn'tdoathingatallotherthanwhatsuitedyou"(269).
Accurately,sherealizesthatthenandnow,Stobrodisconcernedonlywithhimself.
Thoughstillselfish,StobrodreturnstoRubyadifferentmanthanheiswhenheridesoffontheirmuletofighttheYankees.
Notlongafterbeingsnaredinthecorncrib,heshowcasestoAdaandRubyhisnewtalentforfiddling,whichhehasacquiredduringthewar.
Rubyremindshimthat"[b]eforethewaryounevershowedmoreinterestinfiddlingthanwouldberequiredtogetafreedrinkforplayingatadance,"andhereplies,"SomesaynowIfiddlelikeamanwildwithfever"(230-31).
Heexplainsthat"[t]herevisioninhimhadcomeunexpected.
.
.
nearRichmondinthemonthofJanuary,1862"whenamanaskshimtoplayforhisdaughterwhohasbeenfatallyburnedwhiletendingtothefire.
Unsatisfiedwithhis"repertoireofsixtunes,"alllivelyandfitfordancing,thegirlaskshimtomakeupasongmoreappropriatetotheoccasion,onethatwouldmoregentlyeaseherpassing(231).
ThesimplerequestofadyinggirlbecomesforStobrodlikeadooropeningtoanotherself,forhecomposesonthespotasombermelodyinthe"frighteningandawfulPhrygianmode"thatcomfortsthegirlandmakeshermother"burstintotearsandr[u]nfromherchairoutintothehall"(232).
Sincethatday,heinformsAdaandRuby,hehaslearned"ninehundredfiddletunes,somehundredofthembeinghisowncompositions"(233).
UnlikeInman,whobecomeshollowedoutbybattle,Stobrodfindsmusic56andleavesthewarnotabattered,depressedsoldier,butamastermusicianandgiftedstoryteller,arolethatwillelevatehimfrom"destructive"and"material"scoundrelto"constructive"and"spiritual"culturehero(Radin124).
Withmusic,Stobrodchannelshislustforpleasure,acharacteristicthathasbeforerelegatedhimtoselfishscoundrel,intocreativeenergy.
HetellsAdaandRubythatafterplayingfortheburnedgirl,"musiccamemoreandmoreintohismind"andthat"manyanight[he]wanderedfromplacetoplaceuntilhefoundafellowworkingatastringedinstrumentwithauthority,somegeniusoftheguitarorbanjo.
Thenhe'dtakeouthisfiddleandplayuntildawn,andeverytimehedid,helearnedsomethingnew"(232,233).
Furthermore,hisoldhaunts—tavernsandbarsthathereligiouslyfrequentedtosatisfyhiscarnaldesires—becomeplacestofindfellowmusicians,likethe"musicalniggersthatoftenplayedforthecustomers,"ratherthanhavensinwhichtoplaycards,drinkliquor,andbeentertainedbyprostitutes(233).
Becausehisoriginalfiddlehasbeenstolenduringthewar,Stobrodexplains,hehashadtocarveanewonefrommemory.
Andthoughtheinstrumenthecraftsresembles,asAdanotes,"arareartifactfromsomeprimitiveperiodofinstrumentmaking,"itissteepedwithhispersonality,andhisdedicationtomakingitrepresentshisnewfoundpassionformusic(228).
Notonlydoeshespend"weekstrampingtheridgestocutspruceandmapleandboxwood"andsit"forhoursonendknifingoutfiddleparts,"hescoursthemountainfora"greatoldtimberrattler"whosetailpieceheseversandstealsfortheinsideofhisfiddle.
ToStobrod,suchauniqueaddition"wouldworkavastimprovementonthesound,wouldgiveitasizzandknelllikenoother"(229),andtoemphasizethisquality,hecraftsthescrollintoa"whittledheadofagreatserpentcurledbackagainsttheneck,detailedrightdowntothescalesandtheslitpupilsoftheeyes"(228).
TheforebodingsoundandeerieappearanceofStobrod'sfiddlemakeitseemevenmore"thedevil'sbox,"thenamegiventoitby"thecommonrunofpreachers"who"opposefiddlemusicassin"(266).
SuchanassociationlinksStobrodtoSatan,thequintessentialtricksteroftheChristianfaith.
Hemaybea"revised"man,buthisfiddleandthe"direkeenofsnakewarning"inhismusicrecallshismischief(230).
Stobrod'sfiddlethereforebecomeslinkedtohisidentity.
FolkloristAlanDundesnotes,"Theimportanceofidentitycanbeobservedinfolk-tales.
.
.
.
Typically,theheroorheroineisrecognizedbythemarkorwoundthatheorshereceivedearlier.
Inthemajorityoftales,therecognitionsceneallowstheprotagonisttoprovehisorherproperidentity.
.
.
"(21).
Inmost57cases,asDundesnotes,the"mark,"whetherabodilyscarorexternaltoken,iscrucialtotheresolutionofthestory,usuallythehero'smarriageorascensiontothethrone.
IntheOdyssey,forinstance,Eurycleiarecognizeshermaster,Odysseus,bythewoundonhisfootthatshenursedwhenhewasayouth.
Likewise,Odysseus'sbow,whichhesuccessfullystringsandfiresinfrontofthesuitors,provesthatheisindeedthelonglostkingofIthaca.
Thesetokens,therefore,allowOdysseusnotonlytogaintheconfidenceofhisservantsandfamilybuttoreclaimhisthrone.
Inplaceofscarorbow,Stobrodhashisfiddle.
WhenlinedupbytheHomeGuardtobeexecuted,heandhiscompanion,Pangle,assumeastancethatrevealstheimportanceoftheirinstruments:Stobrodheldthefiddlebeforehiminthecrookofhisarm.
Thebowhungfromafingerandtwitchedslightly,intimewithhisheartbeat.
Panglestoodbesidehim,andtheirswastheproudandnervousposemenstruckwhenhavingambrotypesmadeatthestartofthewar,thoughinsteadofriflemusketandColtpistolandbowieknife,StobrodandPangleheldfiddleandbanjobeforethemasdefiningimplements.
(291)AsFrazierimpliesinthispassage,musicistheduo'sweapon,replacingthestereotypicalgunorbladethroughwhichsoldierswouldordinarilyshowcasetheirpatriotismandcombatskills,andthemusicians,thoughoutliers,standinstarkcontrasttotheblood-hungry"lawenforcement.
