Summary

“The Country in the Woman” (1927) began with dialogue addressing Caroline Potts’s misplaced behavior while living in Harlem. Back in Florida, Caroline was well-known for her creative ways of breaking up Mitchell’s affairs. In Harlem, she continued to interfere. Mitchell resented her adamant behavior and refusal to conform to Harlem’s culture. Calm and collected, Caroline defended herself against Mitchell’s threats of violence. Mitchel remembered how time after time, Caroline publicly embarrassed Mitchell’s mistresses. He was instigated by friends, found a new mistress, and lied about his power over Caroline. Shortly after Mitch left with his mistress and the fur coat he bought her, Mitchell’s friends watched Caroline pass with “an axe over her shoulder” (199). One friend tried to stop her, but she pressed on, returning with Mitchell’s suit pants...