The Teacher's Funeral

Miss Myrt’s funeral reveals a lot about the beliefs and customs of Russell’s community. The funeral is primarily a social occasion that brings the community together. By not attending the funeral, the Tarbox family confirms their status as a family outside the accepted social norms. Russell’s comments suggest that funerals are popular events: He remarks that Old Man Lichtenberger’s funeral was not very interesting because, “Nobody we knew went” (17). Miss Myrt’s funeral is an unusual occurrence for the community because Miss Myrt was an outsider, an old maid, and a teacher. Preacher Parr explains that Miss Myrt was “not one of us” (37). Despite living and teaching in Parke County for 22 years, Miss Myrt remained a “foreigner” (37) simply because she was not born there. Parr’s remarks reveal the clannish nature of the community and its deep-seated belief that teachers are a breed apart from regular individuals. The teaching profession further isolated Miss Myrt: Although the community values the profession, it is not a popular job. Teachers are primarily disciplinarians, and widely unliked.

The funeral also reveals the townspeople’s views on religion and death, as well as their attitudes towards education and the future. Russell and his family are Methodists, who believe that death brings one a step closer to God. Russell drily observes this sentiment in the congregation’s morbid appreciation of the “popular” hymn, “Who’ll Be Next? Be Ready?” (36). The boys know that death is a part of life. They see death on the farm: They kill the bull snake without a qualm and often see animals slaughtered. They have grown up knowing that their mother died giving birth to Lloyd. Death is ever-present, and funerals are a way to acknowledge death and reaffirm life.

Preacher Parr gets the old-timers at the funeral fired up about school in the olden days, turnings his talk into a sermon on the immorality of modern children. Modernity, or “ease” (41), leads to ignorance instead of learning, and loose morals. Parr is a firm proponent of the Biblical adage, “spare the rod and spoil the child” (Proverbs, 13:24). Children must remain in line for them to grow up with humility and respect for their elders: Discipline is an expression of love. When Lloyd worries that their father will follow Preacher Parr’s direction and “whup” them, Russell reassures Lloyd that a funeral oration is “no different than a sermon” (54), which suggests that Russell views religion as an abstract that does not practically affect his life.

Most of the older congregation agrees with Preacher Parr, and, by extension, with Miss Myrt’s educational philosophy: “No lickin’, no larnin’” (40). Consequently, Russell and Lloyd associate school with physical pain and look on teachers as sadistic individuals. When Tansy refuses to let the expensive pointer get buried with Miss Myrt and takes it from the teacher’s dead hands, she also assumes the teacher’s authority. Russell views this as the culmination of a series of bad omens (54). As a victim of Tansy’s sisterly but authoritative “thumps” (8), Russell and Lloyd believe Tansy will be more punitive than Miss Myrt.

In this section, Tansy takes steps toward adulthood. Tansy leaves childhood behind and assumes a professional role as teacher. She also shows that she is becoming a woman. Russell notes that she speaks with a voice “unfamiliar to us” when she addresses Eugene (51). Russell has not heard Tansy speak in this mature way to someone of the opposite sex. Tansy is changing and growing up. Russell reveals that he has some sense of personal responsibility. Despite itching to leave, he still plans to finish his obligations on the farm—getting in the harvest and planting the winter wheat—before he lights out for the Dakotas (61).

The developing theme of tensions between old and new, country and city, appears in the “first such mishap of the twentieth century” (46), when the Culver wagon nearly collides with Eugene’s auto. The Culver men are awestruck by the power and potential of the car. Russell waxes eloquent about its power, observing, “It was like fast in a shape” (55). New technology and ideas will bring changes to the rural lifestyle, something the oldsters of the community, like Aunt Maud, disapprove of and view as threats. Eugene and his auto represent the city and its modern developments.

Russell continues to reveal his skill for vivid description, his sense of humor, and his clearly advanced education. Despite his readiness to leave, Russell appreciates the beauty and small-town humor of the life around him. He admires the beautiful evening as he and his father drive to the school (68). He shares a comical anecdote about the origin of Hog Scald Road, joking he has more stories if the reader believes that one. He also quotes the famous 1867 poem by Rose Hartwick Thorpe, “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight,” after he and Lloyd muffle the school bell. All these elements add layers to Russell’s character and work to endear him to the reader.