Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier's Relationship

        At times, Mr. Pontellier is controlling of his wife, while simultaneously asserting that he cares only for her. When we are first introduced to Mrs. Pontellier, Mr. Pontellier “look[s] at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (2), after he notices that she is sunburned. He also later calls his wife “the sole object of his existence” (5). Although he is contending that he cares only for her, he is also looking at her as an object, not a person. This is clear when he comes back from the hotel and he gets angry with her, scolds her, until she goes outside to weep. He believes that “his wife failed in her duty toward their children. It was something which he felt rather than perceived” (7). He had no actual reason to believe that she did not care for her children; he just thought that she did not care for them. Yet, Mrs. Pontellier still agrees with other women that her husband is the best husband. I’m curious as to where their relationship will go further in the novel.

Martha's Aunt

When I looked at the small description of Martha’s aunt, I thought it was interesting the way Jewett describes Martha’s aunt’s marriage. Jewett states that the aunt “lately married a thriving farm and its prosperous owner” (875). She puts the emphasis on the “thriving farm,” not on the man that she marries. Historically, the emphasis should be on the man. I was wondering what everyone else thinks of this line.

Lily's Humanity

When I read “Old Woman Magoun” I did not expect the turn the ending would take until they crossed the bridge the first time. At first glance I thought Magoun to be an average elderly woman who has, what seems to be justifiable, resentment towards the men of her town. As we get more into the story we see a woman who would do anything to protect her grandchild including murder. For me Magoun is very similar to the character of Margaret White from the Stephen King novel Carrie. Of course Magoun came long before White, but are they not similar characters? Both tried to keep their children as children hoping they would avoid any king of sexual encounters. Both women are terrified when the sexuality of the child is approached. Lastly both women attempt to take the lives of the child when that time comes. The difference between them being the fact that White is painted as an insane religious fanatic who is killed by her daughter in the attempt on her life and Magoun is seen as a loving and merciful grandmother who successfully allows her grandchild to die. Is this justifiable? Should we really say Magoun was right in taking the child’s life or are we putting our own views onto these characters? In Lily’s time she was practically a woman and even expressed an attractions towards the supposedly “bad man” while his attraction and want for her may make us uncomfortable we have to as if Lily really shared her grandmothers distaste for the man. The problem is Lily is never asked, she is never given a choice except for when her grandmother allows her to eat the berries. I am not in any way condoning the possibility of a relationship between Lily and the man or the fact that her father was about to trade her to pay off his debts, but shouldn’t Lily have been allowed to make mistakes and be as human as the rest of us?

Old Woman Magoun

I cannot help but to keep thinking back to this story and all of the moral dilemmas present.  Everyone in class had their own opinion about who was the antagonist in the story.  Was Old Woman Magoun the "bad guy" or was it morally right to keep Lily from suffering?  This lead me to think about how the Kohlberg theory of moral development could apply.  If you aren't aware of the Heinz Dilemma refer to the link at the bottom of the blog.  Within each dilemma their is morally a correct response, however, within each choice is an effect in society.  For me, I thought Magoun was morally correct in many ways.  First, she never actually kills Lily, she just doesn't stop her from making her deadly decision.  Second, if Lily lives she faces lifelong torture from her father and new husband.  Also, survival of the fittest plays a role in maternal instinct in the wild; Lily would have never made it.  Lastly, Lily is still very childlike which makes her innocent and free of sin.  In Magoun's mind her innocence leads her to believe she will be sent to heaven with her mother.  Although it is implied that Magoun also may have killed her daughter, that brings a whole new set of dilemmas within the theory.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5czp9S4u26M

Murder or Suicide? You decide.

As I am sitting here reflecting back on this weeks assigned readings I find myself going back to “Old Woman Magoun,” written by Mary Wilkins Freeman. Call it creepy, but my morbid curiosity got the better of me with this particular tale. I cannot help but be fascinated with Mrs. Magoun's decision to let Lily eat the deadly berries, but I still wonder the following: did Mrs. Magoun murder Lily or is her death considered suicide? Lily's death, while tragic, is also very strange. In order for it be suicide I feel as if Lily would have had to have shown signs of wanting to die. It wasn't really an accident that killed her because Mrs. Magoun showed meditative recognition that the berries were deadly and she knew what was going to happen as soon as Lily ate them. This story reminds me of an episode of Dexter where there is a serial killer in the from of a therapist. The therapist does not directly kill his victims with his own hands, but he basically talks them into having suicidal thoughts until they finish themselves off. It would be extremely interesting to see this case in a courtroom setting. My ending question to you is who do you think is to blame for the death of poor innocent Lily?

