Characters
Amidst the dying echoes of the American Civil War, this poignant historical novel shifts its gaze away from the famed leaders of battle. Instead, it is through the protagonist's rejection of the revered generals' perspectives on war and mortality that his character is illuminated. In the opening chapter, we meet Inman, a battered soldier haunted by memories of the carnage at Maryes Heights in Fredericksburg. There, while generals Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet crafted eloquent phrases like jesters on a hilltop, men perished in one of history's most horrific battles. Inman is disturbed by Lee's belief that battle was a sacred act, surpassed only by prayer and scripture. Unable to view war as a divine tool, this common soldier had fought through the horrors of Malvern Hill, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg out of loyalty to his invaded homeland. Miraculously surviving a grievous neck wound, he is now weary of the relentless conflict.
Historical Inspiration
In Cold Mountain, the towering figures of history linger only in the protagonist's memories, their battles recounted by a man whose sole desire is to return home. Yet, several characters within the novel draw their origins from real historical figures. Author Charles Frazier's ancestor, also named Inman, was a Civil War soldier who, as the conflict waned, like many of his comrades, deserted to reclaim civilian life. Frazier's research uncovered the fate of two seemingly benign civilians, inspirations for Stobrod and Pangle, who were slain by a Confederate Home Guard led by a man named Teague, mirroring Frazier's antagonist. Moreover, the novel acknowledges countless women like Ada and Ruby, unsung heroines who sustained farms throughout the war's darkest days. While rooted in history, Cold Mountain's characters are crafted by Frazier. Inman and Ada, at the heart of the story, are both defiantly unconventional and embody an enduring, fundamental decency.
Contrasting Lives
Initially, the stark contrast between these two central characters is deliberate, their narratives unfolding in alternating chapters. One embarks on a journey; the other anchors herself to the land. Inman encounters a diverse array of people, each with their peculiarities, motives, and backgrounds, becoming either allies or obstacles on his path home. His encounters reveal truths about disrupted domestic lives and love. Meanwhile, Ada wrestles with unyielding animals and stubborn plants, each challenge a lesson in nature and a test of survival. Inman is a stoic man with scant illusions or familial ties, surrounded by death and seemingly absorbing its essence. Ada is a sheltered, imaginative soul, a Charleston socialite raised on the Transcendental ideals of Ralph Waldo Emerson by her minister father. She perceives life all around, though initially, it appears perplexing and adversarial. Inman possesses fierce survival instincts, symbolized by his LeMatt's pistol, "the fiercest sidearm in existence," embodying his dual capacity for destruction and endurance. Ada, both witty and willful, retains a semblance of childlike impracticality into adulthood, spending months after her father's death immersed in novels instead of preparing sustenance.
Transformation and Growth
As the story progresses, the despair-ridden yet capable soldier of the opening chapter and the vibrant but endearingly inept young woman of the second chapter begin to mirror each other. As they draw nearer both geographically and emotionally, the self-reliant warrior starts to heal and find hope, while the Victorian lady sheds her corseted inhibitions for newfound freedom, symbolized by donning a man's clothing. She learns to hunt and provide, ultimately embracing the vulnerability of love unadorned.
In the later chapters, Inman journeys from despair towards a mystical connection with the enigmatic vitality of animals, particularly bears; here, this usually reticent character finds himself spilling forth...
(This entire section contains 1711 words.)
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with fervent words. Simultaneously, Ada relinquishes her lofty, abstract perspective on life, coming face-to-face with the harsh realities of death as she lays Pangle to rest. Abandoning the "pose and irony" of her witty defenses, she speaks with unguarded sincerity from her heart.
Climactic Convergence
Inman, targeted by both Yankees and Confederates, rises from the earth, literally escaping a shallow grave shared with other "outliers." Surviving yet another brush with death, he resolves to live with newfound determination since his injury at the siege of Petersburg. With no further "backsliding," he ascends into the mountains, seeking a vision of life renewed. Meanwhile, Ada has grounded herself, moving from the ethereal heights of Transcendentalism to tend both seeds and the fallen. Inman emerges from the depths of survival's brutality, while Ada descends from idealistic heights; together, they unite amidst nature's cycles, where the physical and spiritual realms intertwine as one.
At the very core of the novel's narrative, we find Inman and Ada, whose intertwined destinies unfold with captivating depth. Many may argue that they share the spotlight as co-protagonists, with the other characters orbiting around them, serving to inspire, instruct, and shed light on their journeys. Yet, this does not diminish the significance of the myriad of compelling figures who grace the pages of Cold Mountain. These characters, especially those whom Inman encounters from the late summer to the chill of winter in 1864, enrich his odyssey from a Raleigh hospital to the Smoky Mountains beyond Asheville.
