Discussion Topic
Black Beauty's origins and third home in Anna Sewell's novel
Summary:
In Anna Sewell's novel Black Beauty, the horse narrates his origins, describing his early life on a peaceful farm with a kind master. His third home is with Jerry Barker, a London cab driver, where he experiences both kindness and the harsh realities of urban life.
Where was Black Beauty born and raised in Anna Sewell's Black Beauty?
Black Beauty is born and grows up in the English countryside.
Beauty remembers first a pleasant meadow in which he lives with his mother. He has many a happy day, frolicking in this meadow and being well-treated by the master. His mother teaches "Darkie," as he is called by the master, to not bite or kick, telling him of the proud line from which he has come. His mother tells him of his grandmother, who had a very sweet temperament, and his father, who had a great name, as well as his grandfather, who won the "cup" at the Newmarket races on two occasions.
As "Darkie" grows to adulthood, Squire Gordon comes to look at him and seems to like the young stallion. He tells the master that when the horse is trained, he will be interested in purchasing him. "Darkie" learns to pull a carriage by going in double...
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harness with his mother, whose example he follows. She instructs him to behave well in order to be treated well.
Then, in early May a man comes from Squire Gordon's and takes "Darkie" to Birtwick Park, which is outside the village of Birtwick. He lives with the Gordons, who rename him Beauty, for a number of years. Later on, Mrs. Gordon's health becomes endangered and she must move to a warmer climate. Beauty and the other horses are sold. He and Ginger are sold as a pair to pull a carriage and go to Earlshall Park.
What is Black Beauty's third home in Anna Sewell's story?
If we count Farmer Grey's as Black Beauty's first home, the farm and meadow
upon which Beauty was raised as a colt and broken in, then Earlshall
Park would be considered Beauty's third home in Anna
Sewell's Black Beauty.
Squire Gordon of Birtwick Park had to sell his horses and close up his estate
to tend to his wife's health. He sold Ginger and Black Beauty to the Earl of
W-- of Earlshall Park, thinking they would be well cared for their. If they had
only been cared for by the coachman, Mr. York, they certainly would have been.
Mr. York is described by Beauty as being very careful with
horses; he especially wants to do all he can to manage their tempers and is
very understanding when he hears Ginger's temper was influenced by harsh
treatment and being made to wear the check-rein and gag bit. Mr. York also
prefers the lose rein and gets very upset when the horses are harassed by the
check-rein.
However, aside from Mr. York, others of the household are
very foolish, which leads to both Beauty and Ginger soon being
ruined. The first example of foolishness is that Lady W-- insists her carriage
horses wear the check-rein for the sake of fashion. The second example of
foolishness is that York, out of kindness and compassion, insists on keeping
Reuben Smith as a groom, an alcoholic who tends towards binge drinking. Though
when sober he is an excellent groom, one day with Beauty while drunk, he has a
terrible accident that takes his own life and breaks beauty's
knees, making Beauty no longer fit for carriage work, only fit for
hard labor. A third example of foolishness is that Lord George, the Earl of
W--'s son, though warned not to, ruined Ginger's breathing by running her too
hard during a hunt.