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!
Kristen, I think that your analysis of Old Woman Magoun is well supported by the text you have cited. Interestingly, this woman reminds me of another strong woman from West Virginia history, Mary Harris--Mother Jones. I am a student of labor history and Mother Jones, who worked to organize the coal fields of West Virginia, was like Old Woman Magoun in Freeman's provocative story, bigger than life. Someone wrote a biography about her--I do not recall the author's name--which I read long ago. It was called The Most Dangerous Woman in America. Mother Jones is one of my few heroes.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting!
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ReplyDeleteKristen, I think your argument all boils to a very important quotation describing Old Woman Magoun: "strenuous feminine assertion" (Freeman 418). Freeman outright tells us how femininity trumps the weakened "masculine element" in this particular community. Because the hamlet of Barry's Ford is dominated by drunk men and presumably inbred families, the patriarchy is positioned as weak and undeniably worthy of scorn. I wonder if Old Woman Magoun would be given the same dominant agency in this story if the men were described as anything else.
ReplyDeleteGood point Eileen, I don't know if Freeman is making a statement. The fact that Magoun is dominant over drunkards is obvious to the reader. Would it be the same if the men were all level-headed?
ReplyDeleteIt's worth thinking about what enables Old Woman Magoun to survive and push men around, etc.--what she has that her granddaughter doesn't have (and why). Great discussion, everyone!
ReplyDeleteat a price? no shit, she murders a child
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