Consider the Importance of Land in Mildred D. Taylor’s novel, ‘Roll of
Thunder, Hear My Cry’
The novel puts an emphasis on land throughout the story; it is
repeatedly mentioned and discussed, and linked to other main themes
and factors in the book.
It is clear from early on in the novel that land is a main theme and a
very important factor. A clear example of this is that by the third
page of the story, it is already described in detail how the Logans
came to own their 400 acres of land in the first place, and hinted at
as to how it is an effort to continue owning 200 acres of it, in the
mention of “why” Papa had to “work” on the “railroad”; and the
“mortgage”.
Throughout the book, it is made clear to the reader that the land is
important in a number of ways. The constant referral to the theme
right through the story emphasises this.
There are many links to the land through other themes in the book,
such as racism, slavery, inequality, family, and money, as well as
bravery and determination. Because these are imperative factors, their
association with the land accentuates its significance.
Racism and the land tie together through the duration of the book.
Because of racism and the inequality that exists between blacks and
whites, to the Logans, owning land is a symbol of their freedom,
independence and equality – this is put forward in many ways, such as
when Big Ma tells Cassie how Logans came to own land after slavery was
abolished, and she refers to it as when “freedom” came. As a result of
this ownership, the Logans, to an extent, are free of the racist
policies, which other sharecropping blacks have to endure. The whites,
such as Mr Granger, also see blacks owning land as a representation ...
... middle of paper ...
...so that both races will work together to achieve a goal –
something that nothing else seemed able to break.
Also signifying the importance of land yet again, is at the very end
of the book when the reader is told how Cassie “cried” for TJ, and
“for the land”. Showing that the land is so important to everything,
even a nine-year old can comprehend this and cry about it.
Studying the book, quotations and evidence from it, it is clear that
land is undoubtedly a theme of great importance, possibly the most so
out of all the themes in the book, as everything seems to come down or
link in some way to the land – slavery, inequality, money, family,
bravery – even racism itself involve the land through some means. It
is can safely be assumed, that land is the essence of the story, tying
in with all the other factors which Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry plays
on.
Two years passed and they returned with the document in hand, claiming the land was no longer theirs to live off of. The signed document was in truth an agreement to live on the land for a mere two years and a promise to uproot once the two years expired.
take there land away from them . He was not happy because himself and his
Imagine living alone at 16, thousands of miles from your only family, no friends, and trying to gain land of your own. Hattie Brooks did just that, she was always known as Hattie Here-and-There because her parents died when she was young and she was shipped from relative to relative. She was bound to change that. She wanted something of her own, she wanted a home. So, in 1918 after receiving a letter leaving a homestead claim to her from a long lost uncle Chester she packed up all she owned and moved to Montana. She quickly found out how difficult and demanding farm life was. In order to own the land officially she had to prove up which included having to set 480 rods of fence, cultivate one eighth of land, and pay thirty-seven seventy-five
A decision was made that with this newly gained land would either be sold or rented out in forty acre plots. "Such plots were to be leased for three year periods for annual rentals not to exceed six percent of the appraised value in 1860..."(Abbot, 54), which meant that freedmen would be able to afford this land and not be forced into a labor contract. General Rufus Saxton, the head of this plan, had another idea too.
This highly charged physical setting plays a crucial role in the book, almost as if the land is a character in the story. The land takes on
...eas about the other to discredit claims to the land and present themselves as better caretakers before potential decision-makers.
In order for the government to expand, it needed money. In an attempt to secure additional revenue, the government stopped granting land to the settlement for disbursement amongst their church members and began selling it instead. Anyone, regardless of church affiliation or status, could now obtain their own land by purchasing it directly from the government. The price of the land was determined by its distance from town, the condition of the soil, and whether it had been cleared or improved upon.
A similar thing happened throughout the latter part of the 19th century, after the Homestead Act of 1862 was passed. The Homestead Act gave settlers as much as 160 acres of land for living on it for five years, as well as improving it, while paying a nominal fee averaging about thirty dollars, but in some cases as low as ten dollars. Residency was required for ownership on the land. It was later found that 160 acres was not enough in the plains, though it was on the eastern coast (Freligh).
A theme within this novel is the loss of innocence. The existence of civilization allows man to remain innocent, therefore when the characters lost their innocence, the civilization was gone or corrupt. One example of the loss of innocence would be when Jack was unable to stab the pig during the hunt. At that moment, he lost his innocence which enabled him to kill without a recollection of civilization. Another example of the loss of innocence was when Roger was throwing stones and rocks at the other children below him. Roger was unable to actually hit them purposely because he still had his innocence, but this moment was the beginning of his inability of understanding human nature.
One of the first themes that comes to mind when one reads this book is the
These three major themes which were appearance vs reality, the importance of free thought, and man vs. society were revealed throughout the book in many different scenes, and through many different characters. These major themes gave us a better understanding of the book and the characters of the book, and what some of them wanted to achieve.
the beginning of all the bad events that occur in the remaining of the novel.
There are many themes that occur and can be interpreted differently throughout the novel. The three main themes that stand out most are healing, communication, and relationships.
TJ is not only thoughtless, he is also quite sly and knows how to get
money to purchase large amounts of land and houses august enough for the property. This land ownership propelled some nouveaux