Chapters 11–14 Summary and Analysis
Chapter 11
Prentiss explains to Landry that George believes the brothers should hasten their trip to the North. George seems genuinely concerned for their well-being, but Prentiss insists that they want to earn enough money to last them for some time once they reach their destination.
Landry recalls the beatings he endured as a child and how those beatings eventually made speaking difficult. He is able to communicate by other means but has found over time that there is great “freedom in silence.”
As a child, Landry learned to knit while recovering from his beatings. He calls on this skill and knits a pair of socks for Isabelle. Once finished, he proudly pins them to her clothesline as an offering for her pain, recognizing that Isabelle feels “unseen” and wanting to acknowledge her.
Landry returns to the pond to cool off and ducks under the water as he envisions the future he will share with Prentiss. He imagines that they will one day sit on their own front porch and sip lemonade and that they will “never be bothered again.”
As he rises for air, he hears voices. He tries to remain hidden but sees Caleb, naked and moaning as another boy hits his backside. Landry realizes that this pond belongs to the two of them and contemplates trying to hide under the water until they leave. He finally realizes that he must try to leave and slips out of the water, grabbing his own pants. As he turns to capture one last image of his beautiful pond, the boy with Caleb spots him. Landry heads back to the barn, breaking into a run when he hears footsteps behind him.
Chapter 12
When August hears a sound near them at the pond, he demands that Caleb get up and grab his things. Caleb obeys; he doesn’t care if the entire town knows the truth about his bond to August but realizes that August cares deeply.
Caleb recently found himself cut off from August; his father’s business dealings and his mother’s recent outburst made the Walker family the scorn of Old Ox’s elite society. Infuriated at being unable to see August, Caleb marched into the Webler business offices and demanded to see his friend. When the secretary attempted to turn him away, Caleb barged into a meeting, where he found both August and his father in the midst of a conference. Mr. Webler had shamed Caleb for the intrusion, and August finally asked Caleb to leave. Later, a simple note had arrived at his home: “Pond. Sunday.”
As he and August chase the witness to their sexual encounter through the woods, Caleb realizes that it is Landry. Landry falls, clutching his ankle, and August holds him in place by pushing his boot into Landry’s chest. Landry is terrified, and Caleb urges August to let him go since Landry can’t speak and can therefore never tell a soul what he has seen. Landry chooses this moment to speak, telling them, “I c-c-c-can speak. Ain’t no different from you.”
This solidifies August’s intentions, and he grins as he begins raining blows on Landry’s head with a branch. Caleb sits with his eyes squeezed shut, unable to move and waiting for the beating to end. August scorns Caleb for being so sensitive, and Caleb wonders if he will be August’s next victim. Finally, August drops the branch and walks away.
Chapter 13
George is talking to Prentiss about livestock when Caleb’s cries ring through the forest. When they reach Caleb, they find that Landry’s is barely recognizable. George begs his son to...
(This entire section contains 1134 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
tell them what has happened, but Caleb only looks through the trees. Prentiss is overcome with grief, refusing at first to believe his brother has died. He reminds Landry of their plans for the future and slams his fist into his chest, trying to rouse him.
George believes that Ted Morton has inflicted these fatal injuries and leaves to confront him. He finds Ted and Gail working their fields and demands that Ted confess to the crime. Ted has no idea what George is talking about and asks whether George has lost his mind. Finally, George accuses Ted of killing Landry; Ted asks when the crime happened and then says that he has plenty of witnesses who can attest that he has been working steadily on his own farm since dawn. Ted swears that he “had the smarts not to kill him” even when Landry was a slave and that he “rather liked” Prentiss. He then insists that George “get the hell off” his property. George apologizes and leaves.
Chapter 14
As they wait together for George to return, Prentiss refuses to allow Caleb to leave. Caleb says that he can’t breathe and begs for his mother. Prentiss is reminded of the comforts of his own mother and wishes that he had someone who could take away his own pain and make things better. Caleb insists that if he can leave, he can make things right. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Prentiss insists that Caleb can never make this situation “right” and that the two of them are going to wait for George to return.
When George emerges from the woods, Prentiss realizes that he has no power over Caleb. The sight of his brother’s lifeless eyes brings Prentiss to his knees, and he holds Landry one final time.
Analysis
Landry’s portrayal as a Christ-like character is solidified in these chapters. While growing up in slavery, he is beaten for the transgressions of others, never complaining about his required punishment. This mimics the final hours of Christ, who was beaten and crucified as a consequence of Pilate’s orders. Christ also willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Much like Christ, Landry is a man of peace who avoids conflict and attends to the pain of others. He is intuitive, recognizing the way Isabelle feels isolated; her own husband seems unable to recognize Isabelle’s need to be truly seen.
According to Christian doctrine, Christ willingly sacrificed his life in order to save humanity. Landry, who is physically superior to August, has the strength and size to fend off his attacker. Yet he, like Christ, submits to a fate that seems to have been predestined for him, never rising to anger as he is attacked for simply bearing witness to truth. Indeed, in Landry’s only spoken words since the days of his childhood beatings, he reminds August that they are connected in their humanity; this mirrors Christ’s connection to the struggles of mankind by becoming a man himself. Because of his Christ-like role, Landry’s death is sure to be a pivotal point in the novel.
