The Crucial Role of Captain Jack Elliot
Name
Professor
AP English III
28 February 2014
The Crucial Role of Captain Jack Elliot:
A Literary Criticism of These is my Words Nancy E. Turner, in her American novel inspired by her own family’s experiences These is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine (1998), displays the struggles of life on the frontier from a female’s point of view. Sarah Prine, Turner’s grandmother, is the main character who is traveling across Arizona with her family to find a place to settle. Along the way, Sarah runs into multiple hardships, yet her greatest one is meeting Captain Jack Elliot. From the very beginning, Sarah can tell that Jack is different from all the other men. Because Jack bargains with Sarah and her books, comforts her during her frazzled moments, and shows obvious dislike of Jimmy Reed during his and Sarah’s marriage, Turner illustrates the moral ambiguity of Jack’s character. Books were not usually important to a frontiersman in the late 1800’s, especially a cavalry officer. The only difference in this case is that a beautiful woman is on the other side of them. Jack begins to show moral ambiguity, when Sarah Prine notices a wagon of books on the side of the path then asking Jack if she can use the spare horses to haul this wagon along (Turner 44). Because of Sarah’s innocence, he did agree to it but not without receiving something else in return. Jack bargains with Sarah, by agreeing to the trade of two horses for two books. He picks a book about Africa and one titled The Duchess of Warwick, which Sarah has grown attached to already. He chooses this book because he knows Sarah will keep in contact with him for a possible purchase later. This act shows Jack’s caring side, leading the reader to believe he loves Sarah. However, after Sarah’s family settles in a little town, she contacts Jack asking about The Duchess of Warwick. He writes back in a serious tone, saying the Cavalry needs higher quality horses so the book will cost more (Turner 102). Sarah
Professor
AP English III
28 February 2014
The Crucial Role of Captain Jack Elliot:
A Literary Criticism of These is my Words Nancy E. Turner, in her American novel inspired by her own family’s experiences These is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine (1998), displays the struggles of life on the frontier from a female’s point of view. Sarah Prine, Turner’s grandmother, is the main character who is traveling across Arizona with her family to find a place to settle. Along the way, Sarah runs into multiple hardships, yet her greatest one is meeting Captain Jack Elliot. From the very beginning, Sarah can tell that Jack is different from all the other men. Because Jack bargains with Sarah and her books, comforts her during her frazzled moments, and shows obvious dislike of Jimmy Reed during his and Sarah’s marriage, Turner illustrates the moral ambiguity of Jack’s character. Books were not usually important to a frontiersman in the late 1800’s, especially a cavalry officer. The only difference in this case is that a beautiful woman is on the other side of them. Jack begins to show moral ambiguity, when Sarah Prine notices a wagon of books on the side of the path then asking Jack if she can use the spare horses to haul this wagon along (Turner 44). Because of Sarah’s innocence, he did agree to it but not without receiving something else in return. Jack bargains with Sarah, by agreeing to the trade of two horses for two books. He picks a book about Africa and one titled The Duchess of Warwick, which Sarah has grown attached to already. He chooses this book because he knows Sarah will keep in contact with him for a possible purchase later. This act shows Jack’s caring side, leading the reader to believe he loves Sarah. However, after Sarah’s family settles in a little town, she contacts Jack asking about The Duchess of Warwick. He writes back in a serious tone, saying the Cavalry needs higher quality horses so the book will cost more (Turner 102). Sarah
Cited: "Elder, Kate (fl. 1881)." Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Ed. Anne Commire. Vol. 5. Detroit: Yorkin Publications, 2002. 88. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. Turner, Nancy E. These Is My Words. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1998. Print.