Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

Benny is discharged from the Army after five days in 1918, due to illness that in reality is diabetes. In 1921, insulin is discovered, but Benny never uses it. Early death is common, a part of everyday life, and most ills are treated with folk medicine and even witchcraft. Benny doesn't give in to illness. His daughter Doris is born in 1927, and Audrey is born in January 1930. Benny is a good family man, though his wife fails to stop his drinking even when the alcohol makes him horribly ill.

One day, Benny comes home late, drunk, with toy dishes for Doris. Lucy harangues him, throwing the waste-of-money present away, leaving Benny sick and defeated. Another time, Russell is paralyzed when faced with his first book, and his father gently leads him through. Russell enjoys the rural life of Morrisonville, but it is hard...