Plagues and famine
The novel's imagery quickly darkens, and the cast of characters and the reader wonder how could things get worse? This imagery paints a picture of how bad things can get. A new move is difficult, and it is severely difficult to establish a new life on different lands. Then, Tobias is drafted. Then the oxen die. Then there are plagues of mosquitoes and other pests. Then a bear attacks. The seasons are brutal, and Florida's wildlife is ominous and threatening. The imagery is brutal.
Family and survival
While they attempt survival, the nature of family emerges as a portrait in response. Instead of emotional connections, like friendship, family is about survival and sacrifice. Mother and son sacrifice for each other, and Zecheriah saves his mother from a bear attack. They work together until Zecheriah is inevitably able to protect his mother as the head of the household. Tobias is removed from the picture, so his survival is not known.
New life and generations
The story takes a surprising turn when instead of focusing on specific characters, it begins to speed up the pace of the narrative, focusing on the generational nature of human life. As life goes on, Tobias begets Zecheriah, Zecheriah begets Solomon with Glenda, his wife, and Tobias with his mistress, a Native American named Tawanda. Solomon inherits the farm. The imagery is completed when they die, because their survivors are new generations.
Malice and evil
Imagery depicts human nature as simultaneously familial and good, and also potentially malicious. For instance, the depiction of the draft and war are not flattering, and the plagues the family endures involve humans burgling their property. A husband has an affair, and there is in-fighting about money. Ultimately, the picture of the human is one of complexity and darkness. The depiction of goodness is shaped by loyalty and humility, while evil is shown as the misuse of power for personal gain.
