Mudbound Chapter Summary

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Mudbound is set during WWII at a farm in Marietta Tennessee when racism towards colored people is very strong and abundant. Jamie, a retired WWII B-52 bomber does not conform to these standards of society in the south. He instead is defiant against these standards and in turn gets persecuted and beaten for it. Jamie changes from a happy charming young man, to a retired pilot who is an alcoholic, and will never be able to find true happiness that gives him peace. Jamie as he was growing up always had the ladies around him. They said that he had a “shine” around him that drew them towards him. In fact, Laura who is his brother’s wife, wished that Henry had that same positive and charming radiance around him that Jamie had. One day when he goes …show more content…

Racism and Jim Crow laws were abundant and heavily enforced. A little before Jamie returns home, a colored Sergeant by the name of Ronsel returns home to his family on his brother Henry’s plantation. Ronsel begins to run into trouble with the other men in Marietta because during the war he has forgotten all about the racism and hate that was once part of his daily life. He is bolder than he ever was before and this boldness is what causes his later injury that will affect the rest of his life. Then Jamie returns home a full blown alcoholic because of what he has seen in the war. These two veterans become the best of friends because of what they have both gone through, both have seen things that will stay with them until they die. Jamie doesn’t care that Ronsel is colored because of the strong bond that they share from being through WWII. But this causes problems, a white man and a colored man are not supposed to be seen as equal. A colored man is supposed to be seen as lower than a white man. Jamie does not share this feeling with the rest of the men of Marietta and in turn is seen in public having casual conversation with Ronsel and allows him to sit in the cab of his truck with him. This is a big taboo in the Jim Crow south during this time period and did not go unnoticed. This display of equality continues until one, disastrous

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