The Trees: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Trees: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the lives of a pioneer family navigating the challenges of survival in a rugged environment. Central to the narrative is Worth Luckett, a devoted but somewhat irresponsible father and woodsman whose wanderlust compels him to frequently relocate his family in search of game. His wife, Jary Luckett, suffers from illness and longs for stability, eventually succumbing to her health struggles. Their eldest child, Sayward, emerges as a strong and responsible figure, taking on the care of her siblings and later marrying Portius Wheeler, a lawyer with whom she finds contentment despite an unconventional courtship. Other family members include Wyitt, who mirrors his father's outdoor lifestyle, and daughters Genny and Achsa, whose choices lead them into challenging relationships. The family's dynamics, marked by love, loyalty, and the harsh realities of pioneer life, reflect a community deeply intertwined with the natural world and each other. The analysis offers insights into the characters' resilience and the complexities of their interactions within the context of their environment.
The Trees: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Conrad Richter
First published: 1940
Genre: Novel
Locale: Old Northwest Territory
Plot: Regional
Time: Late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries
Worth Luckett, a pioneer woodsman who has real wander-lust and cannot stay in one place very long. He feeds his family by shooting game; when the game runs out, they must move on. He is a simple man and loyal to his wife and family, but he is somewhat irresponsible. He starts to build a cabin for his family to live in, but he is gone so much of the time that his wife has to prod him to finish the building before the winter snows come.
Jary Luckett, Worth's wife. She is rather sickly and has the slow fever. She does not like to move about so much but realizes that Worth can support his family only if he can kill game. She says nothing about the unfinished cabin until one day when the leaves fall from the trees and she sees the sky through the branches. She then decides that she must have a house in which to live. She finally dies of fever.
Sayward (Saird) Luckett, Worth and Jary's eldest child. She is a big, strapping girl who takes most of the responsibility for the care of the other children. She is very strong, both physically and mentally. She marries Portius Wheeler after offering herself as his wife when another woman turns him down.
Wyitt Luckett, Worth and Jary's son, who grows up to be a “woodsy” exactly like his father.
Genny Luckett, Worth and Jary's daughter, who marries a no-good man named Louie Scurrah.
Louie Scurrah, a woodsman who immediately charms Genny and Achsa. Sayward does not like him from the first. When she finds him in the woods with Genny, she demands that he marry her. He does so but later runs away with Achsa.
Achsa Luckett, Worth and Jary's daughter, who is as brown and tough as an Indian.
Sulie Luckett, Worth and Jary's youngest child, who is lost in the woods and never returns.
Portius Wheeler, a lawyer who marries Sayward while he is drunk. She offers him the chance to leave her if he likes, but he chooses to stay. He treats Sayward well, and she is happy with him.
Jake Tench, the man who tries to find a bride for Portius. The woman he picks decides that the match is not for her.