"Likewise,whenAdaandRubydiscoverStobrodbarelyaliveaftertheshooting,heisclutchinghisfiddle,whichhehadgatheredfromthesnowdespitebeingshotthreetimes.
Atthispoint,weseethathisfiddleispartandparcelofStobrod'sbeing,andlikealimb,isnearlyinseparablefromhim.
Stobrod'sfiddlebecomesforhimasourceofpower,atypeofphallus,whichaccordingtoKarlKerenyi,is"Trickster'sdoubleandalterego"(182).
Hermes,notesKerenyi,is"oftenrepresentedeitherbythephallusalone,setupasa'Kyllenicimage,'orbytheithyphallicherm,"a"pillar.
.
.
uponaheapofstonesbythewayside,towhicheverypasser-bypiouslyaddedone"(182;Otto106).
Wakdjunkagatoocarrieshispenisaroundinaboxontopofhishead"asthoughhewerecarryinghisownessentialcoreaboutinit"(Kerenyi183).
Likewise,Stobrod'sfiddlebecomesthemeansbywhichheexpressesandprojectshimself,theagentbywhichheistransformedfrom"ne'erdowell"intocreativeartist(82).
Thisphallicinstrument,however,isnotonebywhichhethrustsorforceshimselfonothers.
Inthisway,Stobrod'sfiddleandpowercontrastswiththepatriarchythatAdaisatthesametimeescaping.
58Withfiddleinhand,Stobrodexhibitsallthetraitsofagiftedstoryteller,especiallyinhismethodofcompositionandperformance.
Playingthefiddlebecomessecondnaturetohim,"aseasyasamandrawingbreath,yetwithutterconvictioninitscentralitytoalifeworthclaiming"(234).
LikestorytellerDonaldDavis,whoclaims,"Ineverlearnedastory,Ijustsoakeditup,"Stobrodseemstopassionatelyabsorbmusic(qtd.
inSobol20-21).
Ofoneofhissongs,hetellsAdaandRuby,"Hisfingershadstoppedthestringsandhisarmhaddrawnthebowintheshapeofthetunesomanytimesbynowthathenolongerthoughtabouttheplaying.
Thenotesjusthappenedeffortlessly"(232).
Learningandplayingmusic,therefore,becomesanorganicprocessforStobrod.
OneofStobrod'stalentsishisuncannyabilitytotranslatepeopleandplacesintomusic.
Hissong,"DrunkNeggar,"forinstance,isparticularlyevocativeofitssubjectmatter,asa"careeningtune,loopyandsyncopated,withlittleworkforthelefthandbutthebowarmworkingasfranticasamanfightingoffadeerflyfromaroundhishead"(266).
InTheSpiritoftheMountains,EmmaBellMilesdescribesthefiddler'suseofnotestoconjureimages:Someofthebestinstrumentalmusicisofadescriptivenature,reflectingvividlytheincidentsofeverydaylife.
Peculiarfingeringsofthestrings,closeharmonies,curioussnapsandslidesandtwangs,andtheaccurateobservationsofanearattunedtoallthesoundsofnatureenterintothecompositionofthese.
Inthe"cacklingHen"thecackle,hard,highandcheerfullyprosaic,isverywellrendered.
165)AsMilesimplies,atrulyadeptfiddlershouldnotonlybeabletoevokeemotions—sadnesswithadroneorminorkey,forinstance,orglibnesswithanupbeattempo—butshouldsuccessfullyrecreatespecificscenesorobjectsaswell.
Afiddlerplaying"CacklingHen,"therefore,shouldbelievablyconveytheessenceofahentohisaudienceandevenperhapsconvincethemthattheyarestandinginabarnyard.
Stobrodalsoshowcaseshistalentasalyricistwithasongthattakes"asitssubjecttheimaginedbehaviorofitsspeaker,whichhewoulddohadhethepowertobecomeoneofavarietyofbrutecreature.
Alizardinthespring—hearhisfarlingsing.
Abirdwithwingstofly—gobacktohisdarlingweepandmoantillhedies.
Amoleintheground—rootamountaindown"(300).
Andinthecombinationofnotesandwords,hetrulydisplayshismastery:Therewasadeliberation,astudy,totheirclampingofthestringsthatwaswholly59absentfromtherecklessbowingoftherighthand.
WhatlyricStobrodsangrecountedadream—hisorsomefictivespeaker's—saidtohavebeendreamedonabedofhemlocksandcontainingarichvisionoflostlove,thepassageofawfultime,agirlwearingamantleofgreen.
Thewordswithoutmusicwouldhaveseemedhardlyfullerindetailthanatelegraphicmessage,buttogethertheymadeacompleteworld.
(290-91)HereStobrodisclearlyacreator,andinthesamewaythatGodbreatheslifeintoinanimateclay,Stobrodcombinesandvivifiesmelodyandlyrics.
PartofStobrod'stalentisalsohisabilitytoadaptsongstocertainoccasions.
WalterBenjaminobservesthat"[t]hestorytellertakeswhathetellsfromexperience—hisownorthatreportedbyothers.
Andheinturnmakesittheexperienceofthosewhoarelisteningtohistale"(qtd.
inBauman2).
StobroddoesthesamewithhismusicbymasteringwhatRichardBaumancallstheartof"creativemanipulation"(4).
Hefirstaccomplishesthisfeatatthebedoftheburnedgirlwherehe"mixes"whatlittleheknowsatthetimeaboutfiddlingwiththemoodofthedyinggirlandcraftsasongsoappropriateastosimultaneouslyevokecomfortandtragedy.
Furthermore,attheapparenteveoftheirowndeath,StobrodandPangleserenadetheirexecutionerswithasongthatforeshadowstheirfateandhighlightstheirgenius:Theyconsultedandtwistedthepegsagaintomakethedeadman'stuning,andtheythensetinplayingapieceslightlyreminiscentofBonaparte'sRetreat,whichsomenameGeneralWashington'stune.
Thiswassofter,moremeditative,yetneverthelessgrimasdeath.
Whentheminorkeydriftedinitwaslikeshadowsundertrees,andthepiececalledupsomethingofdarkwoods,lanternlight.
(290)Justbeforetheshooting,with"thefullknowledgeofimmediatedeath,"Stobrodextemporaneouslycomposes"Fiddler'sFarewell.
.
.
thesaddestsongthathadeverbeenmadeandhaddrawntearsfromtheeyesofallpresent,evenhisexecutioners"(314).
