Character Analysis In 'Lincolnites' By Ron Rash

Character Analysis Paper I will be analyzing Lily, a character from the book “Lincolnites” by Ron Rash. The plot of the story is a young pregnant woman named Lily who lives with her child tending to their home while her husband is off at war. Then one day, a confederate soldier came by and was determined to get what he wanted. As this was going on Lily, had to make a sacrifice for her family. Lily has spent numerous days, weeks, and months alone taking care of her child and unborn baby while also keeping the house protected. Doing this has made Lily a strong and brave woman. Lily has waited patiently on her husband, Ethan, to get home from the war. Throughout the time he was gone, she remained humble and had hopes and dreams of their life …show more content…
She defeated Vaughn, who is the antagonist by making a tremendous choice on whether to kill or be raped and lose everything her family has worked for such as transportation, animals, food, and supplies. She decided that she was going to fight back and not let him take away everything she had earned. When Vaughn set his mind on getting the things he wanted, he decided that if Lily didn’t want to trade her livelihood, then he intended on getting something else out of her. For example, “Okay, he finally said, and nodded toward the front door. Let’s you and me go inside” (Rash …show more content…
It takes a lot of audacity to do what she did. Not everyone has the capability to kill someone and hide the body in their own root cellar, especially with her child in the house. “Vaughn’s hands stayed on his trousers a moment longer, as though not yet registering what had happened. Lily scrambled to the entrance while Vaughn shifted his forearms and slowly raised his head. He stared at the needle’s rounded stem that pressed into his flesh like a misplaced button” (Rash 202). After that happened, it seemed as if she had lost her humanity with the guilt that appeared. She had gone back up to the house to check on her child and when she did, she was worrying about confederate, Vaughn, and if he had told anyone where he was going. “As Lily ate, she wondered if the Confederate had told anyone in Boone where he was headed. Maybe, but probably he wouldn’t have said which particular farm, wouldn’t have known himself which one until he found something to take” (Rash 203). She then, planned on planting tomato’s and squash and went on with her life as if nothing had