Thunder Hear My Cry And The Sexton's Hero

Consider the characters of Mary Logan in Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry and Gilbert Dawson in The Sexton's Hero showing how they reflect the theme of heroism.

Mary Logan in "Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry" and Gilbert Dawson in The
Sexton's Hero both have many similarities, all of which reflect the theme of heroism. Both have to fight against the expectations of the society they live in. Mary Logan lives in the USA in the 1930's. She is a young black woman living in a white mans world, she is a teacher and her family own land, which the white landowners are not very happy about. The white people believe that blacks a less worthy then whites and should know their place. Gilbert Dawson is a man living in
Lancashire in the 1850's, he is

He also has some of the qualities of a modern hero as he stands up for what he believes in. However Mary Logan in "Roll Of Thunder Hear My
Cry" is a modern hero, as she stands by here principles, no matter what the cost to her is.
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In "The Sexton's Hero," Gilbert Dawson is expected to support and reflect the male working class stereotype. He is expected to be
"manly", physically strong and aggressive, ready to fight when necessary and to stand up to a challenge.

However Gilbert Dawson goes against these expectations. He refuses to fight much to the amazement of the onlookers

"it seemed such a thing for a stout young chap to be a coward and afraid." But Gilbert Dawson was not a coward or afraid. He was a Quaker. A
Quaker is a member of the religious group, the Society of Friends, who believed that it was wrong to fight.

"I cannot fight because I think it is wrong to quarrel and use violence. "

Therefore it would have been very hard for Gilbert not to fight, when everyone around him was taunting him, but:

"he stood it out, his teeth set, and looking very

She is scared that they will lose their land. The land is very important to the Logans as it is a symbol of their freedom from the whites. Mary Logan is very hurt when she loses her job, as it was a good source of income for the family.

"What we do David? We needed that job."

In both stories the characters are supported by their Christian Faith.

For Gilbert Dawson, his Religion gives him comfort and Solace, plus the strength to bear his hardship in a Godless and unchristian community. His Bible symbolises his integrity, he lives by it.

"There were many a text in the Gospel, marked broad with his carpenter's pencil which more that bore him out in his refusal to fight." He believes so much in what it says, that he is willing to sacrifice the girl he loves, to abide by it.

In "Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry", religion also plays an important role in peoples lives, though not as much as in 'The Sextons Hero'.
For the black community, the Christian church is seen as the corner stone of their lives. It is referred to as part of everyday