The Revolt Of Mother

“Her forehead was mild and benevolent between the smooth curves of gray hair; there were meek downward lines about her nose and mouth; but her eyes, fixed upon the old man, looked as if the meekness had been the result of her own will, never of the will of another.” 

This description of “Mother,” Sarah Penn, is extremely revealing. It juxtaposes her mild and good nature with an inner strength that will come into play later in the story. She looks “meek” only because she chooses to, not because she is shy or incapable. Clearly, she has a power and a presence of her own her husband Adoniram perhaps underestimates.

“She looked as immovable to him as one of the rocks in his pastureland, bound to the earth with generations of blackberry vines.”

As Adoniram leaves the barn, he looks at his wife. Comparing her to a species of fruit often used in jams, syrups, and pies evokes her domain: that of the home. This implies a softness, perhaps even an ineffectuality, about her character. However, he also compares her to an “immovable” rock. This characterization points to her stubbornness and lays the ground for her future rebellion. 

“‘You ‘ain’t found out yet we’re women-folks, Nanny Penn,’ said she. ‘You ain’t seen enough of men-folks yet to. One of these days you’ll find it out, a’n’ then you’ll know that we know only what men-folks think we do, so far as any use of it goes, an’ how we’d ought to reckon men-folks in with Providence an’ not complain of what they do any more than we do of the weather.’” 

Here, Freeman clearly lays out the societal restrictions women are under at the end of the 19th century. They have limited spheres and are unable to question men’s authority. Through Sarah’s dialogue, Freeman points out that men’s opinions of women’s abilities is all that matters. Therefore, women—and Nanny, in particular, as she will soon be married—should view their men’s actions and opinions as something to conform to without argument. 

“Nobility of character manifests itself at loop-holes when it is not provided with large doors. Sarah Penn’s showed itself today in flaky dishes of pastry.” 

There is a touch of humor and irony in this statement, which focuses on Sarah’s character while illuminating her life and the setting in which she resides. She is faithful in her duties to her husband, even though the barn construction “rankled in her patient and steadfast soul” (55). Despite her frustration and anger, she continues to do her duties, making Adoniram’s favorite mince pies twice a week and even hurrying because she started late. This display of unyielding adherence to her traditional role makes her eventual rebellion all the more surprising.

“I ain’t got nothin’ to say about it.” 

Adoniram says this multiple times as Sarah explains why he should build her a house, as promised, instead of another barn. His silence is a weapon; by simply not talking, he believes he will get his way. This forces Sarah to adopt new tactics to get her voice heard. In an ironic way, she also employs silence—instead of alerting Adoniram to her plans, she acts without his permission.

“I ain’t never complained, an’ I ain’t goin’ to complain now, but I’m going to talk plain.” 

This is an ironic moment. Sarah keeps saying that she has never complained, but in this scene, she is actively expressing her disapproval, which sounds a lot like complaining. In the face of Adoniram’s steadfast silence, however, she must make her point candidly. When this plain talking does not work, she develops another strategy so Adoniram can see her vision and her feelings more clearly.

“Mrs. Penn’s face was burning; her mild eyes gleamed. She had pleaded her little cause like a Webster; she had ranged from severity to pathos; but her opponent employed that obstinate silence which makes eloquence futile with mocking echoes.” 

Sarah makes her passionate argument over the course of six hours or so. Though she entreats Adoniram to change his mind, she fails to break through his stone-faced silence. This power play illustrates the male-dominated society that Sarah and other women live in. Though Sarah runs their homestead in many ways, she still cannot move her husband if he does not want to be moved. Therefore, she is rendered powerless. 

“Mrs. Penn had started, and was staring at her with a curious expression.” 

Preceding this short sentence is the moment that gives Sarah her first inspiration to take over the barn. Nanny comments that her wedding could be held in the barn, which is far nicer than their actual home. This sparks something in Sarah, though she does not act on it for some time. She ruminates on it for months, until her brother’s offer of a horse affords her the opportunity to act.

“During the next few hours a feat was performed by this simple, pious New England mother which was equal in its way to Wolfe’s storming of the Heights of Abraham. It took no more genius and audacity of bravery for Wolfe to cheer his wondering soldiers up those steep precipices, under the sleeping eyes of the enemy, than for Sarah Penn, at the head of her children, to move all her little household goods into the new barn while her husband was away.” 

Sarah’s rebellion takes place in a single paragraph of the story. It is compared to the Battle of Quebec, an example of victory against an entrenched power. Though Sarah’s “genius and audacity of bravery” happens in a less violent way, the analogy gives weight to her action and showings how important her feat truly is.

“Any deviation from the ordinary course of life in this quiet town was enough to stop all progress in it. Everybody paused to look at the staid, independent figure on the side track. There was a difference of opinion with regard to her. Some held her to be insane; some, of a lawless and rebellious spirit.” 

Sarah’s action does not go unnoticed, as it fuels gossip in the nearby town. This paragraph stresses how strange her action is in a patriarchal society where men’s orders are not questioned. The fact that she is asserting herself is not the norm, and the townsfolk believe she is trouble because of it.

“He could expound the intricacies of every character study in the scriptures, he was competent to grasp the Pilgrim fathers and all historical innovators, but Sarah Penn was beyond him. He could deal with primal cases, but parallel ones worsted him.” 

Minister Hersey visits Sarah to talk her out of her decision to move into the barn. However, she is stubborn and will not listen to him. She claims she is simply following God’s will, and Hersey is helpless in the face of her intimidating righteousness. While the minister assumes he is the moral authority, this passage shows how easily he is discombobulated. Sarah’s intelligence and determination overcomes his weak and well-intentioned interference, proving her strength and her ability to dominate.

“Nanny kept behind her mother, but Sammy stepped suddenly forward, and stood in front of her.” 

In this final mention of both children, Nanny and Sammy show their support for their mother when their father returns to find them living in the barn. Sammy, who is used to certain privileges as a male, positions himself in front to protect Sarah. Nanny’s delicate sensibility leads to her using Sarah as a shield, but she is still standing with her. The Penn children have chosen Sarah over their father, proving her righteousness in a show of combined power.

“The old man’s shoulders heaved: he was weeping.” 

This passage can be read in different ways. Adoniram might be upset that he hurt his family to the point that they mutinied, representing a total triumph for Sarah. His tears may also indicate that he feels emasculated and he is therefore crying over the loss of power.

This moment may also point to Freeman’s own feelings of nostalgia for a simpler way of rural life that was being left behind in the face of suffragette activism.