A Little Perspesctive

After reading "Old Woman Magoun" this week, I was left with many questions about the implications of the title character's final act. Was it truly merciful to allow Lily to die? Was Old Woman Magoun just a bit mad? It had been difficult for me to reach a conclusion on these matters until I read another story, putting some things in perspective. In another class, we read a story titled "The Shawl", written by Cynthia Ozick. This story is about a Jewish woman in a concentration camp who has given birth to a child, and struggles to just barely keep the baby alive, tucked away in her shawl. It was so strange to read this after having just read "Old Woman Magoun", because we have two mothers with completely different ideas about what is best for their children. For me, desperately trying to keep a baby alive in a Nazi concentration camp seemed insane and delusional. This is where I began to understand Old Woman Magoun's motives. As a reader, it was an automatic response to think that Lily's situation wouldn't be "that bad" because wouldn't it be better to be alive? But after reading "The Shawl" I saw a more extreme depiction of a similar situation and realized the importance of perspective. A line in "Old Woman Magoun" reads, "When they set out, the old, heavily stepping woman, in her black gown and cape and bonnet, looked down at the little pink fluttering figure. Her face was full of the tenderest love and admiration, and yet there was something terrible about it." (425).  This woman was not a crazy killer. She loved Lily, and was heartbroken by what she had to do. In Old Woman Magoun's eyes, she saw a life of sexual abuse and servitude for Lily, and sending this innocent girl to go with these men must have seemed insane. She did what she honestly believed was right, and I love how another piece of literature was able to bring me closure with this story.

Arranged Americanism

When we were discussing Mrs. Spring Fragrance today in class, I started thinking about the arranged marriage. I found it interesting that the Spring Fragrances were contempt in their marriage, that was arranged, but she wanted Laura to find love for herself. I took this to show that no matter how much Mr. Spring Fragrance thought that his wife was becoming and American, in fact she was helping Laura to Americanize.

In fact, I think that Mrs. Spring Fragrance had very little correct information about all Americans. She said that "many American women wrote books." (515) She says that Tennyson is an American (506).  This lack of concrete and true knowledge lead me to question the letter that she sent about the lecture on protecting China. Her incorrect knowledge lead me to believe that it may have been a lack of knowledge that lead her to say this. The times she refers to males as the superior sex (509) even seemed in character since she is supposed to be subservient to her husband.

From this, I thought that Mrs. Spring Fragrance was trying to push Laura to find love because she wanted Laura to be American, especially since she herself was not very American.

Merry Marriage

What I enjoyed most about the story "Mrs. Spring Fragrance" is how it took a look at two different cultures that are so far removed from each other in the American culture and the Chinese culture.

It was interesting to see how the viewpoints on marriage differed when in reality, neither culture is right or wrong. it just depends on what an individual believes marriage to be about. If one believes that we are to marry someone who shares our values and will be a good provider/partner, then maybe arranged marriages are not a bad idea. If one believes that we are destined to fall in love and marry because of that love, then Americans are on the right track. There is not really a right or wrong answer to the question which choice is better because they both represent love in a way, whether it be the love of a significant other or the love between parent and child.

I used to think arranged marriages were a terrible idea but the reading this week really opened my eyes and made me see that maybe it's not all bad. If it is a part of someone's culture and they grow up not knowing any different then whose to say what's right or wrong. Either way, marriage is marriage.

The fears of man.