Heplaysitsoloasifapersonaleulogy.
AsshownintheabovepassageStobrod,likemanyperformers,hasamagnetismthatintriguesandinspiresthosearoundhim.
Indescribingfolkloreingeneral,AlanDundesnotes,Folkloremeanssomething—tothetaleteller,tothesongsinger,totheriddler,andtotheaudienceoraddressees.
Agivenitemoffolkloremaymeandifferentthingstodifferenttaletellersortodifferentaudiences.
Itmaymeandifferent60thingstodifferentmembersofthesameaudience;itmaymeandifferentthingstoasingletaletelleratdifferenttimesinhislife.
33)Assuchan"itemoffolklore,"Stobrod'sfiddletunes(andStobrodhimself)arethereforeinfusedwithvariousmeanings.
ForPangle,amildlyretardedboywhogives"theimpressionofachinaplatefilledwithbiscuitandsawmillgravy"andwhohas"notalentintheworldbuthisrecentlydiscoveredabilitytoplaythebanjo,"Stobrodbecomes"amanofdeeplore,awizard,arevelator"(262,263).
Soonaftertakingupresidenceintheoutliercave,Pangle"attach[es]himselftoStobrodoutofbeinglovesickforfiddlemusic"andbeginsfollowinghimabout,"alwayswiththedevotionofaspanielawaitingfood"(263).
Pangle'sreactiontoStobrodisprimitive,yetpowerful,muchlikethatoftheproverbialkidinacandystore.
Becausetohim,"theworldhadnoorderorsuccession,nocausation,noprecedent,"hecaresnotaboutStobrod'spast,orevenhisfuture,butsimplyrelishes"thatfeelingheg[ets]fromStobrod'splaying";suchelationisenoughtomotivatehimtolearnallofStobrod'stunes.
Inhisinnocenceandkindness,hispropensitytoseetheworldas"new-minted,"PangleservesasafoilforthecruderStobrod,butmoreimportantly,heamplifiesStobrod'spowerasmusicianandstorytellerbybecominghispartner(262).
Musicbecomestheirsharedlanguage,andwithit,theycreateanewworld,oneinwhichthenotesofstringedinstrumentsmuzzlethethunderofcannon.
Together,theyaspiretoleavetheirformercruelworldbehind,andlikeInman,headofftotheShiningRockstoforma"communityoftwo"(284).
LikePangle,AdaenjoysStobrod'splaying,butshesensesadepthandsymbolismtoitthatsurpassesthevalueofentertainment.
Afterhearing"StoneWasMyBedstead,atunemadeuplargelyofscrapingsounds,"forinstance,Adaismoved"[m]oreso,shebelievedthanatanyoperashehadattendedfromDockStreettoMilanbecauseStobroddelivereditwithsuchutterfaithinitssubstance,initsabilitytoleadonetowardabetterlife,oneinwhichasatisfiedmindmightonedaybeattainable"(266).
HavingheardfromRubythedetailsofStobrod'sformerlife,AdaisawedthatStobrodcouldhavemorphedintosuchatalentedmusician.
Perhapsbecauseshehaslostherownfather,AdarecognizesthatStobrod"hadcomebackfromsomethinglikethedead,andthatitwasasecondchancewhichfewaregranted"(269).
Stobrod"doeshergood,"asPanglesays,notsimplyasaperformer,butas"proofpositivethatnomatterwhatawasteonehasmadeofone'slife,itiseverpossibletofindsomepathtoredemption,howeverpartial"(267,234).
Againstthebackdropofwarthathasclaimedsomanylivesandinflictedso61muchpsychologicaltrauma,Stobrodbecomesaconstructive,rejuvenatingforce.
ToAda,heisnotadeserterorcoward,butamiracle.
EvenStobrodfindsamessageinhisplaying.
Helearns,likeRubyandAda,butunlikeInman,thattheworlddoesnotoperateonarandomschedule,butisratherastrictlyorderedsystem.
Herecallsthathisfirstcomposition"hadbecomeathinguntoitself,ahabitthatservedtogiveorderandmeaningtoaday'send,assomemightprayandothersdouble-checkthelatchonthedoorandyetotherstakeadrinkwhennighthasfallen.
(232)Likewise,hetellsAdaandRuby,"Whatthemusicsaidwasthatthereisarightwayforthingstobeorderedsothatlifemightnotalwaysbejustatangleandadriftbuthaveashape,anaim.
Itwasapowerfulargumentagainstthenotionthatthingsjusthappen"(233).
Throughmusic,therefore,StobrodlearnswhatRubydoesthroughnature.
Henotonlyseesthepurposeoflifebutunderstandsthathecangiveitorderandvaluebycomposingsongs.
Stobrod'sroleasordererisperhapsbestillustratedinhiscompositionofsongsreflectinghistimeasasoldier:"TouchingtheElephant,MusketStockWasMyPillow,Ramrod,SixNightsDrunk,TavernFight,Don'tSellItGiveItAway,RazorCut,LadiesofRichmond,FarewellGeneralLee"(266).
Partially,Stobrod'sdesiretotranslatehismilitarylifeintosongisatypeof"speculummentiswhereinisdepictedman'sstrugglewithhimselfandwithaworldintowhichheha[s]beenthrustwithouthisvolitionorconsent"(Diamondxxiv).
HistorianJamesI.
RobertsondescribestheimportanceofmusicforthesoldiersoftheCivilWar,mostofwhomfoundtheneedtochanneltheiranger,excitement,sadnessandmakesenseoftheirsituation:Menleftforwarwithasongontheirlips;theysangwhilemarchingorwaitingbehindearthworks;theyhummedmelodiesonthebattlefieldandintheguardhouse;musicswelledfromeverynighttimebivouac.
Singingwassuchanaturalreleaseofemotionthatoccasionallymenhiddenonoutpostdutyendangeredthemselvesbyraisingtheirvoicesinsong.
(83)LikeInman,however,StobrodishardlythestereotypicalgallantSouthernsoldier,andthoughhevoluntarilyenlistsatthewar'sbeginning—"tothesurpriseofoneandall,"asRubyremarks—hedeserts,withlittleinterestinorloyaltyto"theCause.
"(84).
InhisinvolvementwiththepunishmentoftheplantationmasterWalker,hetooimpliesthatthewarisamiserableburdenratherthananecessaryandgloriousfight.
