Cane

by

Jean Toomer

Fred Halsey Character Analysis

Fred Halsey is a Black man by the standards of Jim Crow society although he has White ancestors. He lives in Georgia, where he works as a wagon-wright. His sister is Carrie K., and he helps to take care of Father John, who lives in the cellar under his shop. When he was younger, Halsey attended a school that aimed to elevate Black children through education, much as Hanby wants to do with his school. But Halsey dropped out because he was offended by the racial stereotyping and favoritism shown by the Northern-educated teachers. Despite his lack of official schooling, Halsey is an intelligent man who lives a comfortable life that he feels proud of. Halsey takes Ralph Kabnis under his wing, first when Kabnis moves to the small Georgia town from the North, and to a greater degree after Hanby fires Kabnis. He’s also one of the few Black people who are comfortable spending time with and talking to Northern visitor Lewis.

Fred Halsey Quotes in Cane

The Cane quotes below are all either spoken by Fred Halsey or refer to Fred Halsey . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Navigating Identity Theme Icon
).
29. Kabnis Quotes

Halsey (in a mock religious tone): Amen t that, brother Layman. Amen (turning to Kabnis, half playful, yet somehow in dead earnest). An Mr. Kabnis, kindly remember youre in th land of cotton—hell of a land. Th white folks get th boll; th niggers get th stalk. An dont you dare touch th boll, or even look at it. they’ll swing y sho. (Laughs.)

Kabnis: But they wouldnt touch a gentleman—fellows, men like us three here—

Layman: Nigger’s a nigger down this away, Professor. An only two dividins: good an bad. And even they aint permanent categories. They sometimes mixes um up when it comes t lynchin. I’ve seen um do it.

[…]

Kabnis: Things are better now though since that stir about those peonage cases, arent they?

Layman: Ever hear tell of a single shot killin moren one rabbit, Professor?

Related Characters: Ralph Kabnis (speaker), Fred Halsey (speaker), Layman (speaker)
Page Number: 118
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis wants to rise and put both Halsey and Hanby in their places. He vaguely knows that he must do this, else the power of direction will completely slip from him to those outside. The conviction is just strong enough to torture him. To bring a feverish, quick-passing flare into his eyes. To mutter words soggy in hot saliva. To jerk his arms upward in futile protest. Halsey, noticing his gestures, thinks it is water that he desires. He brings a glass to him. Kabnis slings it to the floor. Heat of the conviction dies. His arms crumple. His upper lip, his moustache, quiver. Rap! Rap, on the door. The sounds slap Kabnis. They bring a hectic color to his cheeks. Like huge cold finger tips they touch his skin and goose-flesh it. Hanby strikes a commanding pose. He moves toward Layman. Layman’s face is innocently immobile.

Related Characters: Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Hanby , Layman
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:

His eyes shift to Kabnis. In the instant of their shifting, a vision of the life they are to meet. Kabnis, a promise of a soil-soaked beauty; uprooted, thinning out. Suspended a few feet above the soil whose touch would resurrect him. Arm’s length removed from those whose will to help…There is a swift intuitive interchange of consciousness. Kabnis has a sudden need to rush into the arms of this man. His eyes call, “Brother.” And then a savage, cynical twist-about within him mocks his impulse and strengthens him to repulse Lewis. His lips curl cruelly. His eyes laugh. They are glittering needles, stitching. With a throbbing ache they draw Lewis To. Lewis brusquely wheels on Hanby.

Related Characters: Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Hanby , Layman
Page Number: 130
Explanation and Analysis:

Their meeting is a swift sun-burst. Lewis impulsively moves towards her. His mind flashes images of her life in the southern town. He sees the nascent woman, her flesh already stiffening to cartilage, drying to bone. Her spirit-bloom, even now touched sullen, bitter. Her rich beauty fading…He wants to— He stretches forth his hands to hers. He takes them. They feel like warm cheeks against his palms. The sun-burst from her eyes floods up and haloes him. Christ-eyes, his eyes look to her. Fearlessly she loves into them. Sand then something happens. Her face blanches. Awkwardly she draws away. The sin-bogies of respectable southern colored folks clamor at her: “Look out! Be a good girl. A good girl. Look out!”

