Brownfield seeing his father paralyzed with fear when in the presence of another man causes him to lose respect for the patriarchal figure and his reverence for the Caucasian landowner grows, ?Brownfield, trembling ?filled with terror for this man who could, by his mere presence, turn his father as if he were a pebble? (Walker 10). Brownfield's mental image of his father as a male figure to be respected and feared is ruined forever. Shipley not only causes Brownfield's disillusionment with his father, but also creates a chasm between Grange and the most important person in his life: Margaret. The author presents a scenario near the end of the book in which Grange recalls a time in the past when he failed to protect his wife from being dishonored by the man whose land she farmed, "Grange, save me!" Grange, help me!? He had blocked his ears with whiskey, telling himself that he was not to blame for his wife's unpardonable sin. He had blamed Margaret, he had blamed Shipley, all the Shipleys in the world.?
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