The Glory Field Sparknotes

Many individuals hold a special place in their hearts for dreams and fantasies they wish that one day will come true--many of those do, and others not so much. Walter Dean Meyers, the author of The Glory Field, shares of the family tree of a strong-willed, go-and-do type of family-- the Lewises. All the characters displayed in this novel, express some kind of trial in one way or another, leading them to abandon their lifelong dreams. Many Lewis’ characters sacrifice their freedom dreams and by doing so behold many Lewis’ traits; Lizzy abandons the thought of living in Johnson City with Ms. Julia, Luvenia puts her anticipation of going to college on the back-burner, and Tommy gives up on his dream of playing basketball at state.
Curry Island,

South Carolina--1864; Lizzy
Chicago, Illinois--1930; the perfect urban area for a young, “New Negro” to achieve one’s dreams and prosper… or at least in Luvenia’s eyes. The daughter of a strong willed Lewis man, Elijah Lewis, Luvenia refuses her father’s will in coming home to Curry Island because “she [does] not want to be owned by a job, or by the land, or by anything else for that matter,” (154). A very independent character, Luvenia has it set in her mind that she would like to apply to the University of Chicago and “[t]hen one day when [she’s] finished, [she] thinks [she] might teach school,” (147). Prepared and determined, Luvenia discusses her financial issues with the bank, shot back with the response that she needs to have a guaranteed job to pay of the debt when she graduates. Working as a housemaid for Mr. and Mrs. Deets and their daughter Florenz Deets, Luvenia needs to find a way to have Mr. Deets guarantee her a job. Seeking help from Florenz, Luvenia gets mixed up in a big teenage shenanigan, leaving Luvenia unemployed. Crushed inside, feeling lost, and not knowing what to do, Luvenia gives up on her dreams of ever becoming a “high school or even college,” professor (147). Building up her strength like all Lewis women, she picks herself up off her feet, and turns to her honest dream--opening her own hair salon. An unexpected turn helped out Luvenia for the better and showed her, her true Lewis traits; independent and strong-willed, similar to the rest of the Lewises before her time.
Johnson City, South Carolina--1964; One of his life long dreams, Tommy desires to play basketball when he graduates from high school.

When Mr. Chase, a former basketball star, confronts Tommy with the idea of receiving a basketball scholarship to Johnson City State College, Tommy falls in love with the proposal. Mr. Chase provides Tommy with a few simple guidelines to keep in mind to insure he keeps his scholarship--one of those being not “‘get[ting] caught up in any demonstrations or anything,’” (254). Hesitant at first, Tommy attempts to stay out of trouble and continues to keep his grades up. However, when faced with the decision to either stand up for his family and his rights, Tommy willingly participates in a “demonstration” by shackling himself to Sheriff Moser with the chains that his six-times great-grandfather, Muhammad traveled to the Americas with in slave ships (282). By partaking in this audacious act, Tommy threw away his only chance to play basketball and Johnson City State College. Although Tommy gave up on his dream, he protected his family from the harmful hate messages being spread. Not just his family, but the whole black community in Johnson City. Tommy demonstrates a courageous and sacrificial attitude, when he gives up his dream of playing basketball at State, as the rest of his ancestors before him

have.
Although each Lewis character