The Great Turkey Walk

The story’s use of first-person narration helps to establish the theme of Redefining Intelligence Beyond Book Smarts from the very beginning of the story. Simon Green’s colloquial voice and self-deprecating label of “pea-brained” both show that he does not think of himself as intelligent (3). The novel argues through Simon’s actions, however, that there is more than one way to be smart. He bargains shrewdly for the turkeys, is quick to perceive others’ motivations, understands immediately what an opportunity the high price of turkeys in Denver represents, and makes an effective plan to accomplish his goal.

Simon demonstrates several other positive qualities early in the story. Simon’s teacher, Miss Rogers, tries to bolster his self-image by telling him that the family insult “pea-brained” refers to peacocks, and she assures him that these birds “make up in elegance what they lack in intelligence” (3). Although Simon could not be called “elegant,” Miss Rogers’s statement points out that he has other important characteristics that “make up” for his poor performance in school. He is kind and respectful in his dealings with Miss Rogers and Bidwell Peece, generous toward Jabeth, and loving and humane toward the animals in his care. The contrast between the way others view Simon and what his actions show he is capable of establishes the novel’s central tension: society’s emphasis on conventional intellect versus the practical, intuitive wisdom that Simon embodies. His “graduation” from the third grade is not an academic achievement but a social expulsion, a recognition by the formal system that it cannot measure his particular aptitude. This expulsion becomes the catalyst for his true education.

Formal education is not the only institution that fails Simon. He is also failed by his biological family. The novel juxtaposes this failure with Simon’s successful construction of a chosen family, exploring The Strengths of Found Family. Simon’s relationship with the Greens is transactional and devoid of affection. Their eagerness to be rid of him is codified in a legal document demanded by his cousin Ned: “Write out a contract, Pa. Make him sign it, nice and legal” (11). This contract liquidates his inheritance and severs their ties, framing family as a matter of property rather than support. In contrast, the partnerships that Simon forges on the road are built on mutual respect and shared purpose. His recruitment of Mr. Peece is an act of recognizing potential beneath social disgrace, offering not wages but a stake in the enterprise. This model of shared investment deepens with the inclusion of Jabeth Ballou. Initially a recipient of charity, Jabeth quickly finds a valued role as the provisioner, his skills integrated into the group’s collective survival.

The arrival of Samson, Simon’s biological father, highlights how, for Simon, found family is more nurturing and loving than biological family. Samson serves as a foil for Mr. Peece, who, even this early in the story, has become a steady and nurturing father figure to Simon. By contrast, Samson’s interest is kindled only by the scent of profit, and his offer to join the venture is a transparent attempt at exploitation. Simon’s wary refusal marks a crucial step in his maturation, signifying a conscious choice to prioritize the earned trust of his new companions over an unreliable blood connection.

Simon’s journey westward reflects a classic American literary trope for reinvention and a rite of passage. This physical trek across Missouri serves as an external manifestation of his internal growth. This larger story arc supports the novel’s theme of The Journey as a Catalyst for Coming of Age. Miss Rogers provides the initial thematic language for this growth when she encourages Simon to “spread [his] wings” (5), a metaphor that he immediately and literally applies to his turkey enterprise. The birds are not just commodities but symbolic reflections of Simon’s own underestimated, earthbound potential, capable of unexpected flight. Early obstacles on the road function as crucibles that test and refine his leadership. The difficulty of getting the turkeys across the Gasconade River is a pivotal example. Simon uses his intuitive understanding of the turkeys’ nature to transform them from clumsy cargo into a flock of birds capable of flight, turning a perceived weakness into a unique advantage. Simon’s creative solution solidifies his authority and proves the viability of his seemingly foolish plan, demonstrating that his true education is happening on the open road.

The initial chapters establish the competing moral and economic philosophies that define the conflicts of the journey. Simon’s burgeoning enterprise operates on a principle of ethical capitalism, founded on fairness, second chances, and the recognition of inherent worth in individuals cast off by society. His business dealings, from the firm negotiation with Mr. Buffey to the restorative hiring of Mr. Peece and the compassionate inclusion of Jabeth, illustrate a worldview based on mutual benefit. This ethos is directly challenged by the predatory economy of the circus. Here, success is predicated on deception, as articulated by Samson after Simon is swindled in a shell game: “The smart keep their money, and the suckers get taken” (61). This worldview reduces human interaction to a zero-sum game of predators and prey, a philosophy embodied by both the con man Cleaver and Simon’s own father. Simon’s confrontation with and subsequent rejection of his father is therefore not just a personal decision but a moral one, in which he repudiates a worldview of exploitation in favor of the collaborative community he is building.