In this week’s posting, I will focus on Southworth’s The Hidden Hand and how she writes about a different kind of childhood and the transformation of lifestyles. When Major Warfield discovers Capitola, she is a 13 year old girl dressing as a boy trying to survive on her own. Old Hurricane is a selfish war vet who is softened by Capitola and he helps a poor widow and her son.
Capitola was forced out on the street by poverty. She lived on her own for several years and defended for herself as she struggled to feed herself on little or no money, “But by and by Mr. Simmons got out of work, and the family fell into want, and they wished to go out and beg for them. I just couldn’t do that, and so they told me I should look out for myself” (181). Capitola was homeless and had to live on the streets, “I lived on my half-dime, spending a penny a day for a muffin, until the last penny was gone, and sleeping at night wherever I could-sometimes behind a pile of boxes on the sidewalk” (183). This life of hardship taught her life lessons that help her be a strong woman. Capitola’s life dramatically changed when Major Warfield came to New York to find her. He takes her off of the streets and exposes her to luxuries that she has never seen. Major Warfield takes her back to his home and gives her everything she needs. Capitola’s life went from almost ending in tragedy but a good man saved her. Southworth gives the reader confidence that even if times get tough, there is a possibility of making it out poverty. Traverse and his mother are also in danger of losing everything they have. Traverse lost his job and they think they might lose the house, “The rent had fallen fearfully behindhand, and the landlord threatened, unless the money could be raised to pay him, to seize their furniture and eject them from the premises” (197). Just as times seemed like there was no hope to survive, Herbert comes in with great news. Again, these impoverished times and turned around by Major Warfield who changes their fortune. Southworth gives hope and delight in the characters success. She gives hope to the readers who have similar situations where they cannot get out of poverty.
The realistic, hard lifestyle of this time period has turned into a time of hope and new beginnings. All of the characters life changed due to one man’s generosity, the generosity of a prideful, stubborn man.
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Scott, I like how your topic is about the benevolence of Old Hurricane. I also think it is a great thing that he did for Capitola. And even though at first, he took back his offer for Traverse and his "mother", I am glad to find out today in class that him and Marah Rocke finally make up and are peaceful again.
ReplyDeleteScott, nice summary in the first paragraph. You really seem to have a handle on the whole of the story selection. I agree that the hard life brought her up into a strong woman. Major Warfield seems like magic. He just prances into the picture and saves people from lives of destitution. I like your last sentence, "All of the character's lives changed due to one man’s generosity, the generosity of a prideful, stubborn man". You acknowledge here that people who behave badly, like Old Hurricane, can still be good or human.
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