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About the time Jane was born
Jane was born near the end of slavery and lived until the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. As said in the introduction pg 8 " How old is you right now, would you say ten? 'leven?" This indicates the age of her right before The Emancipation Proclamation so you can estimate the age -
Period: to
Jane Pittman`s Lifespan- End of Slavery to Civil RIghts Movement
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Soldiers
Soldiers show up near the plantation so the slaves have to fetch water and food for them, but one soldier stops Ticey and gives her a name. With this name gives her hope that she wont be a slave for much longer. On pg 8 " Ticey is a slave name, and I dont like slavery- That's right, I'll call you Jane." This man gave Jane hope and drive to leave the plantation -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Jane and the other slaves are freed and they all decide to go north, but Jane wants to go to Ohio. " Y'all free. Proclamation papers just come to me and they say y`all free as I am." pg 10. This is significant because without her freedom none of the events in the book would have happened. -
Massacre
Jane and her group is walking through the swamps of Louisiana. Secesh Patrollers found her group and killed them all except Ned and Jane. Ned was given a flint and steel rocks to remember his mother and how she always led the way. Pg 24 shows that Jane had picked up the flint and steel rocks "Then I found the flint and iron Big Laura had used to light the fire within." This is significant because without this Ned would have never used this inspiration for himself. -
Miss Jane moves to new plantation
After a man takes Ned and Jane to a plantation Jane has a meeting with the man that owns the plantation ( Mr. Bone). They decide for her and Ned to work there for six dollars minus fifty cents for Ned's schooling. On pg 64 shows the negotiation between Mr. Bone and Jane " Six Dollars, Mr. Bone, Then I give you back fifty cents." The significance of this shows that if Jane hadnt made this deal she would have still headed for Ohio -
Ned leaves home
Ned is around seventeen or eightteen now and wants to leave so he can have an education, also he was in danger. Jane didnt want him to leave becuase he was like her child becuase she couldnt have any. On pg 79 it explains why Ned has to leave " I ought to stay her and let them kill me." Ned said. This is important because if he wasn't in danger he wouldn't have left so soon. -
Joe Pittman dies
Joe Pittman is killed because of trying to break a horse and the rope getting around his neck. Jane says a part of her died with him. On pg 102 Jane said " When they found him he was tangled in the rope, already dead." This is significance of this is that Jane felt great loss and sadness but eventually got over it. -
Ned comes back with his family
Ned returns many years after Joe dies. Ned has a wife now named Vivian and kids he is also a professor. On pg 103 Jane said " I havn't seen Ned in twenty years, but I knowed it was him the monment I saw him standing on the gallery." This significance is that Jane still loves Ned and that his impact on her growing up was great -
Ned's sermon in the River
He had a sermon in the river because he wanted to make one final stand to get his point across that black people own and lived in the land as much as the white people He wants to say that we have all given life into the land and the blacks desirve to have the same rights in them. On page 113 " Look at me not at them. But even when he raise the gun or the axe or anything else he might use I won't blame all white men." This is significant to Jane becuase it shows that Ned is grown up now. -
Ned is murdered
Albert Cluveau has to kill Ned. Ned was first threatened to be killed because he had plans to make a schoolhouse. Ned is finally killed in the town, but doesn't run away he runs toward Albert and he shoots 3 times On page 121 it shows how Jane is going to feel lost because of the death because he was such a big part of Jane's life and how his death wont be forgoten " For years and years, even after they had graveled the road, you could still see little black spots where the blood had dripped." -
Albert Cluveau dies
His daughter goes to Jane's house for help. On page 127 "Mr. Albert Cluveau, when the Chariot of Hell come rattling for you, the people will hear you screaming all over this parish." I think Jane's words were supposed to foreshadow the events that were going to transpire with Albert and how he is going to die from guilt. -
Jane moves to the Samsons
Jane moves to the housing district owned by Samsons after Ned dies. She starts cooking for the family for money. A young man named Tee Bob falls in love with a teacher that is part black. He is said he can not be with her so he ends up killing himself. On page 141 " Jane, why don't you join with me? Nobody can't say you ain't a nice, decent person. You belong up here." This is significant because without Grace Jane wouldn't have been confinced to move. -
Jane finds religon
Miss Jane has to carry a sack across the river and has to pass trials of the people that are dying throughout her life. First Ned then Joe then Albert trying to take the sack away. Jane then finished carrying the sack across the river to come to terms with the death and find religon. On page 144 Jane said " As soon as i put my feet on solid ground the Savior was there. He smiled down at me and raised the load off my shoulder." This shows significance because Jane comes to terms with the loved. -
The Great Flood of 1927
A flood swept Jane's home. This flood came one or two years after Timmy left. Jane sees that the schoolhouse that Ned made is washed away. The levees on the dam broke to release the water. On page 156 Jane said " I remember the high water of '12 well enough, but the high water of '27 I won't ever forget. Because in '26 it rained and rained and rained." This is significant because the high water was a test of Jane's will and if she would break just like the levees did. -
Jimmy "the one" died
Jimmy was a very smart black boy exceeding all expectations. The people in the church wanted him to be a religous leader, but he turned into a civil rights protestor. On page 211 Jane said "People always looking for someone to come lead them."..."They have always done it, and the Lord has always obliged in some way or another." Jane's significance to what she said is that Jimmy was going to lead, but found out that he wanted to lead another group -
Jane leads a civil rights protest
This protest was at the dawn of the civil rights movement. After Jimmy died Jane knew that it was what Jimmy would have wanted it to still commence. Even at Jane's advanced age she still wanted to help and make a difference on page 259 Jane said " Some people backed away from me when I said this, but the braver ones started for the road." This is significant because Jane became a leader that day and fufilled what Jimmy wanted.
