Norman Pelham, a southern farmer and confederate civil war soldier, finds himself struggling to raise a family after the war comes to an end. He wanted to do his part in the struggle against the Union forces, but he had no passion for the true cause behind the civil war: slavery. Norman’s only goal was to return home to his African American wife, Leah, who he has ushered into hiding. In Jeffrey Lent’s In The Fall, the couple determines that the best place to stay would be Norman’s Mother’s farm. During their time isolated from the rest of southern society, they successfully manage to have three children. While reading I evaluated Norman, Leah, and their relationship, predicted society’s reaction to the couple if they were to come out of hiding,
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There are two main reasons why living a normal life in the southern society will be a challenge. The first reason is that because their children were born to an African American mother, they will have an immensely difficult time finding schooling as the slavery mentality of the white majority is still present as they just fought a war fighting to keep their slaves. Back then, if a person was any part African American, they were considered an African American, regardless of the fact that Norman is white. Also, because the novel is just one couple’s view of a real life event, it is almost certain that Norman and Leah’s children will be not allowed to take class with white children, and may not be able to take classes at all much like real life. The second reason is that they will constantly be gibed at, harassed, and even assaulted by the populous. This is already evident as shown in this quote when Norman and Leah first arrived at the farm, Norman’s little sister says, “Seems to me, a man or stout boy would’ve been more useful around, you had to bring one of them home” (Lent 25). His sister, Connie, is alluding to the fact that she is disappointed that Norman brought an African American woman home. Her comment is not nearly as severe as what would occur normally because she keeps it subtle referring to Leah as, “one of
There are two main reasons why living a normal life in the southern society will be a challenge. The first reason is that because their children were born to an African American mother, they will have an immensely difficult time finding schooling as the slavery mentality of the white majority is still present as they just fought a war fighting to keep their slaves. Back then, if a person was any part African American, they were considered an African American, regardless of the fact that Norman is white. Also, because the novel is just one couple’s view of a real life event, it is almost certain that Norman and Leah’s children will be not allowed to take class with white children, and may not be able to take classes at all much like real life. The second reason is that they will constantly be gibed at, harassed, and even assaulted by the populous. This is already evident as shown in this quote when Norman and Leah first arrived at the farm, Norman’s little sister says, “Seems to me, a man or stout boy would’ve been more useful around, you had to bring one of them home” (Lent 25). His sister, Connie, is alluding to the fact that she is disappointed that Norman brought an African American woman home. Her comment is not nearly as severe as what would occur normally because she keeps it subtle referring to Leah as, “one of