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Chapter 43
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in This Tender Land, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family, Community, and Home
Hardship, Injustice, and Compassion
God, Fate, and Choice
Coming of Age and Personal Growth
Storytelling, Music, and Hope
Acceptance and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
When Odie reaches Hopersville, Maybeth is out searching for Mr. Schofield, who everyone assumes is drinking. Maybeth returns, unable to find her father. Odie does not mention the money he gave Mr. Schofield, feeling guilty for his part in the family’s misery. Joining Maybeth in her search, Odie comforts her by playing his harmonica. Suddenly, they hear Mr. Schofield singing. Surprisingly sober, he is sitting with Captain Gray. Mr. Schofield has purchased gas for the car, gifts for his family, and a ticket for Captain Gray to travel to Washington, D.C. Hearing of Odie’s generosity, Maybeth kisses him. Heading back to the tepee to pack, Odie realizes he has paid for Maybeth to leave him.
That the entire family assumes Mr. Schofield is out drinking illustrates how little faith his community has in him, which in turn implies that Odie’s faith has been misplaced. Nevertheless, the harmonica’s appearance in this scene reminds the reader to have hope. The compassion Odie showed Mr. Schofield has inspired the man to get sober, lift himself out of despair, and share joy with his community. That Odie has failed to foresee the personally devastating consequences of his leap of faith shows that his motives were truly selfless.
Themes