I think it is interesting that "Mrs. Spring Fragrance," by Far, is written more focused about a mans perspective on emotion and and love rather than a woman's.  We have read short stories up to this point about women and how they share their feelings for other people.  I would argue that Far is keeping her feminist view, but relaying through men.  Mr. Spring Fragrance comes to the realization that his wife is now being converted into an "American" woman.  He has been told that in America "Love . . . must be free, or it is not love at all" (511).  Of course, in China, people have arranged marriages, so Mr. Spring Fragrance and Mrs. Spring Fragrance were never married based on their feelings towards one another.  The text says, "the old order is passing away, and the new order is taking its place" (512).  This statement was initially said from a political view, China being the old and America being the new.  I feel that Far is also suggesting that this statement could apply to the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Spring Fragrance, Mr. Spring Fragrance being the old and Mrs Spring Fragrance's new-found Americanization being the new.
-Brittany Kief

The Love of Culture

I thought that Far's "Mrs. Spring Fragrance" was a beautiful story.  Although it seems to be one only of love, I think it is deeper than that. Gender roles are prominent in the culture that Mr. and Mrs. Spring Fragrance live in at first, but Mrs. Spring Fragrance is fascinated by American culture. She was "Americanized," and although her husband was less, he was still falling into American culture.
While reading the story I was scared that this was going to be a story of loss; that Mr. Spring Fragrance would misunderstand his wife, and their relationship would crumble. Yet they stay as strong as ever, and Mrs. Spring Fragrance's vibrancy keeps two loves (her own and that of Laura) together. This story shows the blending of cultures, and the differences of love. Although Mrs. Spring Fragrance and her husband had an arranged marriage, their love is just as strong as Laura and Kai Tzu.
I believe that underneath the surface this story is about culture, understanding, and acceptance. It also has an undertone of struggle, as we learn that Mr. Spring Fragrance's brother has been detained.

Understanding Misunderstandings

As I have been reading the selections as of late, I have been reflecting on the amount of misunderstandings in literature and movies that we never seem to tire of. Everywhere there are people barely speaking and barely listening, except to gossip, and the miscommunications seem to continue to pile up.  If we look at Darcy and Lizzie and Mr. Bingley and Jane, how many chapters could have been skipped if they just listened to each other and drowned out the rest.  However, would the story have been the least bit interesting to us?  Now we read about the Spring Fragrances and are on the edge of our seats wondering if there is enough love between them to have faith in the other or if Jade will come home to an empty house.  That I think is the point, I am wondering if as a society we have not worn each other down to the point of complete mistrust with the acidic gossip we constantly hear and share.  If we hear the spouse/partner might have cheated they are guilty until proven innocent,  until they can prove, under our acerbic tongues and gazes that they are innocent, but there is damage done at that point.  There is much trust lost in that supposed trust gained and we can see that pattern stretching all the way back to Austen's time.  The most horrible example is in old Woman Magoun who allows her daughter to die to avoid the rumor mill and bring shame upon her.  Shame?  What is more shame than murder?  I am not claiming that everyone partakes of the ritual of gossip or believes all that they here, but we do for the most part LIKE to hear it and I think that is the problem.  When we hear about someone else's trouble we feel good about ourselves and our situations and  I just wonder what that says about us as a society.  Are we really so far gone that we need that little "elixir of hope" to show us that someone else is even more screwed up than we are.  Troubling.

Mrs.Spring Fragrance: Representations of Traditional Chinese in the US?

I felt the characterizations of Jade Spring Fragrance and Mr. Spring Fragrance to be caricature-like at times. These characters were not "real" to me, but rather stand-ins for the authorial voice to represent traditional Chinese gender roles and as serve as cultural ambassadors in the text.

After briefly researching the author Sui Sin Far (aka Edith Maude Eton), I made much better sense of the purpose of the short story. As a writer of mixed Chinese and white ethnicity, I believe Far wrote this story to present her own experiences as an Asian-American living in the US and Canada at the turn of the 20th century.

