Analysis Of Charles W. Chesnutt's The Marrow Of Tradition

Charles W. Chesnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition uses the motif of doubles to emphasize the differing views society has on characters of different races, despite their similarities in other aspects of lifestyle.

One instance where Chesnutt juxtaposes two characters is during the events leading up to the operation on Dodie, the son of Olivia and Major Carteret. Dr. Miller and Dr. Burns are both doctors of high degrees and equal experience. Doctors were highly respected in society due to their knowledge and ability to save lives. However, they were judged on more than just their ability and skill during this time period. Racism is the primary aspect that separates Dr. Burns and Dr. Miller as counterparts. Dr. Burns was a white man, which already

gave him an advantage through the developing concept of white supremacy. Miller, on the other hand, was colored, which put him at a disadvantage when looking for work.

The issue of race is displayed when Carteret declares that in the South, people “‘do not call negro doctors [Miller] to attend white patients’” (Chesnutt 46). Although Burns disagrees with this mindset, he is permitted to lead the operation on Dodie, most likely because Carteret encourages the superiority of the white race. If Dr. Miller had been a white man with the same abilities, Major Carteret would have certainly allowed him to assist in the operation since he wants the best for his son. However, his prejudices against African Americans blurred his judgment, leading him to only choose Burns for the surgery.

Similarly, Janet Miller and Olivia Carteret can be viewed as doubles because they also embody the differences in society based on race. Sam Merkel married Olivia’s mother until she died. He then married his slave, Julia, which resulted in Janet being born. This makes Olivia and Janet half-sisters, but Olivia does not have any respect for Janet Miller. Even though they both happen to have wealth and respective jobs, Olivia happens to be more respected than

Janet by a large margin, because Janet is black and a product of interracial marriage. As a result, she was considered unlawful in society, which is what separates her from Olivia. One instance of this lack of respect was displayed when Janet was seen driving past the Carteret household. When Mammy Jane realized who was in the carriage, she exclaimed “it’s huh sister Janet! She ma’ied a doctuh, an’ all dat, an’she lives in a big house, an’ she’s be’n roun’ de worl’ an de Lawd knows where e’se; ... Well, well! Fo-ty yeahs ago who’d ‘a’ ever expected ter see a nigger gal ridin’ in her own buggy?” (68). Mammy Jane realizes that Janet is very successful in life, but still chooses to go on the pretense that there is something wrong with her success since she is half black. Furthermore, Olivia used her hatred for Janet by blaming her for illogical things. Clara was handling Dodie at the time when Janet passed by the Carteret household. Clara accidentally mishandled Dodie, which resulted in Dodie almost plummeting to his death. However, Olivia viewed this incident differently as she saw that “Julia’s daughter, Janet, had been looking intently toward the window just before little Dodie had sprung from Clara’s arms. Might she not have cast the evil eye upon the baby, and sought thereby to draw him out of the window?” (69). Olivia is implying that witchcraft is involved in her child almost falling out of the window, simply because she dislikes her sister, who happened to be looking at the child at the time that he almost fell.
Chesnutt draws parallels between Major Carteret and Dr.

Miller, two strong believers in changes for the current society of Wellington. However, their views differ drastically, with Carteret pushing for a town based on white supremacy and Miller wanting more equal rights between the white and black populations. While Carteret and Miller are both leaders looking for change, the amount of support they receive varies. Carteret’s newspaper, the Morning Chronicle, is described as being “the most influential paper in the State” (1). Knowing this, he uses it to spread his ideology of white supremacy to his readers. The whites of Wellington became excited about a chance to take action against the black population, so when the time came, the riot was supported by nearly every white man in town. On the other hand, Miller is hesitant to openly lead the movement for equality among races. While the riot is occurring, Miller encounters a group of black men who ask for his leadership. Although Miller’s instinct tells him to “take up the cause of these leaderless people, and... to defend their lives and their rights,” he refuses, saying that their mission is a hopeless one since he knows that their resistance will not gain enough support. (183). Evidently, Carteret’s movement of white supremacy is supported by the whites since they feel the blacks are their subordinates. The black citizens, including Miller, however, are fearful to take action for their own equality because they worry that

the whites are actually superior to them.
The comparisons that the author makes between Dr. Miller and Dr. Burns, Janet and Olivia, and Dr. Miller and Major Carteret all showcase the differences people of the same position but of different races faced during the time period of the book. Despite having similar positions in life, such as qualified and successful doctors, people often were not provided with the same opportunities because they were of different races.