 | Baptism
 | The tornado (wind/pneuma
and water) as baptism for Mr. Will. After the tornado he turns his
attentions outward, realizes that he cares for the family and
becomes part of the community. |
|
| Community
| The black community pitches in to
help get the cotton crop in on time. |
| Final Eucharist shows the
relatedness of all in the town, no matter how at odds or far away
they seemed during the story. |
|
| Confrontation with
Evil
| Edna insists on fairness and justice
when she brings the cotton crop into town. |
|
| Conversion
| Change in Mr. Will's character from
being self-centered and obsessed with his disability and sacrifice,
to caring for others and becoming part of the community. |
|
| Courage
| Edna's courage as she defies those
who would exploit her because she is not married. |
| Moze's courage as he defies those he
knows can harm him. |
|
| Determination,
Endurance
| The determination of Moze and Edna
to get the crop in on time. |
| Edna's determination to keep her
family together. |
|
| Eucharist/Communion
| Final Eucharist scene -
reconciliation and interconnectedness between characters in the
story. |
|
| Friendship
| Developing friendship between Edna
and Moze. |
| Friendship between Mr. Will and
Possum. |
|
| Interconnectedness
| Final Eucharist scene -
reconciliation and interconnectedness between characters in the
story. |
|
| Mother types
| Edna's courage and
determination to help her family survive and keep them together. Her
desire to protect those within her community/family. |
|
| Overcoming
Obstacles
| Edna and Moze
overcome storm and difficulties raised by others in order to bring
in the crop. |
|
| Reconciliation
| Final Eucharist scene -
reconciliation and interconnectedness between characters in the
story. |
|
| Sacrifice
| Moze is beaten and forced to leave
town because of his care for Edna and her family. |
|
| Seeing/Not
Seeing
| Mr. Will learns to "see" a
different reality after the "baptism" of the tornado
(wind/spirit and water). (Malkovich is said to have played that part
not by wearing a blindfold and practicing being blind, but by
looking into himself at the places where he himself is blind.) |
|