For me, Mr. Spring Fragrance is reduced to his gender expression and cultural myths --both traditional Chinese and somewhat "American," by the story's end.  We can understand early in the narrative that he sees himself as separate from women and the role of his wife; he is initially described as "not wishing to hear more of the secret talk of women" (506) when overhearing his wife speak with Laura. To emphasize this separation of the sexes, he is positioned usually in the exterior (veranda, lawn), leaving the inner domestic spaces for his wife to occupy. In several episodes, Mr. SF, completely befuddled by American ways, inquires to the American neighbor next door, about various points of American culture. This unnamed neighbor is described as a "star student. . .[who] had not the slightest doubt that he could explain the meaning of all things in the universe" (507), and he happily answers Mr. SF's inquiries. When Mr. SF asks this neighbor about American poetry (the Tennyson quotation about love lost), he doesn't agree with his neighbor's liberal romantic view, and thinks on "the unwisdom of the American ways at looking at things" (507). Later, Mr. SF discusses traditional Chinese arranged marriages with this neighbor. The American neighbor declares "Love, in this country, must be free, or it is not love at all" (511) to which Mr. SF replies, "In China it is different!" (511) It seems these two characters are positioned in opposition to demonstrate literal dialogue between American and Chinese cultures. Either figure serves as a mouthpiece of his culture.

As for Mrs. Jade Spring Fragrance, she describes herself as Mr. Spring Fragrance's "obedient woman" (509) and moves to call him a "superior sex" (509). For her, the only fault in her marriage is when Mr. SF does not give her a "certain jadestone pendant" on their wedding anniversary (509). Besides her traditionally subordinate position, she is depicted as a mischievous match maker, as she secretly organizes the weddings of Ah Oi and the school teacher's daughter so that Laura and Kai Tzu could be together. I believe this characterization to be a blend of traits of traditional Chinese and American, which is perhaps to articulate the narrator's assertion that Jade is more Americanized.

Considering the way that her characters are presented in this piece, what is Sui Sin Far saying about the Chinese experience in America ---particularly involving love and marriage; is she presenting an authentic portrait? I think this short story to be charming, but it took a second reading and some biographical information for me to better understand the characterizations at work.

Changes in Society

After reading, “Old Woman Magoun,” written by Mary Wilkins Freeman, I cannot help but to think of how much society has changed since this work was written. Old Woman Magoun does not stop her fourteen-year-old grandchild, Lily, from eating poisonous berries in order to “protect” her from Jim Willis, an older man who shows interest in her. In time, these berries kill Lily, and some people would make the argument that it is Old Woman Magoun’s fault that she passes. In today’s society, most people have heard of Casey Anthony, a woman who was found not guilty in the murder of her three year old daughter. Our country was in awe when she was not convicted because many people believed that the evidence pointed to her being guilty. I cannot imagine what it would be like if Old Woman Magoun tried to justify her reasoning behind allowing Lily to eat the berries in today’s society. Honestly, I have no children, but I still cannot find myself completely okay with knowing that this character allowed her granddaughter to die instead of finding an alternate way to protect her.

            Another way that I believe society has transformed is that people today are more accepting of couples having children before they are married. In this work, Old Woman Magoun insists that Lily’s mother and Nelson Barry were married when their daughter was conceived, but the text tells us that is only a rumor (418).  She lied about her daughter being married out of fear that someone would judge her because she was pregnant out of wedlock. In today’s society, we see high schoolers having children, people having affairs that result in a pregnancy, and females getting pregnant without knowing who the father of the baby is. The older generation are less accepting of these things, but it is common to see nowadays, so it is easier for our younger generation to be more tolerant in these circumstances. 

When a Man Loves a Woman: "Mrs. Spring Fragrance"

In “Mrs. Spring Fragrance,” I found the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Spring Fragrance most interesting. Mr. Spring Fragrance seems to make a complete transition from conservative traditional Chinese beliefs to conservative American Chinese beliefs. When Mr. Spring Fragrance first realizes the true meaning of Tennyson’s quote, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost, / Than never to have loved at all,’” he seems outraged by the idea of a woman loving a man she will not marry (507). Mr. Spring Fragrance even contemplates whether Mrs. Spring Fragrance is being unfaithful and “is just like an American woman” (511). Mr. Spring Fragrance seems stuck in his traditional Chinese ways until Mr. Chin Yuen tells him that his daughter is no longer in an arranged marriage and that she can marry Kai Tzu. I think Mr. Spring Fragrance begins to make a transition from conservative Chinese beliefs, not only because the Yuen family has, but also for his wife. Mrs. Spring Fragrance has become “Americanized” and Mr. Spring Fragrance has been struggling with her Americanization. When Mr. Spring Fragrance says to Mrs. Spring Fragrance, “I would prefer to hear again about Ah Oi and Man You and Laura and Kai Tzu,” he finalizes his transition from conservative Chinese beliefs to conservative American Chinese beliefs because he is interested in Laura and Kai Tzu’s marriage. I believe Mr. Spring Fragrance makes this transition to make his wife happy because he loves her, what do you think?

