Student Question
Who are all of Black Beauty's owners in Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty"?
Quick answer:
Black Beauty's owners in Anna Sewell's novel include Farmer Grey, Squire Gordon of Birtwick Manor, the Earl of W--- of Earlshall Park, an unnamed livery stable master, Mr. Barry of Bath, Jeremiah Barker, an unnamed corn dealer, Nicholas Skinner, Farmer Thoroughgood, and finally, the Ladies of Birtwick Manor. Each owner impacts Beauty's life significantly, with experiences ranging from kind treatment to severe abuse.
There are nine owners of Black Beauty recorded in the fictional novel. However, there are many more who come into contact with him throughout his life and have a dramatic impact upon him.
Black Beauty is born to Dutchess and owned by Squire Gordon of Birtwick Manor. He lives there until his mistress grows ill and must move away.
Beauty is sold to the Earl of W--- of Earlshall Park, where he is well-tended until Reuben Smith enters the story. Smith ruins Beauty's knees through careless riding. The Lady of W--- cannot abide by a horse with such knees in her stables and he is sold again.
His next owner is unnamed and referred to only as the master of livery stables where horses are available for rent. For the first time in his life, he is subject to continued substandard treatment until bought by a kind-hearted man who rented...
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him once, Mr. Barry of Bath.
Jeremiah Barker, a cab driver, is the fifth owner of Beauty. Barker treats him quite well and may have owned him throughout his life if not for his catching cold during a long evening wait. Unable to continue the business, Barker passes Beauty on to another unnamed owner.
The corn dealer and baker cares little for horses and sells Beauty to Nicholas Skinner, a harsh coachman. Skinner abuses his horses and nearly kills Beauty with exhaustion and an overloaded coach. Forced to sell him or allow him ample pasture time to heal, Skinner sells him at a London horse fair.
Farmer Thoroughgood, a kind fellow, and his grandson take a liking to Beauty and purchase him for a good sum. Beauty is once again on the mend and when healed is brought around to his final home. He is offered to the Ladies of Birtwick Manor, specifically to Miss Ellen. The groom, Joe Green, recognizes Beauty's markings and everyone associated with the Manor is happy to see his return.
References
Who owned Black Beauty and his mother in Anna Sewell's Black Beauty?
Anna Sewell's Black Beauty was a rather ground-breaking work because it was one of the first novels to portray an animal as animal rather than as an animal with human characteristics.
At the beginning of the novel, Black Beauty and his mother, Duchess, are owned by Farmer Grey; however, the horse's name is Darkie, not Black Beauty. Darkie grows up here for the first few years of his life and enjoys it immensely. He is well fed, has plenty of room in which to run and frolic, has six other colts who are his friends, and learns many important life lessons from his wise mother who loves him very much.
One of the things she teaches him is that, no matter where he is, he should do his very best and keep his good name. Darkie is sold to the owners of Birtwick Park, Squire and Mrs. Gordon
His mother's advice will stand him in good stead over the course of the novel. Darkie will get new names, new jobs, and new owners; some of his experiences will be pleasant, but many of them will not. Very little about Black Beauty's life has to do with money or tasks, and he learns for himself that “it is good people who make good places.”