Ruby Thewes: A Force of Nature
Among these vibrant personalities, Ruby Thewes stands out as a formidable presence connected to Ada. Ruby, a rustic individualist of remarkable practical wisdom, arrives at Ada's Black Cove, sent by neighbors to aid in the farm's survival. Her inaugural act of wringing a troublesome rooster's neck sets the tone for her no-nonsense approach. For Ruby, a farm is not a canvas for admiring nature's charms; it is a workshop demanding toil. While not a Transcendentalist, she embodies a belief in the rhythms of the land, honoring the cycles of plowing, planting, and harvesting with guidance from both seasonal and astrological cues. Ada, recognizing these "signs" as a form of heightened awareness and respect for nature, embraces the lessons they offer.
Ruby possesses neither Inman's despair nor Ada's tentative hope. From Ruby, Ada learns more than just survival; she discovers a reverent stewardship of the earth. Ruby's unvarnished directness highlights the triviality of Ada's conventional beauty, and Ada's willingness to let Ruby, the "help," oversee the vast three hundred-acre farm speaks volumes about her humility and lack of class prejudice. As Ada experiences the grueling demands of farm life, she realizes that Ruby will not allow her to falter, and she cherishes her for that unwavering support. In turn, Ruby gains an appreciation for compassion and forgiveness from Ada, softening her longstanding grievances against her father, Stobrod. By fostering friendship with Ada, she eventually reconciles with her father. In the "Epilogue," we learn that Ruby has not only forgiven Stobrod but has built a life with Reid, a young Georgian transformed into an adept farmer and devoted family man. Through diligent labor, practical wisdom, and a heart immune to resentment, Ruby achieves a life of rewarding fulfillment.
Stobrod Thewes: The Troubled Musician
Stobrod Thewes, Ruby's father, embodies what some Southerners might call a "sorry man." Earning his nickname after being brutally beaten with a stob for ham theft, Stobrod's wartime enlistment shocked Ruby, yet he remained the same unreliable figure in every role—be it soldier, father, or neighbor. Ruby's discovery of his survival, ensnared in a trap meant for corn thieves, underscores his gentle nature despite his failings. Stobrod possesses one extraordinary gift: the ability to create soul-stirring music. He honed this talent during the war, playing his fiddle for a dying girl in Richmond, and embraced each tune with fervor, as if playing for those engulfed in flames. His music, a beacon of life's value, enriches the novel's tapestry.
Symbols of Resilience
Together, Stobrod and Ruby symbolize the indomitable spirit of rural folk, uninterested in wars or grandiose ambitions. Stobrod's hapless condition offers Inman—a man who has taken lives—the chance to save one, setting the stage for Inman's final acts of heroism.
Religious Contrast
The novel presents two clergymen, each embodying a distinct and extreme religious ideology, both rejected by Inman and Ada. Ada's father, Monroe, seen only in flashbacks, nurtures a simplistic belief in humanity's goodness and nature's kindness—an ideal shattered by the novel's depiction of violence and cruelty. Monroe's sermons about a supernatural realm inadvertently undermine the intrinsic beauty and complexity of the natural world. His death becomes Ada's liberation, allowing her to embrace the tangible reality of earthly existence and the physicality of love.
Conversely, Solomon Veasey, a disgraceful preacher, is thwarted by Inman in his attempt to murder a girl he impregnated. Veasey's brazen immorality and misuse of Calvinism to indulge his desires render him a detestable figure to Inman, whose wartime trials drive him to seek goodness. Veasey's blatant hypocrisy challenges the notion of an inherently evil world, suggesting that such a perspective might justify his actions as mere logic. Inman's inherent virtue instinctively rejects Veasey and all he signifies.
Comic Reflections and Ignored Realities
Monroe and Veasey, each in their peculiar fashion, serve as humorous illustrations of humanity's penchant for theorizing and rationalizing. These characters stand as symbols of viewpoints that overlook crucial aspects of their reality. Within the tapestry of Cold Mountain, some characters embody the depravity and destruction Veasey claims resides in us all: the Confederate soldier yearning for a northern landscape as ravaged as Fredericksburg's bloody battlefield, Junior with his farcical family residing in a crooked abode, the marauding Union soldiers posing threats to defenseless women and children, and Teague with his oppressive Home Guard. Yet, others shine with kindness and generosity, echoing Monroe's hopeful belief in our deep-seated benevolence: the "yellow slave" who shelters Inman, the "goatwoman" who tends to his wounds and eases his pain, the sorrowful mother who, despite her grief, nourishes him. Meanwhile, some figures remain heartbreakingly innocent: the ill-fated Laura Foster, the courageous young widow Sara, and her ill-fated child.
The Villainous Menace of Teague
Teague, the head of the local Home Guard, emerges as a quintessential villain, exuding a cruelty surpassing that of most fictional antagonists. He embodies the deadliest, most ruthless facets of war and a sinister, murderous streak in human nature, suggesting that it requires little to awaken this darkness at any point in history. As the formidable barrier hindering men from reuniting with their families and farms, Teague stands as the ultimate adversary of life in Cold Mountain.