Fromhiswardays,however,StobroddoesnottaketheimmeasurableandonerousgriefthatInmandoes.
Hetakesinsteadthematerialforsongs,and62frommanyofthesameexperiencesthatcorrodeInman'sspirit,Stobrodmakesart.
Heacquires,asJosephDanielSoboldescribestheAppalachiantrickster,Jack,"acontagiousoptimism,anopennessandaspontaneouscreativitythatallowshimtofoundanewlifeoutofnexttonothingintaleaftertale,"orinStobrod'scasetomakesenseofthechaosofwarinsongaftersong("ThousandFaces"102).
Hisrepertoirenotonlybecomesan"autobiographyofhiswaryears"butoneofthecommonsoldieraswell.
Withhistunesdescribingsucheventsas"seeingtheelephant,"orbeinginabattle,andthequotidianactivitiesofcamplife,Stobrodbecomeslikeabardorminstrelofhisgeneration.
FolkloristArthurPalmerHudsonnotes,"Thetraditionofcelebratingandcommemoratinghistoricaleventsinsonghaspersisted.
InpracticallyeverycollectionofAmericanfolksongsthereisavaryingnumberdevotedtoevents,movements,andcausesofmorethanlocalinterest,thusreflectingwhatwecallhistory"(21).
TouseLindaDegh'sdescriptionofMaerchenorfolktales,Stobrod'ssongsare"likethezoneringsonaveryoldtreetrunk"thoughwhich"importanteventsintheculturalhistoryofmancanbetraced"(qtd.
inSobol78).
Aspartofthetraditionofrecordinghistoryinsongandstory,Stobrodnotonlybecomesavaluablepreserverofeventsbutofemotionsaswell.
AsFrankWarner,editorofSongsoftheCivilWar,notes,"TheCivilWarwasasingingwar,andthesongsofthattime.
.
.
manyofthemsadandsentimental,somewithatough,battle-seasonedhumor.
.
.
tellusmuchthatthehistorybooksmayleaveout,andletussharethemoodsofthesoldiersinawaythatthehistorybookscannotdo"(qtd.
inHudson26).
Inthetoneandtempoofhissongs,Stobrodcanrelatetheanxietyfeltontheeveofbattle,theexcitementofavictory,andthepangsofhomesickness.
Thoughhedesertsthearmy,hecontributessomethingmuchmorevaluablewithhisfiddlethanwithhismusketorbayonet.
Hissongsbecomemonumentsthatwillsurvivelongafterallthosewhorememberthewararedead.
Inthisway,Stobrod—hewhohasbeentransformed—becomeshimselfatransformerandculture-hero,thealteregoandmostsignificantroleofthetrickster.
PaulRadinobservesthatin"theoverwhelmingmajorityofallso-calledtrickstermythsinNorthAmerica,"tricksterisinvolvedinthecreationoftheworldordepictedasagreatbenefactorofmankind(155).
Henotesthat"totheculture-herocyclebelongssuchwell-knownepisodesasthosenarratingthesecuringoffire,offlint,oftobacco,offoodingeneral.
.
.
theregulationoftheseasonsandof63theweather.
.
.
thefreeingoftheworldfrommonsters,ogresandgiants;theoriginofdeath…"(166).
IntheWinnebagotrickstercycle,forinstance,Wakdjunkagarealizesthathecanmakefromhispenis(powersource)"usefulobjects.
.
.
forhumanbeings"(Radin142).
Prometheuslikewisestealsfirefromthegodstogivetohumansandtricksthegodsintorequestingthelessvaluablepartsofanimalsasasacrifice.
Hermestooiscalled"thegiverofgoods,""thefriendliestofthegodstomen,"andtheoneresponsibleforsuddenwindfalls.
Andinonestory,Jack,theAppalachiantrickster,washesashoreonAmericawith"alltheworld'swisdom"andbecomes,asJosephDanielSoboldescribes,apowerfulimageof"theluminoussenseofthepotentialofAmerica"("ThousandFaces"104).
Whatthesetricksterheroescreate,secure,andbringiswhatJosephCampbellcallsa"boon,"oragiftthat"mayredoundtotherenewingofthecommunity,thenation,theplanet,orthetenthousandworlds"(193).
Stobrodtoooffershissongs,giftsthatmaynotbenecessarytoourphysicalsurvival,butnonethelessdefineusandenergizeus.
NotonlydoeshepreservetheCivilWarinsong,buthebecomesaculturaliconofAppalachia.
Likehisfiddle,anidentifierofthemanwhocraftsit,Stobrod'smusicbecomessymbolicofandinextricablyboundtotheregioninwhichitiscreated.
Stobrod'ssongshave,asRichardBaumansaysofallfolklore,"theirprimaryexistenceintheactionofpeopleandtheirrootsinsocialandculturallife"(2).
Andthoughtheymaybegatheredanddistributedtoawiderpublic,theyneverthelessevokeaveryspecificplace.
Indeed,whenEmmaBellMilesdescribesthemusicofthemountaineer,shenotesthat"Thefiddlerandthebanjo-playerarewelltreatedandbeloved.
.
.
liketheminstrelsoffeudaldays"(147)andthatparticularlyAppalachianmemories"driftontheirmelodies:"thethump-chug,thump-chugofthebattenasthemother'sshuttlewentpatientlytoandfro.
.
.
thelaughandleapofdancersboundingthroughCrippleCreek.
.
.
wildernightsat'bigmeetin'.
.
.
therippleofwaterandthedroneofbees"(169-70).
StorytellerDonaldDavissaysofstorytelling(andmusic)thatit"waspartofthefabricofdailyliving.
Mostofitwentonwhiletheadultsaroundmedidtheirchoresandledtheirchildrenintodoingthesame.
Storytellingwastheoralaccompanimenttocooking,housekeeping,gardening,feeding,milking.
.
.
"(26).
Assuchanintegralpartofregionallife,storiesandsongsareundoubtedlyinfusedwithuniquelyAppalachianexperiences.
Inessencetherefore,StobrodbecomeswhatArthurPalmerHudsoncalls"thevoiceofthelandscape,"andhisfiddlemusic,likethe"Highlandreaper'ssong"ofScotlandorthe"monotonousbutneveroppressivemusicofNegroboysplayingonhomemade64flutesandpipes"inthedeepSouth,becomesasoundsofamiliar,soappropriatethatitblendsseamlesslywithitssurroundings(3).
