Barracoon: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Cudjo brings his narrative to a close by saying that one night, Seely wakes up suddenly and tells him that she’s been dreaming about the children and that they are cold. It’s a chilly night, and Cudjo remembers sadly that when their children were young, Seely often checked on them throughout the night to make sure they had enough blankets. The next day Seely asks to visit the church and Cudjo watches her walk from one child’s grave to the other, “lak she cover dem up wid mo’ quilts.”

The next week Seely dies, although she’s never shown any signs of illness. Seely doesn’t want to leave Cudjo, and she cries at the thought of his loneliness; but she needs to be wherever her children are. Remembering his wife’s death, Cudjo cries out. He says that “de wife she de eyes to de man’s soul,” and that he can’t “see” anymore without his wife.

The month after that, Cudjo’s one remaining son, Aleck, dies as well. Now he’s in the same state as when he arrived in America: his only family left is his daughter-in-law and grandchildren. He tells her to “stay in de compound,” and he will leave his land to her after his death.

One day, Ole Charlie, the oldest man from Africa still living in the town, visits Cudjo with some others and asks Cudjo to “make us a parable.” Cudjo addresses the group, telling them to suppose Ole Charlie was walking to church with a parasol and left it for safekeeping at Cudjo’s door, knowing he can pick it up later. Cudjo likes the parasol, and asks the group if it’s right to keep it. They all say that he cannot, because it belongs to Charlie. Cudjo says that the parasol is like Seely, who belongs to God and was only left “by my door” for a certain time.

Another time, the group comes and asks for another story. Cudjo tells them that he and his wife are riding to Mount Vernon on the train, but Seely gets off early, at Plateau; she tells her husband that even though she doesn’t want to leave him, she knows she has to get off here. When she’s gone, the conductor comes to Cudjo and asks where he wants to stop. Cudjo tells the group he’s still traveling towards Mount Vernon, and when he gets there he “no talk to you no more.”

By this time, Hurston has spent two months with Cudjo. Some days they eat a lot of fruit without talking about anything. Some days they talk without eating. Some days he won’t speak to her at all, but generally she feels that they are good friends. Hurston is very sad when she finally bids Cudjo farewell, taking some peaches from his garden for her journey.

Leaving Cudjo’s house, Hurston turns back to see him standing at the edge of his land. Driving on the highway, she imagines Cudjo returning to his porch and his memories of beautiful African girls, the drums of his homeland, and the parables he tells. Hurston feels that Cudjo is unafraid to die, because in spite of years as a Christian, “he is too deeply a pagan to fear death.” However, she knows that he is respectful and humble “before the altar of the past.”