Characters
Birch
Birch stands as the freshest recruit in Teague’s Home Guard, a youthful figure
seemingly touched by flickers of humanity. His heart stirs with reverence when
he hears Pangle and Stobrod’s music, leading him to call them holy men. Yet, in
a chilling twist of fate, his compassion falters, as he aids in their murder
and turns against Inman in the novel's dramatic finale.
Goatwoman
During his arduous return, Inman encounters an elderly mountain woman,
remembered as “the goatwoman.” Her nurturing spirit shines through as she tends
to his wounds and offers nourishment. Though life's harsh trials have left her
with a rugged exterior, her eyes reveal depths of kindness, a soft light amidst
her stern demeanor. She holds an unwavering optimism, proclaiming, “our minds
aren’t made to hold on to the particulars of pain the way we do bliss. It’s a
gift God gives us, a sign of His care for us.” Though Inman struggles to
embrace her view, her benevolence invigorates his weary soul, fueling his
continued journey.
Inman
Inman, a central figure in the tale, initially regards himself as a man of
peace. Yet, upon the battlefield, he discovers an unexpected prowess for
combat—a talent he deems a gift, but one that weighs heavily on his conscience
during his homeward path. This newfound skill leads him to question whether its
repeated use has cost him his very soul.
Despite his attempts to shield himself from others for the sake of survival, his empathy refuses silence, often pulling him into perilous situations. His profound sense of justice surfaces when he rescues a woman from drowning at Veasey’s hands and compels the preacher to face retribution. As his journey nears its end, guilt engulfs him over accidentally killing a bear and its orphaned cub, an act he views as a grave sin. Though he consumes the cub out of necessity, the taste is bitter with regret.
Inman yearns for liberation, a sentiment echoed in recollections of classroom confinement and his incessant urge to escape through the hospital window. He joins the war not as a defender of slavery, but in defiance of Northern influence, which he perceives as a threat to his existence. Craving solitude and self-reliance, he dreams of a life with Ada on Cold Mountain. His ingenuity shines as he navigates challenges, like devising a means to remove a dead bull from a stream to prevent its contamination.
Junior
Junior ensnares Inman and Veasey with deceptive hospitality, only to betray
them into the clutches of the Home Guard. Alongside Teague, his wickedness
surpasses that of others within the story. Junior feigns normalcy just long
enough to earn Inman’s trust, but soon reveals his true character through the
cruel treatment of his wife and her sisters. Without remorse, he surrenders
Inman and Veasey, displaying a twisted sense of humor by forcing Inman into a
mock marriage with his wife.
Monroe
Monroe cherishes his daughter, Ada, yet fails to prepare her for self-reliance
after his demise. His romantic nature drove him to purchase the farm, though he
never engaged with its daily upkeep. Initially, he perceives himself as
superior to his new neighbors, a stance that earns him their disdain. However,
his good-heartedness and devotion to his church gradually endear him to the
community, who come to respect his resistance to conforming to tradition.
Ada Monroe
Upon her arrival at Black Cove, Ada exudes a prickly demeanor, quick to rush to
judgment and impatient with those around her. Inman describes speaking with her
as being akin to handling a chestnut burr. Dissatisfied with Charleston
society, she criticizes her suitors’ flaws.
As time passes, Ada becomes aware of her sharpness and seeks transformation. When Inman visits to bid farewell, he shares a Cherokee tale of Cold Mountain, which she dismisses as mere folklore. Reflecting later, she acknowledges her glibness and fears that without atonement, her prickly traits might solidify, leaving her as rigid as a dogwood bud enduring January’s frost.
She finds herself at odds with both city and rural life until Ruby guides her toward genuine connections. Under Ruby’s mentorship, Ada awakens to the world’s intricacies, learning to live with mindfulness. Though she once found the act of living tiresome, she soon admires Ruby’s profound understanding of life’s workings. Despite Monroe’s insistence on education, Ada’s schooling left her unprepared for farm life. Through Ruby’s instruction, she gains independence and learns the art of self-sufficiency.
Ada soon finds herself enveloped in a newfound pride over her achievements, realizing that her friends back in Charleston would hardly recognize her now, since "all such rough work" on the farm has transformed her fundamentally. Her perspective has shifted as well; she no longer interprets things as mere symbols but perceives them as they are, bringing her a deep-seated contentment. This simplification of life to its core inspires her to reach out to Inman, with a resolute heart to express herself "straight and simple and unguarded" and to welcome him without reservation upon his return to Cold Mountain.