Related Characters: Karintha , Carma , Fern , Avey , Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Carrie K. , Stella, Cora
Page Number: 138
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis, with great mock-solemnity, goes to the corner, takes down the robe, and dons it. He is a curious spectacle, acting a part, yet very real. He joins the others at the table. They are used to him. Lewis is surprised. He laughs. Kabnis shrinks and then glares at him with a furtive hatred. Halsey, bringing out a bottle of corn licker, pours drinks.

Related Characters: Fred Halsey (speaker), Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Hanby , Carrie K.
Page Number: 143
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Cane LitChart as a printable PDF.
Cane PDF

Fred Halsey Quotes in Cane

The Cane quotes below are all either spoken by Fred Halsey or refer to Fred Halsey . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Navigating Identity Theme Icon
).
29. Kabnis Quotes

Halsey (in a mock religious tone): Amen t that, brother Layman. Amen (turning to Kabnis, half playful, yet somehow in dead earnest). An Mr. Kabnis, kindly remember youre in th land of cotton—hell of a land. Th white folks get th boll; th niggers get th stalk. An dont you dare touch th boll, or even look at it. they’ll swing y sho. (Laughs.)

Kabnis: But they wouldnt touch a gentleman—fellows, men like us three here—

Layman: Nigger’s a nigger down this away, Professor. An only two dividins: good an bad. And even they aint permanent categories. They sometimes mixes um up when it comes t lynchin. I’ve seen um do it.

[…]

Kabnis: Things are better now though since that stir about those peonage cases, arent they?

Layman: Ever hear tell of a single shot killin moren one rabbit, Professor?

Related Characters: Ralph Kabnis (speaker), Fred Halsey (speaker), Layman (speaker)
Page Number: 118
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis wants to rise and put both Halsey and Hanby in their places. He vaguely knows that he must do this, else the power of direction will completely slip from him to those outside. The conviction is just strong enough to torture him. To bring a feverish, quick-passing flare into his eyes. To mutter words soggy in hot saliva. To jerk his arms upward in futile protest. Halsey, noticing his gestures, thinks it is water that he desires. He brings a glass to him. Kabnis slings it to the floor. Heat of the conviction dies. His arms crumple. His upper lip, his moustache, quiver. Rap! Rap, on the door. The sounds slap Kabnis. They bring a hectic color to his cheeks. Like huge cold finger tips they touch his skin and goose-flesh it. Hanby strikes a commanding pose. He moves toward Layman. Layman’s face is innocently immobile.

Related Characters: Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Hanby , Layman
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:

His eyes shift to Kabnis. In the instant of their shifting, a vision of the life they are to meet. Kabnis, a promise of a soil-soaked beauty; uprooted, thinning out. Suspended a few feet above the soil whose touch would resurrect him. Arm’s length removed from those whose will to help…There is a swift intuitive interchange of consciousness. Kabnis has a sudden need to rush into the arms of this man. His eyes call, “Brother.” And then a savage, cynical twist-about within him mocks his impulse and strengthens him to repulse Lewis. His lips curl cruelly. His eyes laugh. They are glittering needles, stitching. With a throbbing ache they draw Lewis To. Lewis brusquely wheels on Hanby.

Related Characters: Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Hanby , Layman
Page Number: 130
Explanation and Analysis:

Their meeting is a swift sun-burst. Lewis impulsively moves towards her. His mind flashes images of her life in the southern town. He sees the nascent woman, her flesh already stiffening to cartilage, drying to bone. Her spirit-bloom, even now touched sullen, bitter. Her rich beauty fading…He wants to— He stretches forth his hands to hers. He takes them. They feel like warm cheeks against his palms. The sun-burst from her eyes floods up and haloes him. Christ-eyes, his eyes look to her. Fearlessly she loves into them. Sand then something happens. Her face blanches. Awkwardly she draws away. The sin-bogies of respectable southern colored folks clamor at her: “Look out! Be a good girl. A good girl. Look out!”

Related Characters: Karintha , Carma , Fern , Avey , Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Carrie K. , Stella, Cora
Page Number: 138
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis, with great mock-solemnity, goes to the corner, takes down the robe, and dons it. He is a curious spectacle, acting a part, yet very real. He joins the others at the table. They are used to him. Lewis is surprised. He laughs. Kabnis shrinks and then glares at him with a furtive hatred. Halsey, bringing out a bottle of corn licker, pours drinks.

Related Characters: Fred Halsey (speaker), Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Hanby , Carrie K.
Page Number: 143
Explanation and Analysis: