Previous
Chapter 34
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Copper Sun, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Slavery, Dehumanization, and Resistance
Horror vs. Beauty
Friendship
Memory and Storytelling
Gender, Race, and Power
Summary
Analysis
The rabbit boosts Amari, Polly, and Tidbit’s spirits. For four days, they keep walking and discover crayfish in the rivers they cross. Amari is exhausted and feels sick all the time, and she’s not sure how much longer she can keep going. She’s also still afraid that they’ll be found. One night, the branches of a tree seem to move and grab Amari. Polly snags Tidbit and pulls him away, but Amari finds herself face to face with Clay. He drawls that Mr. Derby would’ve been proud of him, spits, and says that Amari’s feet are huge and easy to follow. As he ties her up, he explains that he never bought Dr. Hoskins’s story and figured they’d gone south. Amari asks why he even cares, and Clay gently touches her face, says she’s his, and points out that she likes him. Amari is amazed.
To Amari, there’s no reason Clay should care so much about chasing down runaways. But in Clay’s mind, Amari, Polly, and Tidbit belong to him, and it’s necessary to capture and punish them to make it clear to all his slaves that running away will not be tolerated. Chasing after them and capturing them allows him to assert his power and his dominance over the runaways, thereby further breaking their spirits and making it seem as though it’s hopeless to look forward to a better life anywhere.
Themes
Clay says that he’s here to take back what’s his. Amari spits directly in Clay’s face, and he slaps her. She faints but comes to when Clay slaps her again. She can hear Hushpuppy growl and tells Clay that Tidbit died and Polly went north. Clay calmly reminds Amari that he followed footprints and knows she’s lying. He says he’ll enjoy punishing her when they get back to the plantation. He’s the master now since Mr. Derby died. Amari is surprised and wonders if Mrs. Derby is relieved. Clay says he believes Mr. Derby was poisoned. He says that when they get back, he’ll punish Amari by cutting off a finger or a toe, or branding her face. Tonight, however, he’s going to “make up for lost time.” He strokes her leg and ignores her kicks.
The aside that Mr. Derby is dead suggests that Teenie may have gotten revenge on Mr. Derby for trying to sell Tidbit—and since Clay doesn’t try to scare or hurt Amari by detailing how he’s punishing Teenie, it’s possible that Teenie has gotten away with it thus far. Meanwhile, it remains a mark of Amari’s compassion that she’s still able to think of Mrs. Derby even while Clay threatens her.
Themes
Polly leaps out of the woods holding the musket and shoots at Clay. Clay falls to the ground. Terrified, Polly inspects him. He’s not dead; the bullet just grazed his head. Polly unties Amari, and they tie Clay up. They know he’ll probably get loose, but they’ll have time to get away. Polly agrees with Amari that Clay should die, but it’s not for them to do. As Clay begins to stir, Polly says they have to leave before Clay comes after them and kills them. Amari, though, points to a big rattlesnake moving toward Clay. Clay opens his eyes, realizes he’s bound, and begins to shout. Amari says that they’re not going back as Clay victoriously unties one of his arms. He asks how Amari can repay him for his kindness like this, but Amari looks at him with pity. Clay notices the snake, and Polly, Amari, and Tidbit hurry into the woods.
If the rattlesnake bites Clay, he’ll die a similarly horrific death as so many of his father’s slaves who were bitten by copperheads in the rice fields. However, even if Clay does die, it’s important to remember that this small victory doesn’t mean that the slaves on Derbyshire Farms will be safe or free. They’ll likely end up enslaved elsewhere or by whoever assumes control of Derbyshire farms. In this sense, the novel makes it clear it’s not enough to take out single bad actors. Rather, the entire institution of slavery must be eradicated for Black people to live without fear.
Themes