Martha's Deification of Helena in Jewett's "Martha's Lady"

Martha held an idealized conception of Helena in her mind, an image that was both fetishized and deified with the passage of time. Martha’s fetish is revealed by her tracking Helena’s movements across Europe: 

A worn old geography book often stood open at the map of Europe on the light-stand in her room and a little old-fashioned gilt button, set with a bit of glass like a ruby, that had broken and fallen from the trimming of one Helena’s dresses, was used to mark the city of her dwelling place. (885-886)

In essence, during the forty years of her absence, Helena was accorded the status of a Goddess in Martha’s mind and heart. That image was briefly disturbed but quickly restored when the two women were reunited: “Martha gave a pitiful sob; she had never dreamed it would be like this; this was the one thing she could not bear” (888). After briefly losing her composure in the present, Martha returns to a timeless (surreal) state of mind: “The young eyes were still there in the changed face, and Miss Helena had come” (888). We are then told: “The long years seemed like days” (888). Like a masterpiece of art, Martha’s love for Helena existed outside of the realm of ordinary time and place. Helena had been deified.

Fruit Everywhere

I just wanted to speak a little on the abundance of fruit references in the past stories we've read. Of course, we have had our run ins with cherry trees, connecting them to sexual references, making them more figurative. I thought it was intersting, though, that in "Two Friends," we as readers are told right away that the "cherry-trees in the front yard had been called Abby and Sarah" (413). We know that the trees, in a way, symbolize the relationship of the women. In contrast, "Martha's Lady" does not intertwine Martha and Helena right away. Helena actually says "I wish I had asked him if he would be so kind as to climb the cherry tree" (874). The first reference to the cherry tree in this story is pertaining to the minister, a man. So, I just found it interesting that both stories include these trees and close woman relationships, yet, the approaches are totally different.

The Barry Line

The story, "Old Woman Mangoun" has been one of the darkest themed stories we have read in class yet. The layers within the story that Freeman creates, in addition to the morbid elements that are brought up by the tale, create a story that begs for in depth analysis. Not only should we excavate through the layers, as Dr. Hanrahan has been asking us to do, but the story is one that begs time be spent actually looking at the layers. One layer I would like to take a moment to look at relates to the character of Nelson Barry. While it was universally acknowledge that he was a monster of man I think that there is, obviously, more to him. This idea is supportable by the fact that when Lily is dying he genuinely does feel bad: "'is she sick?' he asked in a hushed voice. . . .'Good God? why didn't you send for some one for me-before? Why, she's dying; she's almost gone!'." Therefore, due to his clear distress readers can see that, even if he is a disgusting man, he is not entirely heartless. This realization concerning Nelson caused me to begin to wonder what happened to him and the Barry line that caused it to become the untrustworthy and "bad" name it has become. Of course, I have no textual evidence that can answer any questions I have to ask why Nelson Barry is, "the degenerate of a fine old race." However, at the core of this layer, I think, should simply be the realization that no character in this story is completely two dimensional. I am in no way "team Barry," nor do I condone his motives or actions; however, I do think that in order to be good readers we should consider, and wonder, how Nelson Barry's bloodline became tainted. Has there been bad Blood in the Barry line for a long time? Did the bad blood start with Nelson? What was the cause of the bloodline being tainted? Was the alcohol that seems to be corrupting the rest of the men in the town to blame for the Barry's fall as well?

Harriet's Lady is Martha?

While reading "Martha's Lady" I assumed there was going to be more information on Helena since Martha loves her and the title is clearly indicating Helena.

I went back and noticed a few things about Harriet and Martha. First, the beginning of the story has a crazy amount of information about Harriet. You get information on how she wears her hair, how particular she is, why she is alone, how the house looks, etc. That amount of information in a short story seems like it is directing more focus onto Harriet even though it appears Martha and Helena's relationship is the main plot.