FrazierhimselfrecognizesthepoweroffolkloretodefineanddescribearegionorculturebyincorporatingitintoColdMountain.
Ruby,asdescribedinthepreviouschapter,isastorehouseofmountainlore,keentothesecretsofnature.
Likeotherhill-folk,isolatedandfiercelyself-reliant,shefamiliarizesherselfwiththeflora,fauna,geography,andweatherpatternsoftheBlueRidge,somuchsothatsheseemspartofthelandscapeherself.
TheSwangerstoointroduceAdatosuperstition:"It'sclaimedthatifyoutakeamirrorandlookbackwardsintoawell,you'llseeyoufuturedownthereinthewater,"Escotellsher(36).
MostrelatedtoStobrod,though,isFrazier'sinclusionofmurderballadsintheplot.
ThenameofthewomanthatVeaseyimpregnatesandcontemplateskillingisLauraFoster,alsothenameofthevictimofTomDula,popularlyknownasTomDooley,thesubjectofoneofthemostfamousAppalachianmurderballads.
Sara,thesolemnmountainwidowthatInmanboardswith,singsherbabytosleepwith"nolullaby,"but"thehorriblestoryofFairMargaretandSweetWilliam":Idreamedthatmybowerwasfullofredswine,Andmybridebedfullofblood(253)Thehauntinglyricsand"highnasaltones[ofhervoice]thathurttohearintheirloneliness"makeSaraatrulyAppalachianfigure,onelivingdailyonthecuspofdeathina"lonesomelittleone-roomcabin,"onewho"wouldbeoldinfiveyears"(238,241).
AsHoraceKephartobserves,thesesongsaccuratelyevokethehardshipofmountainlife:Mostoftheirmusicisintheweird,plaintiveminorkeythatseemsspontaneouswithprimitivepeoplethroughouttheworld.
Notonlythetone,butthesentimentoftheirhymnsandballadsisusuallyofamelancholynature,expressingthewrathofGodandthedoomofsinners,orthelucklessadventuresofwildbladesandofmaidensallforlorn.
(336-37)EvenInman'sdeathseemsinaccordwithsuchmusicasnotonlyarepresentationofthehorrorsofwarbutalsoofthefatalismoftheAppalachianpeople.
AsanAppalachianmusicianandstoryteller,Stobrodjoinstheranksofmyriadothers,frommotherswhoputtheirbabiestosleepforcenturieswithballadsandfolktales,tooldloaferswhosatforhoursonthestoopsofcountrystoresandspuntales.
AsfolkloristJosephDanielSobolnotes,eachsingerortale-tellerislikea"mountainstream,"that"joinsupwithmany65others[in]aliving,flowingsystemthatwecalltheoraltradition,"andeventually"return[s]tothesea,thatsourceanddestinationwhichtheancientwriterscalled'TheOceanofStory'"(JackAlways11).
Eachstoryandsong,therefore,uniquelydescribesthepeopleof"thelandofdowithout,"asHoraceKephartcallsAppalachia,butitalsospeaksofuniversalhumanexperience.
Inthislargerfluidnetwork,authorshipandcopyrightisinsignificant.
Storiesandsongsaretransmittedbywordofmouth,passeddownthroughthegenerationsforsolongthattheybecomepublicdomainandfreeforanyonetotakeandmoldasheorshepleases.
Stobrodtoorecognizesthateverysonghecomposesquicklybecomesa"thinguntoitself,"nevertobefullypossessedbyanyoneafteritemergesfromhisserpent-shapedfiddle(232).
Thisstandardisthe"rule"offolkloreinallcultures.
EventheWinnebago,whowerehighlyprotectiveoftheirstories,eachfamilyhavingoneorseveralthattheyconsideredproperty,would"sell"thetales,calledwaikan,tostorytellerswhowouldalterthemintheirpersonalway.
AsPaulRadinobserves,awaikanpassed,throughpurchase,fromonegiftedraconteurtoanother.
Thismeantthatitscontentandstyle,whiletheymayhavebeenfixedbasicallyandprimarilybytradition,werefixedsecondarilybyindividualsofspecificliteraryabilitywhogavesuchawaikantheimpressoftheirparticulartemperamentsandgenius.
(122)Likewise,JosephDanielSoboldescribestheevolutionofJacktalesfromonetaletellertoanother:"EachtellerprojectshisorherownpersonalJack:Chase'stakesonanaggressive,messianictricksterquality;MaudeLong'sisagentler,moregeneralizedwondertalehero;RayHick'sisdeeplyconnectedtohismountainenvironment;andDonaldDavis'sisparticularlyalertandathletic,strivingstubbornlyformanhood"("ThousandFaces"85).
Rubyperhapsmostaccuratelydescribestheprocess:"thereweremanysongsthatyoucouldnotsayanybodyinparticularmadebyhimself.
Asongwentaroundfromfiddlertofiddlerandeachoneaddedsomethingandtooksomethingawaysothatintimethesongbecameadifferentthingfromwhatithadbeen,barelyrecognizableineithertuneorlyric"(301).
Ironically,therefore,Stobrod,whoseeksalwaystopleasurehimself,offersatrulyselflessgift.
Likely,timewillforgethisnameandreplaceitwith"anonymous,"buthissongswillenduretobe,asRichardBaumansaysoffolklore,"thehighestandtruestexpression"ofapeople,aculture,andanation(1).
Assuchanimportantassettohistoryandculture,Stobrod,likeothertricksters,gainsaspiritualsignificance.
PsychologistCarlJungclaimsthat"[thetrickster]isaforerunnerofthe66saviour"andthathis"transformationofthemeaninglessintothemeaningful…revealsthetrickster'scompensatoryrelationtothe'saint'"(203,196).
Likewise,Radinnotesthattricksteroffers"thepromiseofgodandman"(168).
OftheAppalachianJacktales,JosephDanielSobolalsosays,"Thereare.
.
.
tales.
.
.
inwhichJacktakesonthemythicattributesofashaman,orculturehero,bymovingfreelybetweennaturalandspiritualworlds,subduingevil,restoringharmony,andbringingbackblessingstothecommunity"(14).
Withhismusic,Stobrodnotonlybestows"blessings,"butheseemstoresonatewithahigher,transcendentalchord.
AsBirchexclaimsafterhearingStobrodandPangleplaybeforetheirexecution,"GoodGod,theseisholymen.