Pangle
Pangle, a thirty-year-old man with mental challenges, becomes an enthusiastic companion to Stobrod, driven by his passionate love for music, particularly the banjo, which he plays commendably. The narrator paints Pangle in soft hues: "He was gentle and kind and looked on everything that passed before him with soft wide eyes." His guileless nature reveals itself in his view of the world: "Everything he saw was new-minted, and thus every day was a parade of wonders." Even when faced with danger from the Home Guard, his trusting disposition leads him to smile innocently at them, unaware of the impending doom.
Sara
As Inman journeys homeward, he crosses paths with eighteen-year-old Sara, a widow left to care for her infant after her husband's death in the war. She embodies the profound grief felt by countless families who lose loved ones to the ravages of battle. The narrator observes that "etched in every angle of her body [are] all the lineaments of despair." Her desperation and fear for her child's future surface in her song, resonating with "resentment, [and] an undertone of panic."
Esco Swanger
Esco Swanger, much like his wife, exudes open-mindedness and a benevolent spirit. His humor shines through when he cleverly outsmarts Monroe, who had underestimated his worldly knowledge. Though initially sympathetic to the Federals, a sentiment common among mountain dwellers, Esco's attitude sours as the war's brutality escalates, leaving him disillusioned with both sides.
Sally Swanger
Sally Swanger, Ada’s compassionate neighbor, extends her kindness by inviting Ada to stay with her family following Monroe's funeral. In her gentle and quiet manner akin to her husband, Esco, she literally saves Ada's life by sending Ruby to Black Cove. Her empathy extends to Ruby as well, often offering sustenance and shelter during her childhood.
Teague
Teague, the ruthless head of the Home Guard, wears the guise of a traveling preacher in his dark coat, yet his crew operates with the coordinated efficiency of a wolf pack, driven not by justice but by the thrill of the hunt. His utter lack of humanity is starkly apparent when he refuses to ease the suffering of a dying victim and seems "festive" following his heinous acts.
Ruby Thewes
Ruby exemplifies the resilient mountain folk studied by Frazier for his novel. In a piece for Salon, Frasier notes the defining traits of these North Carolina mountain dwellers: "limitation of desire, stability, [a capacity for] making do, a healthy suspicion of change for its own sake, extreme independence of thought and action, reluctance to acknowledge authority," all underpinned by "a hint of deep earth spirituality."
Ruby's exact age remains a mystery, as her father ignored her birthdays. Despite her challenging upbringing, she possesses "a willing heart," demonstrated by her efforts to teach Ada self-reliance and her acceptance of Stobrod despite his past transgressions. Determined to see Ada succeed, Ruby channels her boundless energy and, although uneducated, has grown confident in her skills, insisting on being treated as an equal. Self-reliant from a young age, she has mastered living off the land and has even "whipped men single-handed."
Her connection to the natural world is almost spiritual, a bond forged during a solitary night spent outdoors as a child. Ada is awestruck by Ruby's ability to calm her agitated horse with a simple breath, establishing "an understanding between them." Her profound connection to nature fosters a deep skepticism of money, which pales in comparison to the "solidity of hunting and gathering, planting and harvesting."
Stobrod Thewes
When Ruby's estranged father, Stobrod Thewes, now forty-five, shows up at Ada's farm looking for charity, Ruby rebuffs him, citing the neglect she suffered during her childhood. Stobrod is ill-suited to the role of a caregiver, indifferent to maintaining their cabin, and perfectly content to "have taken up dwelling in a hollow tree" were it not for the inconvenience of having a daughter. His aversion to hard labor left him ill-equipped to provide for Ruby, earning him the derisive nickname after a vicious beating he received for stealing a ham.
Upon his arrival at Ada’s, he discovers a newfound purpose that seems to have utterly transformed him. His masterful command of the fiddle serves as irrefutable testament that, regardless of past failures, redemption is always within reach, however incomplete it may be. This becomes clear when Pangle remarks to Ada, after she has been enraptured by one of his performances, saying, “he’s done you some good there.” As Stobrod plays, Ada and Ruby witness the radiance of a saint’s joyous visage, relaxed and graced with a gentle smile, reflecting the generosity of his gift and his humble acknowledgment of his own talent. His music has kindled within him a fervent zest for life, which proves vital after he is wounded by the Home Guard.
Solomon Veasey
Solomon Veasey, the youthful preacher encountered by Inman on his journey, stands as a striking embodiment of hypocrisy, amplifying Inman’s disgust with mankind. Veasey is "overly charmed by the peculiarities of the female anatomy," habitually entangling himself in compromising predicaments, most egregiously when he attempts to drown a woman he has impregnated. His avarice is unveiled when he makes a botched effort to rob a shopkeeper. He persistently tries to justify his misdeeds by claiming enlightenment and promising reform, or by engaging in philosophical diversions to muddle the conversation. A prime instance of this occurs when Inman remarks on his "mighty free and easy with the property of others," and Veasey retorts that "such things distract you from the grand view."