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Chapter 5
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
Shaken from her encounter with Vester, Cussy Mary breathes a prayer of gratitude. But because she isn’t allowed into any of the churches, she feels insecure in her faith. She’s furious that Vester robbed her of the joy she’d felt that morning and scared of his power over her.
One form of the discrimination against Cussy Mary as a Blue is barring her from attending church. This catches her in an impossible loop: people think she’s bad because she doesn’t go to church, but because she’s different, they won’t let her go to church. Nevertheless, Cussy believes in God and has her own faith.
Themes
Finally, Cussy Mary and Junia reach Lovett Ridge. It’s a lovely place, with a view of the mountains below and the scent of apple and honeysuckle on the breeze. Compared to the dark woods and hollers, it seems sacred. Jackson Lovett is at work in the yard. When she drops two books on the ground, he tries to help her pick them up, but ends up with a bite from Junia for his efforts. As they talk, Jackson keeps stealing glances at Cussy. In his eyes, she sees gentleness, curiosity, and loss.
The contrast between Lovett’s Ridge and the dark hollow where Vester confronted Cussy Mary is stark. Even before she meets Jackson Lovett, he is putting her at ease and making her feel safe. Cussy’s reaction to the landscape foreshadows her later relationship with Jackson. And then, when she meets him, he betrays no fear or disgust over her oddly colored skin. Jackson, like Cussy, has seen loss and pain, but loss and pain has been made gentle, not harsh.
Themes
Jackson offers Junia a piece of apple. Her desire for the treat overcomes her mistrust of men, and she takes it. Then he looks at the book Cussy Mary brought, A Plea for Old Cap Collier, by Kentuckian Irvin S. Cobb. Cobb’s books are usually popular with the men, but Jackson says he would prefer John Steinbeck. Cussy is impressed by his taste; most of her male patrons either can’t or don’t care to read and prefer mechanic magazines to books.
Jackson shows his kindness in his patience toward Junia. His ability to overcome her distrust foreshadows a deep relationship with Cussy; if Junia trusts him, then it’s safe for Cussy to trust him, too. Jackson shares a love of literature with Cussy that distinguishes him from most of the other local men, suggesting the power of books to grow a person’s character.
Themes
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Jackson thanks Cussy Mary for the book. He asks her to call him by his name, puts out his hand to shake hers, and asks her name. But before he can touch her, Junia steps between them. Cussy Mary says that most people call her “Bluet,” but when he says goodbye, he calls her “Cussy Mary.”
Jackson sees and treats Cussy Mary like a human being. Like Winnie, he calls her by her name instead of the stigmatizing nickname, “Bluet.” And, like Angeline, he doesn’t seem to be afraid that touching her will somehow contaminate him.
Themes
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