Honey in the Horn: Analysis of Major Characters
"Honey in the Horn" is a narrative that weaves together the lives of several complex characters, each grappling with themes of identity, innocence, and familial conflict. The central figure, Wade Shiveley, is a man marked by tragedy and suspicion, having been wrongfully accused of robbery and murder. His tumultuous relationship with his father, Uncle Press Shiveley, is characterized by deep-seated hatred and betrayal, culminating in a plot that sees Wade framed and ultimately executed for a crime he did not commit.
Wade's relative, Clay Calvert, is another pivotal character, embodying ambiguity in his bloodline while struggling with his own feelings of animosity towards Wade. His journey reflects a search for belonging and stability as he navigates life as a migratory worker. The Horse Trader, who provides a backdrop of family struggle and financial instability, and his daughter Luce, who becomes romantically involved with Clay, add further layers to the narrative, highlighting themes of loyalty and mistrust.
Finally, Clark Burdon emerges as a supportive figure amidst the chaos, representing the possibility of friendship in a landscape often defined by conflict. Collectively, these characters contribute to a rich tapestry that explores the complexities of human relationships and the often harsh realities of life in early Oregon.
Honey in the Horn: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: H. L. Davis
First published: 1935
Genre: Novel
Locale: Oregon
Plot: Regional
Time: 1906–1908
Wade Shiveley, suspected of robbery and murder, though he declares himself innocent. He is hated by his father because he has previously killed his own brother in a fight over an Indian woman. Later he is framed by his relative, Clay Calvert, and hanged by a posse for another murder he did not commit. After his death, he is proved innocent of the murder and robbery for which he was originally jailed.
Uncle Press Shiveley, Wade's father. He sends his son, whom he hates and has vowed to kill, a gun loaded with blank cartridges; he hopes Wade will be killed while trying to break out of jail.
Clay Calvert, who is either Wade's son or Wade's brother's son; nobody ever knows which. He hates Wade but believes him innocent. Sought by the authorities as an accomplice in Wade's escape from jail, he becomes a migratory worker and takes up with a horse trader's daughter. He drifts about Oregon, always seeking and never finding a place where he and his woman can make a real home.
The Horse Trader, a wanderer who ekes out a living trading horses and having his family pick hops in season. He is a weak man who loses most of the family's money by gambling. He dies of natural causes. He is suspected by Clay of having committed the crimes for which Wade is blamed.
Luce, the horse trader's daughter. She takes up with Clay and lives with him. She claims to have shot the man whose murder is blamed on Wade, but her lover believes she is only trying to shield her father, even after his death. She never completely trusts Clay because she is afraid that he may leave her.
Clark Burdon, leader of a band of settlers in eastern Oregon. He befriends Clay.