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Chapter 38
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Kind, Kindness, and Discrimination
The Power of Books
Hardship and Humanity
Change and Modernization
Autonomy and Interdependence
Summary
Analysis
Cussy Mary wrestles with deep misgivings as she rides up the mountain. She hasn’t seen Jackson in weeks, not since the Fourth of July. He hasn’t been home when she’s delivered his books. He isn’t outside when she arrives, and she stands on the porch for a long moment before bringing herself to knock. Just as she’s about to leave, he opens the door, shirtless, with a pencil tucked behind his ear. Cussy sees books and paper scattered on his table. He clears a space for her to sit, then roots around to find his library book, explaining he’s been traveling to Georgia recently to help a friend.
It's been a while since Cussy Mary has talked with Jackson. Their last conversation ended badly, with Cussy lashing out at him for presuming to tell her how to live her life. She hasn’t seen him since she made the choice to stop taking the drug and submit to the reality of her skin color. He doesn’t seem upset to see her and welcomes her unquestioningly into his home, where the mess shows that he’s been busy helping his friend. He hasn’t been deliberately avoiding Cussy.
Themes
Honey squirms in Cussy Mary’s arms, and Jackson notices her for the first time. With growing alarm, he notes Cussy’s disheveled appearance and blood-stained clothes. Words tumble out of Cussy’s mouth about the baby and the Moffits, and the Moffits’ deaths. Jackson forces her to slow down and explain the story carefully. She tells him that Honey’s mother died from giving birth and her father hanged himself rather than face the shame of having a colored baby. She’s come to Jackson to ask for help burying the bodies before the animals get them.
In an earlier chapter, Jackson wasn’t very sympathetic towards the plight of the Moffit, stating that being shot was a just consequence for Mr. Moffit’s chicken theft. Nevertheless, Cussy Mary has come to trust in his humanity so deeply that she believes he will help her lay them to rest now. Perhaps his kind treatment of her, despite her odd color, has inspired this confidence.
Themes
Jackson stops Cussy with a wave of his hand and asks if she’s really planning on burying a chicken thief and taking in an orphan. Stung by his harsh words, Cussy declares herself Honey’s mama, and says she will bury the Moffits by herself if she has to. She runs from the house, but Jackson hurries after her, promising to give them as proper a burial as a person can give in “this graceless land.” Cussy manages a strangled “obliged” of thanks before turning down the path towards home.
At first, however, it seems like Jackson will revert to his old views and hold the Moffits in the same contempt as everyone else seems to do. He’s surprised that Cussy Mary would be kind enough to take on another woman’s orphaned baby. Jackson’s harshness horrifies Cussy, and she declares that she’ll do it herself—showing off her independent streak. But then Jackson proves himself to be the kind, decent man Cussy believes him to be, and he offers to help.
Themes