When Helena visits and suggests asking Mr. Crofton to help her pick the cherries higher up on the tree, Harriet claims that "Martha will get the cherries for you" (874). However, shortly after she sees Martha and Helena having fun walking through the flowers to the tree she seems put off and states, "Martha ought to be in the dining-room, already, slow as she is; it wants but half an hour tea-time" (874). This change is from one paragraph to another, so almost immediately after she tells Helena to ask Martha, she is upset that Martha is helping her instead of working.

Further in the story when Helena is getting married, Harriet refuses to allow Martha to come even though Helena directly expresses she wants Martha there with her. The narrator indicates that "But she [Martha] never knew that Miss Helena had asked if cousin Harriet would not bring Martha to town; she should like to have Martha there to see her married" (882). Harriet justifies not bringing Martha or even telling her by concluding that "Martha would be out of her element" (882). It is important to keep in mind that Harriet did not have this same "out of her element" attitude when it was clear Martha was not a great house maid. Harriet tried correcting her, so she would adjust regardless of if it was Martha's element or not.

It would seem that Helena was very much Martha's Lady as the title confirms, but there is certainly evidence that Martha could be Harriet's Lady. At the very least there is jealously.

Old Woman Magoun and the Men of Barry's Ford

I think a lot about this story. Old Woman Magoun kind of reminds me of the character of  Joe Dagget: "He seemed to fill up the whole room" (Freeman 357). Does Old Woman Magoun dominate the men of Barry's Ford? I realize patriarchy is a theme in this story, but I believe Old Woman Magoun is more than just a “man eater.” She is an independent woman who seems to control the characters around her. From the beginning of the piece, Mary Wilkins Freeman displays Magoun’s strong or masculine role: “Old Woman Magoun was largely instrumental in building the bridge to pass. She haunted the miserable grocery, wherein whiskey and hands of tobacco were the most salient features of the stock in trade, and she talked much. She would elbow herself into the midst of the idlers and talk. ‘That bridge out to be built this summer,’ said Old Woman Magoun. She spread her strong arms like wings, and sent the loafers, half laughing, half angry, flying in every direction” (Freeman 418). This quotation depicts Old Woman Magoun’s influence over the men in town.  The bridge does get completed and it is suggested that her house is the headquarters for the construction workers. Do they mock her more than they respect her? I believe that most of the men respect her, because they do not drink during dinner at her house. This shows that the workers listen to her.

            On the same page, Freeman again demonstrates Magoun’s confident character: “‘You can cuss all you want to Nelson Barry,’ said she; ‘I ain’t afraid of you. I don’t expect you to lay ary log of the bridge, but I am goin’ to have it built this very summer.’ She did. The weakness of masculine element in Barry’s Ford was laid low before such strenuous feminine assertion” (Freeman 418). In this quotation, Freeman displays Old Woman Magoun’s aggressive personality. She is not scared of Barry’s negative reaction to project proposal. This quotation also makes it clear that Magoun holds power over Nelson Barry or maybe the men of Barry’s Ford in general. Which do you think is more likely? Although Magoun does not persuade Barry to work on the bridge, she is able to band together enough men to complete the project. I think that this is pretty impressive, because the text suggests that she is the head of the project.

            Okay, I know what you are thinking, “Uh, but Old Woman Magoun kills Lily to keep her out of the clutches of sketchy men like Jim Willis.” I have been thinking about this as well. I believe that Old Woman Magoun still demonstrates dominance over men when she kills Lily. As we all know, Old Woman Magoun saves Lily by killing her. Therefore, Jim Willis never has a chance to corrupt Lily. Ultimately, (and gravely) Old Woman Magoun outsmarts the men of Barry’s Ford, but at a price? Obviously, I am still toying with this last thought. So much to think about and uncover in this piece!

Euthanization: Human VS Non-human

     The euthanization of animals is viewed as an act of mercy. To end the suffering of an animal by taking its life, when there is nothing else which can ease the suffering, is viewed as something positive. However, when the subject of euthanizing humans is brought up, controversy ensues. I believe that the controversy which surrounds human euthanization, but not other animal euthanization, comes from humankind’s unwillingness to accept the fact that we are nothing more than animals ourselves. Humans tend to believe that our intelligence and the ways our species has conquered the rest of the natural world sets us apart or makes us better in some way. I would argue that it doesn't. We are nothing more than animals; no better and no worse than any other species. When one considers this point of view, human euthanization is no worse than non-human euthanization. 

