Characters Discussed

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Jody Baxter

Jody Baxter, a young Florida boy. A lover of animals, of play, and of the excitement of hunting, Jody is a child at the beginning of the story. Matured by the experiences of one year—his father’s illnesses, the death of Fodder-wing, and the killing of Flag—Jody is at the end of the novel ready to accept the responsibilities that come with growing up. One of the most appealing and believable boys in American fiction, Jody deserves comparison with Tom Aldrich, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and Stephen Crane’s Whilomville boys.

Ezra “Penny” Baxter

Ezra “Penny” Baxter, his father, a friend and companion to his son, who idolizes him. Penny’s diminutive size only increases Jody’s admiration of his father’s ability to hunt and work hard for a plain living. Penny possesses scrupulous honesty and a simple philosophy of life that he attempts to pass on to his son. Both father and son are drawn to the beauty of the rich and varied natural world about them.

Ora “Ma” Baxter

Ora “Ma” Baxter, Jody’s mother, a bulky woman considerably larger than her husband. She loves Jody but is annoyed by his “wasting” time and is unwilling to forgive Flag for his depredations.

Fodder-wing Forrester

Fodder-wing Forrester, Jody’s crippled friend, a frail boy who loves and has a way with animals, especially those that, like himself, have been crippled through no fault of their own. He dies shortly after naming Flag for Jody.

Oliver Hutto

Oliver Hutto, Penny’s friend, whose courtship of Twink causes him to be beaten by the Forrester boys and whose marriage results in the vengeful burning of his mother’s home.

Grandma Hutto

Grandma Hutto, his mother, a friend of the Baxters.

Twink Weatherby

Twink Weatherby, Oliver’s yellow-haired sweetheart and later his wife.

Lem Forrester

Lem Forrester, the older brother of Fodder-wing. He is jealous and fiercely resentful of Oliver’s love for and marriage to Twink.

Buck Forrester

Buck Forrester, another Forrester brother who helps the Baxters after Penny is bitten by a rattlesnake.

Flag

Flag, Jody’s beautiful but mischievous and destructive pet fawn. He is wounded when Mrs. Baxter, in anger, shoots him because of the destruction he has caused. Jody sorrowfully shoots him again to end his suffering. Flag’s growing up partly parallels Jody’s. Flag fails to adapt his irresponsible ways to life with the Baxters and dies as a result. Jody rebels at first against life’s ways but at last submits and learns to accept the sorrows of life with its joys.

Pa

Pa and

Ma Forrester

Ma Forrester, rough but good-hearted parents of the exclusively male Forrester brood.

Mill-Wheel

Mill-Wheel,

Gabby

Gabby,

Pack

Pack, and

Arch Forrester

Arch Forrester, four of their sons.

Doc Wilson

Doc Wilson, the physician who attends Penny during his illnesses.

Old Slewfoot

Old Slewfoot, a giant black bear that raids the Baxter hogs. He is finally killed by Penny.

Nellie Ginright

Nellie Ginright, the owner of the canoe in which Jody flees after Flag’s death.

Characters

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The primary characters in The Yearling include a lonely twelve-year-old boy named Jody Baxter and his pet deer, Flag. Over the course of a year, they become inseparable, sharing both adventures and challenges. However, when Flag starts consuming the family's crops and needs to be put down, Jody panics and runs away from home.

Penny Baxter, Jody's honest and compassionate father, understands his son's pain and bitterness. He encourages Jody to face his sorrow and continue with life "like a man." Penny himself has faced difficulties; at...

(This entire section contains 599 words.)

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one point in the novel, he is nearly killed by a rattlesnake bite, which leaves him with declining health and strength. His wife, Ora Baxter, is a sharp and no-nonsense woman. Of all her children, only Jody has survived.

The Baxters' closest neighbors are the Forresters, known for their rough and boisterous nature. One son, Lem, is broody and quick to anger, often holding grudges. In contrast, another son, Buck, is strong and generous; he offers to work Penny's fields when Penny is ill from the rattlesnake bite. The youngest Forrester, Fodder-wing, is Jody's special friend. Despite being physically and mentally disabled, Fodder-wing has a vivid imagination and a unique love for animals. His death leaves both the Forresters and Jody heartbroken.

Grandma Hutto, with her laughing eyes and luxurious lifestyle, is another special friend to Jody and Penny. They cherish their visits to her cottage, where her nurturing provides comfort and security. Grandma's son, Oliver, is a handsome sailor in love with a girl named Twink Weatherby, and Jody resents the time Oliver spends with her. Lem Forrester is also jealous of Oliver and Twink's relationship and attacks Oliver, drawing the entire Forrester family into the brawl. When Penny and Jody come to Oliver's aid, they are soundly beaten, leaving Jody feeling resentful and betrayed. When Lem Forrester burns Grandma Hutto's house and she decides to move to Boston, Jody is heartbroken once more.

The Yearling also features another set of important characters — the animals. Jody's beloved pet fawn, Flag, whose natural instincts become destructive to the family's food supply, cannot be tolerated. Some wild animals, like the dancing whooping cranes, are admired for their mysterious beauty, while others, like the deer dying from the plague, are mourned. Predators, such as wolves and bears that destroy crops and kill livestock, are despised. Old Slewfoot, a vicious black bear with a missing toe, is especially feared. Penny and Jody hunt him with a sense of duty driven by anger and revenge. The family's dogs, Julia, Rip, and Perk, are valued based on their hunting skills. Old Julia, known for tracking and fighting wild animals fiercely, is cherished, while Perk, who is not a good hunter, is traded to the Forresters for a gun.

Readers of The Yearling might find Rawlings's depiction of women offensive. Ma Baxter, for instance, is the one family member who is consistently cold and harsh. Her son views her as insensitive, and her husband reprimands her like a child. She is portrayed as an overweight, unimaginative complainer who cannot tell a decent story, appreciate pets, or shoot accurately.

Penny, in contrast, is the male counterpart to Ora: he is a tender and intelligent optimist who loves animals, tells wonderful stories, understands boys, and is respected for his hunting skills. Other women in the story are similarly stereotyped. Jody sees little Eulalie Boyles as both a prime target for potato-throwing and, vaguely, a romantic interest. Grandma Hutto and Twink Weatherby are judged based on their ability to attract men. Women of all kinds are categorized as "running in breeds."

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