Elijah of Buxton

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2007

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-7

Chapters 8-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-20

Chapters 21-24

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Themes

Connections Between Opportunity, Equality, and Freedom

The interconnectivity between the values of opportunity, equality, and freedom is the central theme of the novel; all plot situations, whether lighthearted or solemn, demonstrate that society must uphold these values as most important.

Elijah is blessed with freedom as the first child born to former slaves in Buxton, and thanks to parents and neighbors who teach valuable lessons, he appreciates his freedom and the opportunities that come with it. He learns empathy with the snake prank, humility with Mr. Travis’s familiarity lesson, and generosity with his expected chores, all qualities that cultivate acceptance and equality with others.

The harsh and tragic consequences of slavery continue to affect former slaves after they arrive in Buxton, suggesting that one should not take freedom for granted. While Mrs. Holton and Mr. Leroy are now free, their family members in America are not. Mr. Leroy teaches Elijah a severe lesson when Elijah accidentally uses the n-word, letting Elijah know that he inadvertently implied hatred, racism, and oppression through its use—opposites of equality, freedom, and opportunity.

MaWee shows Elijah the misunderstanding and unawareness that result from the absence of these values. MaWee finds himself close to Buxton but does not uphold nor yearn for freedom. Sir Charles and the carnival setting prevent any sense of equality from blossoming in MaWee, so MaWee thinks school is dreadful and doesn’t know to respect the opportunity.

Buxton fosters a sense of equality, not only as it is settled by former slaves, but also in that the community precept and guidelines promote fair and equitable access to the benefits of community living through shared chores and similar housing. Instead of a mayor or singular governing body, a council of Elders guides the town. The school building serves as a gathering place for the children of Buxton and fosters friendships among peers of diverse cultures and races; white, black, and Indigenous Canadian children attend the school together. The education one receives at school promotes equality through increased opportunities for all learners. The school also symbolizes a fresh start through learning for an individual, as when MaWee has the chance to reinvent his life in Buxton, away from the carnival, where he could not read or understand his situation.

Elijah best appreciates his freedom in Buxton upon leaving it and seeing the six slaves in the stable. In a parallel to the comparative lessons of Mr. Travis and Mr. Leroy about familiarity, Elijah’s direct involvement with Mrs. Chloe and the other slaves makes a much greater impact compared to listening to stories of former slaves in Buxton.

Gullibility and Fear Versus Maturity and Fortitude

Elijah’s character arc builds toward increased maturity and fortitude throughout the story. Early on, when the Preacher’s lies about hoop snakes fill Elijah with fear, Ma puts the responsibility of change on Elijah, telling him that he must “start thinking things through […] try hard to understand if what folks are telling you make any kind of sense” (10). Along with becoming less “fra-gile,” Ma wants Elijah to become less gullible. This confuses Elijah; as a well-mannered boy he must listen to adults but somehow simultaneously know when not to listen to them. Elijah struggles with gullibility: We see the Preacher unfairly calculating a “tithe” to take Elijah’s fish from him; he is afraid of the mesmerist; he cannot tell if Sammy is really hypnotized or not; and though the Preacher promises Elijah a try of the silver pistol, the Preacher defaults several times on the deal. Elijah also misunderstands the quote on Mr. Travis’s chalkboard, leading to a surprise when the expected interesting lesson turns out to be a lesson in manners and humility.

Elijah feels especially gullible when he vouches for the character and morals of the Preacher to Mr. Leroy and then realizes that he should not have trusted the Preacher. Though the chance exists that the Preacher has the greater good in mind (he claims to gamble the gold for more money to free additional slaves), to Elijah, the motivations do not matter as much as the dishonesty. Elijah feels responsible and foolish, sick at heart and betrayed by the Preacher’s actions. In this situation, however, Elijah welcomes the chance to counterbalance his misjudgment of the Preacher’s intentions with action and does not fight Mr. Leroy’s insistence that Elijah go with him to Michigan. Similarly, while Elijah’s fears get the better of him early in the book, his ability to deal with fear improves steadily throughout the story’s events. He is ultimately able to stand his ground in the stable, offering help without running away.

Elijah’s character arc ends with his interpretation and comprehension of Mrs. Chloe’s cryptic hints about taking Hope to Buxton, showing that he has learned the lesson Ma discussed early on. With the open-mindedness and diligence maturity brings, Elijah has the epiphany about Mrs. Chloe’s true meaning—and he displays the courage and fortitude to return to the stable despite obvious risks.

The Strength of Community and Family

Elijah himself embodies this theme. He helps to tend Mr. Segee’s barn animals, he catches enough fish for his family and extra intended for Mr. Segee, the Browns, and Mr. Leroy; he helps to clear Mrs. Holton’s land. These tasks he calls his “chores”; completing them fulfills the obligatory, communal spirit of shared labor in Buxton. Early in the book, Elijah shares the Buxton Settlement Creed: “One helping one to uplift all.” (30).

Buxton’s strength as a community grows from this Creed. When Pa sends for Emma to contact the newly arrived escaped slaves, she comes readily. The ladies of Buxton, expecting tragic news in the letter from America, spontaneously create a group of support and arrive bearing food for Mrs. Holton. Pa serves as a town Elder. Mr. Highgate is happy to go along on the Preacher’s trip to Michigan. The townspeople come together in a meeting to discuss outcomes after the Preacher’s betrayal with Mr. Leroy’s money.

The importance of family is parallel to the spirit of community in the book. Elijah is close to his parents and (except for some mischievous antics like the toad prank and sneaking out at night) obeys and respects them. Elijah sees the strength of the family of escaped slaves who arrive at Mrs. Holton’s clearing; they cling tightly together in joy and relief, now free. Mr. Leroy’s goal is bringing his family to Buxton; he takes Mrs. Holton’s generous payment for his family. His desire to see his family again is so great that it clouds his judgment when the Preacher offers his help.

Elijah sees the pain that comes when slavers separate family members. The Duncan sisters discover kin in the escaped slave family but choose to avoid mentioning the relationship initially, because to do so might create more hurt than good. When Ma escaped slavery, she had to leave her own mother, and she expects to never see her again. Mrs. Chloe and Kamau love their daughter, Hope, but allow Elijah to take Hope away for freedom in Buxton.