Theirmindturnsonmatterskeptsecretfromthelikesofyouandme"(291).
HebecomeslikethefiddlerinBryonHerbertReece'spoem"MountainFiddler,"whotakeshis"fiddle/Thatsingsandcries"andplaysfortheangels(Higgs439)Inthislight,weseeStobrodasawonder-talehero,onewhocanworkmagicandcommunewithnon-humanspheres.
Hebecomesa"primitive'cosmic'being,a"divine-animal,"whouponthetopofColdMountain,neartheShiningRocks,playsinharmonywithanenergy,agod,ahigherpower(Jung203).
Likemanytricksters,whoremainunconsciousoftheircontributions,Stobrodislikelyunawarethatheisleavingalegacywithhisfiddletunes.
Ada,however,understandshissignificance.
WhenshetakeshimfordeadafterfindingPangleinthebloodysnow,sheweepsfortheloss:"Adawonderedabouthishundredsoftunes.
Whereweretheynowandwheremighttheygoifhedied"(304).
Atthispoint,AdaseemstobespeakingclearlyinFrazier'svoice,forFrazierexplainsthatoneofhisstrongestandearliestinspirationsforwritingColdMountainwasadoublegravecontaininga"fiddlerandaretardedboykilledbyTeague'sConfederateHomeGuard"(2).
Inmanyways,Frazieraccuratelyrecreatestheexecution:localloresaysthatthemenwerebackedupagainstatreeandshotandthat"thefiddlerplayedBonaparte'sRetreatbeforethetriggerswerepulled"("ColdMountainDiary"2).
Inhisstory,though,Frazierchangestheoutcomeby"saving"thefiddler,perhapsmourningallthesongsthatdiedwiththeactualvictim.
Atfirst,itmayseemperplexing,evenunfair,thatFrazierdoesthis,thatineffect,hechoosesStobrod—aselfishscofflaw,negligentfather,andmansoeasytohate—overInman—amanwhowantssodesperatelytostopkillingandseeksonlytogohometohislovedone.
AsStanleyDiamondnotesinhisessay"JobandtheTrickster,"suchanendingwilllikelymakethereaderask,"Whydothejustsufferandthewickedflourish"(xviii).
Yet,asAdasenses,Stobrod'ssongscannotbelost,nomatterhowdishonestlyandinappropriatelyheleadshislife.
67AstributestoJohnnyRebs,BillyYanks,andaregionalwayoflifethreatenedbythehomogenizationofprogress,theywillbecovetedandcollectedbyfolklorists,historians,andmusiciansalike(Sobol,JackAlways19).
Theywillbethe"stuff"ofarchives,asRichardBaumansays,andwillberecordedonCDsandperformedonstages(2).
Andasculturalunifiers,theywilltranscendtheannihilativewarinwhichtheywerecreated.
Stobrod'ssurvivalintheend,therefore,isnotonlyachanceforhimtokeepliving,butacelebrationofallthathestandsfor,ofallthesongsthathewillpassdowntofuturegeneratiions.
68CHAPTER5CONCLUSIONIntheepilogue,whichtakesplacetenyearsaftertheshootingsonColdMountain,FrazierrevisitsBlackCoveandoffersashortbuttellingvignetteofhismaincharacters.
Inthefirstfewlines,Frazierambiguouslydescribestwoplayfullovers,who"[e]venafterallthistimeandthreechildrentogether.
.
.
still.
.
.
clasp[ed]eachotherattheoddestmoments"(354).
Atfirst,itappearsthatInmanmayhavesurvivedandthatheandAdaareenjoying"longdecadesofhappyunion"together(353).
Wesoondiscover,however,thattheloversFrazierdepictsareRubyandReid,theyoungoutlierwhowitnessesStobrodandPangle'sexecution,andtogethertheyhavethreeboys"withfullscalpsofblackhairandshinybrowneyeslikelittlechestnutssetintheirheads"(354).
Inman,thenovel'smostpervasivehero,theOdysseusfigure,isabsentfromthisscene.
Indeed,theHomeGuardboymortallywoundshim,andhisboneslieburiedasareminderofthegreatandterriblewarthatafflictsthenationandwreaksincurablepsychologicaltraumaonmanyofitsparticipants,especiallythosewithhisintrospectionandvirtue.
Intryingtoservehiscountry,herealizesthatwardoesnothingbutdegradehumanity,makingamessofbodiesandminds,andhedesertsnotbecauseheisacoward,butbecausehewantstostopkilling.
Furthermore,helengthensandcomplicateshisjourneyhomebecausehestallstohelpothers—topulladecayingbulloutofaman'screek,tobutcherahogforastarvingwidow,toburyagrievingwoman'sdaughter.
HeiseveraGoodSamaritan,buthediesintheend.
Anotherdeserter—Stobrod—ahedonistwholacksInman'smoralfilterandwhoalsoseemsneardeathinthefinalpages,though,surviveshiswoundsandbecomesthegrandfatherofBlackCoveFarm.
Wefirstseehimemergingfrom"thebarnwherehehadbeenmilking,"achorethatcontrastshispreviousaffectionforthievingandsuggeststhathehasrelinquishedhiswaywardandwantonlifestyle(355).
PartofFrazier'sdecisiontosacrificehisOdysseusforthecrudetricksterisnodoubttoillustratetheblindnessofwarandviolence—thatitdoesnotconsiderone'sworthormoralitywhenstrippinglifeaway.
YetinsavingStobrod,Frazieralsosavesaculturehero,afiddlerwhooffersa"boon"tosociety,asJosephCampbellsays(193).
Indeed,weseeStobrodintheendnotasaknaveornegligentfather,butasamusicianwhoserenadeshisextendedfamilywithsome"varianthehadmadeofBonnieGeorgeCampbell"(355).
Aboveall,heisanentertainer,preserverofhistory,andculturaliconwhonurtureswithhismusic.
Inhis69novel,therefore,Fraziersignificantlyrevisesthenostalgicwartaleandconventionallovestoryandprivilegesaherowhobecomesanartistduringwarratherthanonewhomwarhollowsout.
Aswiththemaleheroes,Frazierreshapestheexpectedfateofhisheroines.
Ada,wesee,hasboreInman'sdaughter,conceivedduringtheirbriefuniononColdMountain,butsheremainsasinglewoman.
