Wielding Power In 'Antaeus' By Borden Deal

“Antaeus”

Wielding power, however it may be done, emphasises strength and authority in a person. It evokes confidence in their voice. Adds authority to their actions, and sense of pleasure from their own accomplishments. People draw ‘power’ from an array of sources, and in the case of a southern boy named T.J, his deep understanding for the effort into the land he cultivates, is his source. In the story, “Antaeus”, the author Borden Deal suggests that, with power, you truly are your strongest. Similarly to the character that T.J plays, a greek, mythological figure, by the name of Antaeus, had drawn his strength and power from the ground beneath him. And fittingly, antaeus is also the title of this short story, which cleverly alludes

to T.J, and the significance that the farmlife and effort he puts into it, is to him.

A lack of confidence suggests weakness and vulnerability, which T.J’s persona, most definitely wasn't held back by.

He ironically was fitted with an odd tone of voice, which could be described as being “sissy”. This signature characteristic of T.J, set him apart from his new found friends, which they could immediately notice, and get by, for they knew there was more in him. This “sissy” voice, later on shifted to be bigger than just an oddity of T.J’s, when he was put in the situation of defending something he had collectively cared for, with his friends:

T.J started forward. “You can’t do that,” he said. “We toted it up here, and it’s our earth. We planted it and raised it and toted it up here” The man stared at him coldly. “But it’s my building,” he said. “ It’s to be shovelled off tomorrow.” “It’s our earth,” T.J. said desperately. “You ain’t got the

right!”

Not once, did him arguing seem“sissy” in that instance, which had further been pushed by the fact, it was against an “adult”. While his friends stood there, intimidated by the presence of an adult in their midst, T.J stood with his head up and shot against the man with his boisterous mouth. And all of a sudden, a powerful and confident tone, masks his soft and gentle voice, as he confronts and voices himself, on behalf of the others.

Authoritative figures may come off as being abusive and unfair over the use of their power, sometimes even crippling people and accomplishments from ever advancing. Where some people would crumble, others fight past the evident fact, and take it in their own hands. Ultimately, leaving some of that authority back in their hands, leading to some very powerful actions. T.J’s particular situation, and the actions he acted upon, left him with more power than otherwise. A lot of thought and effort was put into a rooftop garden, by T.J and his friends. Which eventually, had been executed and done properly despite the hardships that a rooftop garden had posed. Soil had been collected and hauled up. Seeds of grass were scavenged, scattered and watered, and at the end of the day, the boys were truly impressed of what they had made possible. Unfortunately, the beauty they had seen behind their work, was not what the landowner saw. It was looked at as if it were garbage, and was told that it be removed by the next day. Having been asked to trash the entire thing, they had to finally succumb to the authoritative power of the opposing adult. This left them powerless of the fate of the garden, except for who would ultimately pull the plug on it:

“They ain't gonna touch my earth,” he said fiercely.

“They ain’t gonna lay a hand on it! Come on.” He had seized a board and thrust it into the soil, scooping it up and flinging it over the parapet into the areaway below. He straightened and look at us. “They can’t touch it,” he said. “I won’t let ’em lay a dirty hand on it!”

It is the fact that T.J was adamant on not letting anyone else, but except those involved in nurturing its growth, to remove it, which was so powerful. It ultimately was a decision he made, that made them the authoritative figure over who would handle the situation, instead of the landowner. And what a powerful statement they had left, by being the ones that do it themselves. ‘

In most cases where taking back to an adult is considered arrogant, and acting on the frustration and anger of conflicting decision is childish, this scenario was different. These are not just deviants that want thing to go their way. They were part of the making of something that they collectively thought was beautiful and worth the effort, and approached wisely at a resolve to the differences they faced. They might have lost that one thing that was so dear to them, but the satisfaction that derives from their accomplishments, sticks with them. Not only were they able to make a rooftop garden a reality, they were also the ones who took it down. Not because of the decision the landowner had forced on them, but rather the power that T.J and his friends gave themselves, by taking

matters in their own hands.

Like the greek figure, Antaeus, T,J drew his power from what his friends and himself were able to accomplish together, which being the garden. Not the actual thing, but rather the effort and thought which had resulted in its making. They truly cared for it, and when it was threatened, T.J in particular from his passion was able to stand up and speak with confidence. And when he had to buckle down to the authorities, he made sure, it was them who handle their creation, not the landowner. It is sad that they had to lose their work, over a conflicting idea of the gardens existence, but at least, they left it with a rekindled sense of pride in their persona.