The Great Turkey Walk

These central chapters mark a turning point in Simon’s development, solidifying his transition from a boy burdened by his past to a competent leader defined by his present actions. The repeated confrontations with his father, Samson, contribute to the novel’s theme of The Journey as a Catalyst for Coming of Age. Samson’s betrayal is not merely a plot obstacle; it is a direct challenge to Simon’s burgeoning identity. In the story’s previous section, Simon is credulous, easily taken in by the shell game and still yearning to believe in his father’s love. In this section of the story, however, Simon learns that he must look at his father realistically. Simon must stand up against Samson’s attempts at thievery in order to protect his new identity as a successful leader and entrepreneur.

Initially, the ambush leaves Simon physically bound and emotionally wounded, a symbolic return to the powerlessness of his childhood. However, his recovery is swift and decisive. In the counter-ambush, Simon physically overpowers Samson and methodically reclaims his property. This act is a psychological reclamation of his own authority. He consciously inverts their previous encounter, using Samson’s own handkerchief to gag him while citing Miss Rogers’s lesson that “[b]rave actions and a gentle heart […] [are] the things that truly [make] a man” (89). This moment signifies a definitive moral and psychological break from his father. Simon is no longer the abandoned child seeking paternal approval but a man forging his own ethical code. His subsequent defeat of a cavalry soldier in a fistfight further demonstrates this self-assurance, proving his willingness to defend his enterprise against any threat.

The narrative deepens its exploration of The Strengths of Found Family by contrasting Simon’s biological father with his chosen companions. Samson’s betrayal, motivated by greed, illuminates the selfless loyalty of Jabeth and Mr. Peece. Jabeth initially does not want to take a percentage of the turkey drive’s profits as a reward for freeing Simon because he is offended at the idea that he would be motivated by profit. He explains that his motive is friendship, stating, “[I] ain’t never had a friend before” (76). This declaration solidifies a partnership founded on genuine care, a stark contrast to Samson’s transactional view of his son. Simon reciprocates this loyalty. By purchasing Jabeth a pair of boots, Simon does more than solve a practical problem; he confers a new status upon Jabeth, replacing a marker of enslavement with a symbol of dignity and full participation in the westward journey. Similarly, presenting Peece with a new hat replaces a relic of his troubled past with a token of his respectable present. These acts of reciprocal care build a family structure based on merit and loyalty, demonstrating that chosen kinship can offer the stability that biological relationships sometimes fail to provide.

The narrative balances serious thematic development with moments of theatrical absurdity, particularly in the characterization of the antagonists, which serves to satirize the world around Simon and highlight both his goodness and his surprising intelligence. The selfish, cynical, and dishonest Samson and Cleaver are repeatedly shown to be incompetent in the practical realities of the frontier that Simon manages with ease. They cannot build a fire with a wet log and lose dozens of turkeys through sheer ineptitude. This contrast between Simon and his father and Cleaver reinforces the theme of Redefining Intelligence Beyond Book Smarts. Samson and Cleaver’s grand reentry into the narrative, not on stolen horses but on stolen circus camels, is a moment of high farce. The image of the villains swaying atop these animals undermines their menace, recasting them as desperate and ridiculous figures. This farcical element contrasts their chaotic, ineffective villainy with the quiet, practical competence of Simon’s group. While the rustlers bungle their enterprise, Mr. Peece orchestrates a clever wager in Sedalia that not only confirms Simon’s practical knowledge of his flock but also earns needed money. This scene highlights an intelligence based on observation and experience, which proves more valuable than the confidence tricks favored by Cleaver and Samson.

The westward journey expands beyond a personal rite of passage to become a vehicle for broader social and historical commentary. As the group moves into the Kansas Territory, the landscape becomes a stage for exploring contested American ideals. Jabeth’s jubilant celebration upon crossing into “freedom country” provides a moment of personal liberation, yet it is set against the backdrop of a territory grappling with the legacy of “Bleeding Kansas” and the displacement of Indigenous peoples. The encounters with the Pottawatomie and the US Cavalry offer two competing models of order on the frontier. The Pottawatomie, led by John Winter Prairie, defy simplistic stereotypes. They are presented not as antagonists but as the legitimate peacekeepers of their own land, operating with a code of honor and strategic intelligence. Their intervention against Samson and Cleaver is a model of swift justice, and their subsequent transaction with Simon is one of mutual respect. This portrayal directly contrasts with the encounter with the US Cavalry, who represent a “civilized” authority but act with arbitrary violence, shooting at the turkeys for sport. Captain Masters’s bureaucratic response highlights the disconnect between official systems of justice and the realities of frontier life. This juxtaposition suggests that civilization is defined not by uniforms but by ethical conduct and communal responsibility.

Throughout these chapters, seemingly mundane objects accumulate significant symbolic weight, marking the internal transformations of the characters. The rifles, acquired from defeated antagonists, represent a shift in the group’s capacity for self-defense. Jabeth’s immediate proficiency with a weapon signifies his embrace of a new, empowered identity as a free man capable of defending himself and his companions. The rifles become a symbol not of aggression but of earned self-reliance. More profoundly, the exchange of clothing marks crucial rites of passage. Jabeth’s new boots are the most potent of these symbols. His previous aversion to the turkey droppings was a practical complaint rooted in the indignity of his past; the boots symbolize his elevation to an equal partner, physically grounding his newfound liberty. Mr. Peece’s new hat functions similarly, allowing him to discard an item associated with his years of alcohol addiction and don a fresh symbol of his reclaimed sobriety and purpose. Through these objects, the narrative visualizes the abstract concepts of freedom, dignity, and rebirth, grounding the characters’ internal changes in the tangible world they inhabit.