The Finish Of Patsy Barnes By Paul Laurence Dunbar

In “The Finish of Patsy Barnes” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, readers can agree on the message of the book being that love for family can do amazing things. In the book, a young black boy named Patsy Barnes and his mother Eliza are living in Tennessee during the time shortly after slavery has nearly ended. After Patsy’s father is killed by a horse they moved North to an area called little Africa. Shortly after, Eliza falls sick with pneumonia, and the city physician can not help her and Patsy needs to find a way to afford a new doctor.
Eliza’s sickness made Patsy want to get money for a doctor to save her. When Patsy went to the fair looking for extra work, he learned that he could ride in the race. Patsy knew the horse whose owner needed a rider. The horse was Blackboy, who had killed Patsy’s father while Patsy was young and still in the south. Patsy knew that riding Blackboy would be dangerous, and that he could die like his father, but if he does not ride in

the race, his mother could die. This is shown in the text when it says, ‘Black Boy shall win; he must win. The horse that has taken away his father shall give him back his mother.’ Therefore, Patsy’s love for his mother is so strong that he would risk his life with the very horse that killed his father.
The story constantly and consistently shows Patsy and Eliza’s pride for each other.

In the beginning of the story, when Eliza was sick, she still wanted to get out of bed and work to help care for Patsy. This shows her love, because even though she is sick and can’t work, she still wants to work just to care for Patsy. Patsy, in turn, wanted to go to the stables to exercise some horses to earn money even though his mother was afraid the horses might kill him like his father died. In the text, it says,'"Nevah you min'," said Patsy with a choke in his voice. "I can do somep'n', an' we'll have anothah doctah." "La, listen at de chile; what kin you do?" "I'm goin' down to McCarthy's stable and see if I kin git some horses to exercise." A sad look came into Eliza's eyes as she said: "You'd bettah not go, Patsy; dem hosses'll kill you yit, des lak dey did yo' pappy."’ This shows that even though Patsy’s mother does not want him to go, he knows he needs to get the money for his mother so he can get a doctor for

her.
In “The Finish of Patsy Barnes” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, the message that everyone can take away from this is that love and determination for family can do amazing things. As Eliza is Patsy was determined by love to save his mother and he is willing to risk his life for her. Showing that love and determination for family can do amazing things.