Junior is arguably the most unambiguously evil character in the novel—a two-faced hypocrite and possible cannibal who sells out Inman and Solomon Veasey to the Home Guard, breaking the unwritten rules of hospitality in the process. While our knowledge of Junior is limited, we know that he married a white woman, Lila, who bore him half-black children, suggesting that she took another lover. In addition to Junior’s evident racism and domestic abuse, it’s suggested that he eats human beings whom he murders. There’s no hint of a redeeming quality in Junior, and it’s hard to muster much sympathy when Inman takes his revenge on him.
Junior Quotes in Cold Mountain
The Cold Mountain quotes below are all either spoken by Junior or refer to Junior. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Grove Press edition of Cold Mountain published in 2006.
Chapter 9
Quotes
—Come eat supper with us, the man said. And we've a hayloft that's good for sleeping.
—Only if you'll take that saw off our hands, Inman said to the man.
—I expect two dollars federal. Fifty in state scrip, Veasey said, perking up.
—Take it on, Inman said. No fee.
Related Characters:
Inman (speaker), Solomon Veasey (speaker), Junior (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Junior raised up his face and looked at him but seemed not to recognize him. Inman stepped to Junior and struck him across the ear with the barrel of the LeMat's and then clubbed at him with the butt until he lay flat on his back. There was no movement out of him but for the bright flow of blood which ran from his nose and cuts to his head and the corners of his eyes.
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Junior Character Timeline in Cold Mountain
The timeline below shows where the character Junior appears in Cold Mountain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 9: to live like a gamecock
...from the stream, happy to be done with their work. The man introduces himself as Junior, and he “entertains” Inman and Veasey with stories of having had sex with married women...
(full context)
Junior takes Inman and Veasey to his house, where he offers them food and coffee. At...
(full context)
...offers him a strong drink, which Inman accepts, and she tells him about how once Junior killed a man out of anger. She goes on to name other occasions when Junior...
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Junior stands over Inman and Lila, pointing a gun right at Inman’s head. He marches Inman...
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...pay the slave for his help, but then realizes that his possessions are back on Junior’s property.
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The chapter cuts ahead a few nights: Inman is standing outside Junior’s house, preparing to sneak inside. He throws a bone to a dog to distract in,...
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The next day, Inman is still walking along the road, away from Junior. He sees a flock of crows flying above him, and notices that they’re circling close...
(full context)