Well, I don't know why I insist on assigning numbers to the chapters, Portis didn't. Still, I guess it's just a way to identify them.
So Mattie gets up and she's feeling better. I wonder why she's been ill? What does that allow Portis to do? Is it strictly to make us feel more sympathy for Mattie? I don't know; we'll see if it plays any part in the novel later. Mr. Stonehill is sick, too. But it's just a touch of Malaria, no problem. Sheesh. I'm glad we have antibiotics now. Mattie, of course, knows all about malaria and how to treat it. Is there anything she doesn't know? She's so good at filling out Cogburn's "fee sheets" that the court offers her a job doing so--sight unseen. Funny.
Some comments from Portis on gossiping, I think. Mrs. Floyd, who runs the boardinghouse, can't keep her mouth shut about Mattie's business, so LaBouef immediately attaches himself to her. They're on the same mission, after all. All through this chapter the tension grows between LaBouef and Mattie. Slightly sexual at times. That gives us moderns the creeps, of course. Mattie's only 14, after all. Still, these are different times. It allows Portis to play a little with the fact that Mattie's right on the verge of womanhood but still young enough that LaBouef thinks he can "switch" her.
Great stuff with Rooster in this chapter--the scene of him waking up is priceless. I can see him sitting up on his horse at the end of this chapter standing up for Mattie, making LaBouef let up on her. His respect for her is growing. She does, after all, have grit. Character development for him. Mattie will be good for him, of course.
Great action scenes now. Mattie swimming her horse across the river. I've seen the Arkansas river at Fort Smith (today's picture, btw) and I'm doubtful. Any horse people out there? Could you swim a horse across that river? I really enjoyed the passages of Mattie training and getting to know her new horse. More knowledge. Mattie (and Portis) know about everything, don't they?
Interesting little paragraph where Mattie sees her first real Indians. I'll be interested to see if we get any more of that.
I'm starting to wonder how it will turn out, too. I haven't seen the movie either, so I don't know. Will they capture or kill Chaney? Will Rooster change his evil ways--forsake the "hoot-owl trail" under Mattie's tutelage? What will happen with LaBouef? Will he finally, like Rooster, see that Mattie has grit? Will he turn out to have grit too?
I can't wait to find out.
Chapter five is the best chapter I have read so far. It gives us a good perspective of Mattie and her ways.It's shows Mattie is smart and very mature. She does know alot. Starting from malaria to filling out the "fee sheets" correctly with out any problems...on top of that, she is only fourteen. This comes to show that Mattie has experience, which falls in the maturity category.
ReplyDeleteLa Bouef see that Mattie is way above her level for her age. I bet Mattie would score about an 200 on an IQ test lol. She is a genius when it comes down to reality and common sense. Maybe back in that time La Bouef would considering marring Mattie. lol! Mattie is on a mission and she can't even stand La Bouef. La Bouef see's that Mattie is focused and determined on getting her mission accomplished. She will not let anything stand in her way. Both Cogburn and Mattie has grit. I think La Bouef might go ahead and get with the program since he got a good view of Mattie's grit.
Well, you hit the nail right on the head with this post. I couldn't agree more. I just had to comment on this one.
Thanks for commenting, Inisha. Glad you're reading along.
ReplyDeleteI think that in this chapter of the book that it actually is showing more of an educated side to Mattie. We’ve spent the majority of the book going up and down with her attitude, almost to the point where it might make someone dislike her. She spends most of her time complaining (while at the same time carrying herself as an adult with her words), but as was said she shows that she’s educated on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of malaria among many other things (I would be a little skittish to ride on a horse while it was swimming and I’m a grown man). And I guessed I overlooked the part about her getting a job doing fee sheets. But that’s just another thing to show that she’s not just a pompous little brat. She’s actually been brought up very well and taught how to take care of herself when her father is gone, which she does very well at b y the way.
ReplyDeleteOut of the first five chapters, chapter five was the most interesting. Mattie's determination is really shown throughout the chapter. She certainly will not take no for an answer. What fourteen year old girl would have the courage to ride a pony across a river to catch up with two grouchy men who do not want her along? I liked this chapter because of all the action and not just the details. It was easy to picture La Beouf attacking Mattie with the switch. I felt sorry for her, because there is nothing she could do. Mattie has proven herself to be a stong little girl. She is very mature and will not settle for anything less than she deserves.
ReplyDeleteI like this chapter the most so far. I like that Mattie is determined to carry out her mission to catch her father's murderer no matter who tries to stop her. She doesn't seem scared of Cogburn or Lebeouf and doesn't seem to care what they think as she tages along uninvited. I like that no matter what she not seem discouraged and is completely focused on making sure her Chaney sees justice and that her father's murder is avenged. That is what True Grit is. A fourteen year old young woman, mature beyond her years standing up for what she believes in and not being moved. That’s not just Grit, that’s girl power!
ReplyDeleteThe McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System made it quite a different feature. If Portis visited Fort Smith prior to the book's publication, it's likely that he saw it in it's more natural state (so to speak)which may have allowed for such a crossing as Mattie makes without reservation.
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