Libby comes to prominence in this section as a complex representation of Moral Decisions Amid Societal Collapse. She never hesitates in bringing Weybridge, the enemy, to her home. She gives up her bedroom and bed to him to keep them all safe and she risks further danger in bringing Doc Norton, known for his vitriol against the enemy, to try to save Weybridge. However, Weybridge’s presence, if discovered, is a sure route to tragedy for Sally and Joseph and probable punishment for her. Furthermore, while Libby claims she would only want the same treatment for Peter from a Northern woman, she also reveals a canny advantage to the situation in her interior monologue, when she allows herself to hope that the Union officers might help find Peter or even arrange an eventual exchange to bring him home. Libby is stoic and resolved in all things, from her rule over the house and mill to her unemotional memories of her parents, but the narrative’s insights into her character in her point-of-view chapters help establish greater sympathy and intimacy with this relatively distant main figure.

Libby’s character development and moral complexity increase when she sneaks a read of Emily’s letter to Weybridge—she is envious of its carefree tone, especially when juxtaposed against her daily physical workload and stress. The depth of her exhaustion is illustrated through her admission to herself that being held at Harper’s Ferry (and thus dismissed from her mill and family responsibilities) would frankly be a relief and respite. Nothing, however, compares to the swell of moral complexity she exhibits on the road to Harper’s Ferry. Initially, the “bad” man Wells might compare to the “bad” man who assaulted her in the opening scene. Joseph, however, killed that man in the act as he tried to hurt Libby. Libby’s murder of Wells is a bit different in that she holds the man at gunpoint while only his words are threatening. Her choice to kill him is less self-defense and more an active choice—she wants him dead because of the trouble he will make for them. She gives him only two chances to change his threats before firing. Her fierce protection of Joseph and insistence on sticking to their plan to get to Harper’s Ferry show that Libby holds the well-being of those she cares about far above simple moral codes, illustrating the difficulty of moral decisions amid societal collapse.

The sincerity of the household members’ actions toward Weybridge illustrates the importance of Humanizing the Enemy Through Shared Vulnerability in this section. For example, Joseph, who perhaps has the most to lose if Weybridge is found (as the run-ins with “bad” men like Libby’s assaulter have shown, white men assign him no value and would kill him remorselessly), transcends the danger Weybridge presents. He washes his hair, shaves his beard, and builds him a stretcher. Joseph shows that everyone is worthy of simple dignities, even those labeled enemies. Similarly, Sally brings Weybridge a tincture and wishes she could do more for his pain. His questions make her feel vulnerable in reflecting on her history as an enslaved person, but she relents, forgives, and humanizes Weybridge when she offers him painfully honest answers that cause him to reflect on his own assumptions and biases. Jubilee humanizes Weybridge, too, despite her professed hatred and distrust; though he is the enemy, she finds him too interesting to ignore and is soon offering private details about her father and family. This exchange of vulnerability draws each character closer to Weybridge and makes them care about him in a short amount of time; this bond creates a foundation for the risks the family will later take in helping keep the Northerner safe.

Situational irony makes its mark with the discussion of “fraternization” in Weybridge’s interior monologue. The Latin “frater” (brother) is the root of fraternal and fraternity, words positive in connotation and suggesting friendship, brotherhood, and camaraderie. “Fraternization,” though, alludes to unseemly, unprofessional relationships between coworkers, military ranks, social groups, or, as in the novel, opposing sides of war. Wartime fraternization is a common occurrence, according to Weybridge: “The rebs loved maple sugar, so Vermonters would sometimes write home asking their families to send them some, because a little maple sugar could be bartered for a lot of tobacco” (84). The novel juxtaposes this easy tone regarding trades with the enemy with the punishment if caught—court-martial, imprisonment, or even death—to once again emphasize the humanity of the individuals at war. Weybridge, though, is more concerned with the kindnesses Libby, Sally, and Joseph have extended to him, knowing that they might be punished, ironically, for the brotherly act of taking him in. Weybridge’s musings on the topic also help to further characterize him through his pensive attitude and propensity for humility.