Assymbolizedbythetipofherindexfinger,whichshesevers"ascleanassnappingatomatosucker"whilefellingtrees,Adaatoncelosespartofherselfthatcanneverberecovered—Monroe,Inman,herbelleness—butshealsogainsaheartyspiritandindependence(354).
Evenwithoutherfatherorherbeloved,shesurvivesandthrives.
HerfriendshipwithRubyalsoendures,andRubychoosestomakeBlackCoveherpermanenthome,eventhoughshehasafamilyofherown.
SoRubyandAda,wesee,makeparalleltransformationsand,inpart,becomeeachother'sresolutions.
Ada,thebelle,whoissupposedtobecontentedlymarriedattheend,is,inessence,aspinsterwithanillegitimatechild,whileRuby,theunrefinedorphanwhowouldlikelyshunmatrimonyifevenofferedthechance,isnowawifeandmother.
ThefinalsceneofthenoveldepictsAda,Ruby,Reid,thechildren,andStobrodgatheringunderanOctoberskyfordinner,music,andstorytelling.
Thispictureoffamilialtranquility,inwhichthecharactersaffirmtheirindividualtransformations,isalsoauniquelyAppalachianone.
AsTerryGiffordexplains,"Thelastpageleavesuswithimagesofadomesticevening:thesechildrendancing,anewfiddletunefromStobrod,classicalstorytellingfromAda,andapoulticefromRuby.
ThesearenarrativeiconsofculturalcontinuityintheBlueRidgeMountains"(5).
Eachhero,therefore,exhibitshisorherbondtotheregion.
InthelossofherfingerandherchoicetoremaininBlackCove,Adaliterallyandfigurativelybecomespartofthemountains,andbytellingofBaucisandPhilemon,astorythatrecallsboththetragedyandenduranceofherandInman'slove,shecontributestotheoraltraditionthatformsthesocialfoundationofisolated,pre-industrialcommunities.
RubytoocontinuestobeanearthmotheraswhenshehealsAda'swoundedhandso"neatlyyouwouldthinkthatwasthewaytheendsofpeople'sfingersweremeanttolook"(356).
Stobrodremainsthecreativefiddler,offeringmoresongstodefinehisregion.
EvenInmanrestsonhisbelovedColdMountain.
Thejourneysoftheseheroes,therefore,whethercoveringathousandmilesorafewinches,whetherendingindeathorredemption,leadthemtothemountains.
ThoughFrazierdepictswar'spowertodivideanddestroy,healsoaffirmsthepowerofplacetohealandunite.
70WORKSCITEDBates,ArtieAnn.
"RootHog,orDie.
"Bloodroot:ReflectionsofPlacebyAppalachianWomenWriters.
Ed.
JoyceDyer.
Lexington:UPofKentucky,1998.
53-60.
Bauman,Richard.
Story,Performance,andEvent:ContextualStudiesofOralNarrative.
Cambridge:CambridgeUP,1986Byer,KathrynStripling.
"OntheTrailtoColdMountain.
"Shenandoah48(1998):112-17.
Campbell,Joseph.
TheHerowithaThousandFaces.
Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1973.
Clay,JennyStrauss.
TheWrathofAthena:GodsandMenintheOdyssey.
NewYork:Rowman&LittlefieldPublishers,Inc.
,1997.
Crawford,Martin.
"ColdMountainFictions:AppalachianHalf-Truths.
"AppalachianJournal30(2003):182-95.
Davis,Donald.
Foreword.
JackAlwaysSeeksHisFortune:AuthenticAppalachianJackTales.
LittleRock:AugustHouse,1992.
25-29.
Diamond,Stanley.
"JobandtheTrickster.
"Introduction.
TheTrickster:AStudyinAmericanIndianMythology.
ByPaulRadin.
1956.
NewYork:Schoken,1972.
xi-xxii.
Dundes,Alan.
FolkloreMatters.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,1989.
---.
InterpretingFolklore.
Bloomington:IndianaUP,1980.
Finley,M.
I.
TheWorldofOdysseus.
NewYork:PenguinBooks,1979.
Frazier,Charles.
ColdMountain.
NewYork:AtlanticMonthlyPress,1997.
---.
"ColdMountainDiary.
"Salon.
9July1997.
24May2004.
Gesler,WilbertM.
"TherapeuticLandscapes:MedicalIssuesinLightoftheNewCulturalGeography.
"SocialScienceandMedicine34(1992):735-46.
Gifford,Terry.
"Terrain,Character,andText:IsColdMountainbyCharlesFrazieraPost-PastoralNovel"MississippiQuarterly55(2001):87-97.
InfoTracOneFile.
TennesseeElectronicLibrary.
CharlesSherrodLib.
EastTNStateU.
JohnsonCity,TN.
22Feb.
2004.
Griffin,Jasper.
HomeronLifeandDeath.
Oxford:ClarendonPress,1983.
71Harrison,ElizabethJane.
FemalePastoral:WomenWritersRe-VisioningtheAmericanSouth.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,1991.
Higgs,RobertJ.
,AmbroseN.
ManningandJimWayneMiller,eds.
AppalachiaInsideOut.
2vols.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,1995.
Homer.
Odyssey.
Trans.
RobertFitzgerald.
NewYork:Farrar,StrausandGiroux,1998.
Hudson,ArthurPalmer.
FolkloreKeepsthePastAlive.
Athens:UofGeorgiaP,1962.
Inscoe,JohnC.
"AppalachianOdysseus:Love,War,andBest-SellerdomintheBlueRidge.
"AppalachianJournal25(1998):330-7.
Jung,CarlG.
"OnthePsychologyoftheTricksterFigure.
"TheTrickster:AStudyinAmericanIndianMythology.
ByPaulRadin.
1956.
NewYork:Schoken,1972.
195-211.
Kephart,Horace.
OurSouthernHighlanders.
1913.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,2002.
Kerenyi,Karl.
"TheTricksterinRelationtoGreekMythology.
"TheTrickster:AStudyinAmericanIndianMythology.
ByPaulRadin.
1956.
NewYork:Schoken,1972.
173-91.
Manning,CarolS.
TheFemaleTraditioninSouthernLiterature.
Urbana:UofIllinoisP,1993.
McCarron,BillandPaulKnoke.
"ImagesofWarandPeace:ParallelismandAntithesisintheBeginningandEndingofColdMountain.
"MississippiQuarterly52(1999):273-.
InfoTracOneFile.
TennesseeElectronicLibrary.
CharlesSherrodLib.
EastTNStateU.
