Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels: Analysis of Major Characters
"Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels" is a collection that delves into the complexities of its characters against the backdrop of personal loss, societal expectations, and the search for truth. Central to the narratives is Miranda, a young woman whose romanticized views of family begin to crumble as she confronts the harsh realities of her relatives. Her cousin, Eva Parrington, serves as a catalyst for this awakening, challenging Miranda's idealized perceptions and encouraging her quest for authenticity.
The characters of Amy and Gabriel embody the remnants of past glamour and the disillusionment that follows; Amy, a once vibrant figure, is remembered in her faded portrait, while Gabriel's life spirals into alcoholism following her death. Royal Earle Thompson and Olaf Helton introduce themes of ambition, class struggle, and the tragic consequences of misguided trust, culminating in a devastating act of violence. Lastly, the relationship between Miranda and Adam Barclay highlights the fleeting nature of love amid the turmoil of war and illness, culminating in profound loss that shapes Miranda's understanding of life. Through these interwoven narratives, the collection invites readers to reflect on the interplay between illusion and reality, as well as the enduring impact of personal and collective histories.
Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Katherine Anne Porter
First published: 1938, as short story (collected in Pale Horse, Pale Rider, 1939)
Genre: Novellas
Locale: New Orleans, Texas, and Colorado
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: 1885–1918
Miranda, a young girl whose mother has died and who lives in a world created by romantic family legends. As she grows older, she gets hints that her beloved Aunt Amy and Uncle Gabriel are not the romantic couple she has idolized, but two people with problems. At the age of eighteen, by which time she is married, she confronts the most realistic member of her family, Eva, who reveals the past through different eyes. At the end, she decides to find the truth beneath the illusions.
Eva Parrington, Miranda's cousin, a plain woman who taught Latin and was involved in the women's rights movement. She sees Amy as she is, unadorned by romantic stereotypes. Her forthright explanation is the trigger for Miranda's search for truth.
Amy, the young wife of Gabriel who died of tuberculosis after leading a life of scandalous but intriguing behavior. Her portrait hangs in the hallway of the house, forever a memento to lost times.
Gabriel, Amy's husband, an owner of racehorses. He is attached to the romanticized memory of Amy. He dies as an alcoholic, married unhappily for the second time.
Royal Earle Thompson, the owner of a ramshackle dairy farm in Texas. Aspiring to a grander lifestyle, he hires Olaf Helton. His fortunes improve because he allows Olaf to direct the farm activities. Seeing only that things are improving, he misses the hint that something could be amiss with Helton. When Hatch appears, looking for Helton and wanting to return him to the mental hospital, Thompson seeks to defend Helton and kills Hatch. He commits suicide after trying in vain to convince his family and friends that the whole thing was an accident.
Olaf Helton, a Swede from North Dakota who hires on as a farmhand. Except for playing the harmonica, he works silently and industriously, bothering no one. Only once does he reveal the potential for violence in his character, but he keeps it under control. His death results from a tragic mistake.
Homer T. Hatch, who comes to return the escaped mental patient to North Dakota. His sneaky attitude and stereotyped remarks about Helton annoy Thompson because they threaten the smooth surface of his lifestyle. Because of this, Thompson kills him.
Miranda, a theater critic on a small newspaper. Working for little pay amid the stress of wartime conditions and an influenza epidemic, she falls in love with Adam, a young officer who lives in the same rooming house. Falling prey to the epidemic, she goes through a near death experience. She regains her health only to find that Adam has died. These experiences initiate her to the world of real truths.
Adam Barclay, a handsome young officer on leave from the Army who falls in love with Miranda and nurses her until she can go to the hospital. He then falls victim to the disease and dies before Miranda recovers.