     Old Woman Magoun definitely shares the same view point as me. She tries to find a way out for Lily by trying to have Lily adopted by a wealthy family in a few towns over. When this fails she understands that there is nothing else she can do: as Nelson reflects, “she understood much better than her sex in general the futility of withstanding the inevitable.” To prevent her granddaughter’s suffering, she allows Lily to consume deadly nightshade berries and end her life. I view this as an act of mercy and would argue that the way Magoun comforts Lily as she is dying shows that Magoun is trying to make her passing as smooth as possible, much like the way animal euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress. I think the texts comparison of Isabel Barry to a dog: “She had learned with her feeble intellect some tricks, like a dog”, only further proves my point. We can in turn imagine that Lily would have become very dog like herself and imagining Lily as a dog makes it easier for the reader to view her euthanization as a merciful act.

The Moral Dilemma in Freeman's "Old Woman Magoun"

Can innocence survive in the midst of evil that is so pervasive that it corrupts everything it touches? Is the death of a precious grandchild preferable to sexual defilement at the hands of malicious predators? Is allowing a loved one to die in order to prevent sexual abuse morally justifiable? These are questions that vex Old Woman Magoun in Mary Wilkins Freeman’s story. They are also questions that vex her readers.

Lily Berry is Magoun’s granddaughter. Lily’s mother was married to Nelson Berry, who is described as a “fairly dangerous degenerate of a good old family” (419). She died when Lily was a week old. The men of the hamlet of Berry’s Ford are heavy drinkers and indolent, a slovenly lot. They have lost their masculinity to alcohol and slothfulness. There is an old saying that “the devil finds work for idle hands,” and that is the case for the men of Berry’s Ford. 

Lily, who is fourteen years old, looks no older than ten. She is sheltered by her grandmother. Lilly carries a tattered rag doll with here wherever she goes. The story’s narrator describes Magoun’s moral character and her situation: “Old Woman Magoun had within her a mighty sense of reliance upon herself as being on the right track in the midst of a maze of evil, which gave her courage” (419). Magoun is an oasis of virtue existing in a wasteland of corruption and evil. She survives because of her experience and moral fortitude, qualities that Lily is yet to fully develop at such a young age. 

When her grandmother sends Lily to the store for some salt, she meets an apparently nice man who takes her by the hand and walks with her to the store. She has her rag doll with her. Freeman skillfully creates a sense of dark foreboding during this scene. The reader senses that there is something sinister about this outwardly nice and handsome man. The stranger, Jim Willis, inquires about her age. Lily’s father is at the store when she arrives. He gives her some candy. Willis evidently finds the little girl attractive when he learns that she is fourteen years old. 

It turns out that Nelson Berry lost money in a card game to Willis. He arranges to take Lily from Magoun in order to settle his debt to Willis. We presume that Willis is to have his way with the child sexually, which is more than Magoun can countenance. Berry gives her a week to turn Lily over to him or he will take her by force. Magoun unsuccessfully tries to have Lily adopted by a nice family in a neighboring hamlet. She is out of alternatives. 

We learn that Nelson “reflected that Old Woman Magoun had a strong character, that she understood much better than her sex in general the futility of withstanding the inevitable” (424). Magoun would rather her precious grandchild die than see her defiled by a lustful sexual predator, as had happened to Lily’s mother. On the way home from the neighboring hamlet, Lily sees some delicious blackberries that she picks and eats. Amongst them are some poisonous nightshade berries, which Magoun sees her eat, and she says nothing. Lily dies that night, as her mother had died a week after her birth from the same deadly nightshade berries. 

My interpretation of Old Woman Magoun’s apparently immoral actions is that knowingly allowing her granddaughter to eat those poisonous berries is analogous to euthanizing an animal companion that is in agony and without hope of recovery. Far from committing a sin, Magoun’s action was a final act of love that was morally justifiable. After all, she had done it before. This must lead to a discussion about moral relativism, the idea that there are no fixed essential truths. All is culturally constructed in the heat of the moment.