JohnsonCity,TN.
22Feb.
2004.
Miles,EmmaBell.
TheSpiritoftheMountains.
1905.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,2000.
Miller,DannyL.
WinglessFlights:AppalachianWomeninFiction.
BowlingGreen,OH:BowlingGreenStateUniversityPopularPress,1996.
Mitchell,Margaret.
GonewiththeWind.
1936.
NewYork:Macmillan,1964.
Otto,WalterF.
TheHomericGods:TheSpiritualSignificanceofGreekReligion.
1954.
Trans.
MosesHadas.
Boston:Beacon1964.
Piacentino,Ed.
"SearchingforHome:Cross-RacialBondinginCharlesFrazier'sColdMountain.
"MississippiQuarterly55(2001):97-117.
InfoTracOneFile.
Tennessee72ElectronicLibrary.
CharlesSherrodLib.
EastTNStateU.
JohnsonCity,TN.
22Feb.
2004.
Prenshaw,PeggyWhitman.
"SouthernLadiesandtheSouthernLiteraryRenaissance.
"TheFemaleTraditioninSouthernLiterature.
Urbana:UofIllinoisP,1993.
73-88.
Pucci,Pietro.
OdysseusPolutropos:IntertextualReadingsintheOdysseyandtheIliad.
Ithaca:CornellUniversityPress,1987.
Radin,Paul.
TheTrickster:AStudyinAmericanIndianMythology.
1956.
NewYork:Schoken,1972.
Robertson,JamesI.
,Jr.
SoldiersBlueandGray.
Columbia:UofSouthCarolinaP,1988.
Seidel,KathrynLee.
TheSouthernBelleintheAmericanNovel.
Tampa:UofSouthFloridaP.
1985.
Sobol,JosephDaniel.
"JackofaThousandFaces:TheJackTalesasAppalachianHeroCycle.
"NorthCarolinaFolkloreJournal39(1992):77-108.
---.
Introduction.
JackAlwaysSeeksHisFortune:AuthenticAppalachianJackTales.
ByDonaldDavis.
LittleRock:AugustHouse,1992.
11-23.
Stanford,W.
B.
TheUlyssesTheme:AStudyintheAdaptabilityofaTraditionalHero.
2nded.
AnnArbor:UofMichiganP,1968.
Stephens,RobertO.
TheFamilySagaintheSouth:GenerationsandDestinies.
BatonRouge:LouisianaStateUP,1995.
73WORKSCONSULTEDArnow,Harriette.
TheDollmaker.
1954.
NewYork:Avon,1972.
Byrne,Pat.
"ApproachestotheStudyofFolkloreandLiterature:OldCrucesandNewPossibilities.
"SouthernFolklore56(1999):35-71.
Cather,Willa.
OPioneers!
Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1988.
Dykeman,Wilma.
TheTallWoman.
Newport,TN:Wakestone,1962.
"FolkloreinLiterature:ASymposium.
"JournalofAmericanFolklore70(1957):1-24.
Gurganus,Allan.
OldestLivingConfederateWidowTellsAll.
1984.
NewYork:VintageContemporaries,2001.
Henderson,T.
F.
TheBalladinLiterature.
NewYork:HaskellHouse,1966.
Hill,Lois,ed.
PoemsandSongsoftheCivilWar.
NewYork:Fairfax,1990.
Homer.
Iliad.
Trans.
RobertFitzgerald.
NewYork:Anchor,1989.
Humphries,JeffersonandJohnLowe,eds.
TheFutureofSouthernLetters.
NewYork:OxfordUP,1996.
Hurston,ZoraNeale.
MulesandMen.
1935.
NewYork:HarperPerennial,1990.
Jones,Loyal.
MinstreloftheAppalachians:TheStoryofBascomLamarLunsford.
Boone:AppalachianConsortium,1984.
Knoke,Paul.
"SymbolicArtistryinCharlesFrazier'sColdMountain.
"NotesonContemporaryLiterature29(1999):8-10.
Lanier,Parks,Jr.
,ed.
ThePoeticsofAppalachianSpace.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,1991.
Lawless,Elaine.
"OutoftheAshesofFolkloreRisesthePhoenixofFolkloristics.
"SouthernFolklore57(2000):91-3.
Lewis,MaryEllenB.
"TheStudyofFolkloreinLiterature:AnExpandedView.
"SouthernFolkloreQuarterly40(1976):343-51.
Niles,JohnJacob.
TheBalladBook.
Lexington:UPofKentucky,2000.
West,JohnFoster.
TheBalladofTomDula.
Durham,NC:Moore,1970.
74VITAHEATHERRHEAGILREATHPersonalData:DateofBirth:March18,1978PlaceofBirth:Kingsport,TennesseeMaritalStatus:MarriedEducation:KingsportCitySchools,Kingsport,TennesseeWakeForestUniversity,Winston-Salem,NorthCarolina;English,B.
A.
,2000EastTennesseeStateUniversity,JohnsonCity,Tennessee;English,M.
A.
,2004ProfessionalExperience:ResidentAdvisor,WakeForestUniversity,1998-2000Teacher,TerrellLaneMiddleSchool;Louisburg,NorthCarolina,2000-2002;TeachforAmericaGraduateAssistant,EastTennesseeStateUniversity,CollegeofArtsandSciences,2002-2004Publications:Gilreath,HeatherRhea.
"AgnesSlighTurnbull.
"EncyclopediaofAppalachia.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,forthcoming.
---.
"BuffaloCreekFlood.
"EncyclopediaofAppalachia.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,forthcoming.
---.
"OurSouthernHighlanders.
"EncyclopediaofAppalachia.
Knoxville:UofTennesseeP,forthcoming.
---.
(2003).
"BriefCandle.
"TheMockingbird.
JohnsonCity,TN:ETSUUniv.
P.
HonorsandAwards:Valedictorian,Classof1996,Dobyns-BennettHighSchool.
SummaCumLaude,2000,WakeForestUniversity.
NationalMeritScholar,1996.
CarswellScholar,Classof2000,WakeForestUniversity.
PhiBetaKappa,WakeForestUniversity.
MortarBoard,WakeForestUniversity.
GoldenKeyHonorsSociety,WakeForestUniversity.
SigmaTauDelta,WakeForestUniversity,EastTennesseeStateUniversity.
AllenAwardforOutstandingGraduateStudentinEnglish,EastTennesseeStateUniversity,2004.