Under the Lion's Paw Group

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jump
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In "Under the Lion's Paw," how does the portrayal of Mr. and Mrs. Haskins give them heroic, even mythic status?

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Posted by jump on Monday September 8, 2008 at 7:19 AM and tagged with characters, mr haskins, mrs haskins, themes, under the lion's paw.

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  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Mr. & Mrs. Haskins are heroic in this story because as victims of unfortunate circumstances, they have lost their farm, they do not lose their hope.  They end up getting a chance to rent a broken down old farm that needs enormous amounts of work just to produce a crop that will support the family.

    Mr. Haskins meets the challenge, working, toiling, with the help of his neighbors, and turns the farm into a profitable operation, making enormous improvements.  The landlord upon seeing the improved condition of the farm becomes greedy, realizing that he could easily rent or sell it now that it has been transformed.

    Mr. Haskins confronts evil, in the form of Butler, and although tempted to commit murder, resists the primal urge and humbles himself as a sacrifice to save his family.  He does not kill Butler, rather he agrees to pay the higher price for the farm. 

    As far as mythic status, the author was determined to portray the real hardships that farmers in the Mid-West faced.  

    The Haskins are symbols for the struggle of the American farmer against corruption and greed.  The author desired to show how ordinary people are the real heroes because of their commitment to hard work and a moral lifestyle.  These qualities, in particular, are what allowed them to survive and thrive in the most difficult of circumstances.

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Saturday September 13, 2008 at 3:33 PM