Cimarron · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Cimarron by Edna Ferber.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to their mother, Julia Ferber.
Chapter 2
Acknowledgment
The author acknowledges the source of descriptive passages related to the Opening of Oklahoma in 1889, citing the book 'Hands Up' by Fred E. Sutton and A. B. MacDonald.
Chapter 3
Cimarron
The chapter introduces the founding of the town of Osage during the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889, focusing on the Cravat family's arrival and the establishment of their newspaper, the Oklahoma Wigwam. Yancey Cravat's charismatic and idealistic nature is contrasted with the harsh realities of frontier life, while Sabra Cravat begins to adapt to her new role as a pioneer wife and mother.
Chapter 4
I
The chapter introduces Yancey Cravat, a charismatic and enigmatic orator, at a Sunday dinner with the Venable family in Wichita, Kansas, in 1889. Yancey captivates the family with a tale of the Oklahoma land rush, while his past and character are shrouded in myth and rumor. The Venables, a Southern family transplanted to Kansas, maintain their aristocratic customs despite financial straits.
Chapter 5
Chapter II
At the Venable family dinner table, Yancey Cravat recounts his harrowing experience during the Run of 1889, including sharing his last cup of water with a desperate woman and racing through a wall of fire. His tale reignites his desire to return to the Oklahoma country to help build a new state, sparking a fierce confrontation with Felice Venable, who opposes taking Sabra and Cim into the wilderness. The chapter ends with Yancey declaring that Sabra and Cim will go with him.
Chapter 6
III
Sabra visits Mother Bridget at the Mission to say farewell before leaving for the Indian Territory with Yancey. Mother Bridget reflects on the failures of converting Native Americans, gives Sabra a woven blanket, and Sabra experiences a moment of doubt about her new life.
Chapter 7
IV
The Cravat family departs Wichita for the Oklahoma frontier. Sabra, dressed in an impractical but genteel costume, drives one wagon while Yancey drives the other, with young Cim bouncing between them. The journey is marked by Cim's excitement, Sabra's exhaustion and culture shock, and the discovery of Black Isaiah stowing away in a roll of carpet. The chapter contrasts the family's refined Southern background with the raw, unsettled reality of pioneering.
Chapter 8
V
The Cravat family continues their journey into Oklahoma. Yancey Cravat proves helpful and tells Cim stories of Spanish treasure and the tragic history of the Cherokee Nation on the Trail of Tears, shaping the boy's sympathies. Sabra, horrified, tries to counter with negative views of Indians, leading to a conflict with Cim. The family adapts to the journey's hardships, but when Cim goes missing, Sabra frantically searches and finds him with a group of men in a hidden cave dwelling.
Chapter 9
VI
Sabra Cravat experiences her first nightmarish day in Osage, confronting the raw, violent, and primitive reality of the frontier town. She struggles with the lack of civilized comforts, the coarse men, and the unsettling atmosphere, while Yancey remains enthusiastically oblivious to her distress. The chapter details their search for housing, Sabra's negotiation with the dour Doc Nisbett over water barrels, and her growing disillusionment with the lawless, scavenger-filled community.
Chapter 10
VII
Sabra struggles to adapt to the harsh frontier life in Osage, while Yancey becomes increasingly obsessed with investigating the murder of newspaperman Jack Pegler, revealing his past as a deadly gunslinger and his idealistic vision for a model empire in Oklahoma. Their conflicting views on progress, justice, and the role of outlaws like the Kid lead to a tense confrontation.
Chapter 11
Chapter VIII
Yancey Cravat arranges to hold a church service in Arkansas Grat's gambling tent, the largest building in Osage. The town gathers for the meeting, including settlers, cowboys, and Native Americans. Sabra prepares her family, and Isaiah comically imitates Yancey's stride and attire as they walk to the tent.
Chapter 12
IX
During a makeshift church service in a tent, Yancey Cravat delivers a dramatic sermon, confessing his own greed and then publicly exposing the murderer of Jack Pegler. When an assassin fires at him, Yancey shoots back, killing the gunman—Lon Yountis—in an act of self-defense. The congregation is stunned, and the service ends abruptly with prayer.
Chapter 13
The Founding of the Philomathean Society
Sabra Cravat, struggling with the harsh realities of frontier life in Osage, attempts to impose Southern social order by founding a women's culture club, the Philomathean Society. She recruits members including Mrs. Evergreen Waltz, whom she admires for her refinement. Meanwhile, Yancey Cravat publishes a practical joke edition of the newspaper, revealing his rebellious, idealistic nature. The chapter culminates in the murder of Mrs. Waltz by her husband, who intercepts a letter from her lover, exposing her past as a prostitute. Sabra confronts Yancey, who implies he knew the truth all along.
Chapter 14
Chapter XI
Sabra gives birth to her daughter Donna in June, a little over a year after arriving in Osage. She refuses to send for her mother, Felice Venable, and is attended by the mysterious Dr. Don Valliant. The birth crystallizes Sabra's resolve to reshape her life and home. Meanwhile, Yancey rescues the Jewish peddler Sol Levy from a brutal hazing by cowboys, and Sabra begins to transform their house with wallpaper, sparking a community trend.
Chapter 15
XII
After three and a half years in Osage, Sabra Cravat returns to Wichita for a visit but finds herself alienated from her former life and family, realizing she has become a pioneer matriarch committed to building civilization in the raw Oklahoma Territory. She returns home with renewed determination to shape her children, though Cim's character has already been deeply influenced by Yancey's romantic tales of the frontier.
Chapter 16
XIII
Sabra returns to Osage after a trip, expecting Yancey to meet her at the station, but he is absent. She learns from Pat Leary that Yancey has killed the notorious Kid in a shootout. The town celebrates, but Yancey is exhausted and troubled. The Kid's body is displayed in Hefner's window, drawing huge crowds. Sabra initially condemns the spectacle but later, in a trance-like state, goes to view the body herself. Yancey refuses the reward money, insisting he will not take money for killing a man.
Chapter 17
Chapter XIV
Over twenty-five years, the Oklahoma Wigwam records the community's progress. Yancey Cravat, restless and moody, engages in elaborate practical jokes on newcomers, often exploiting their fears of Indian uprisings. Sabra Cravat, content with her family and social leadership, is frustrated by Yancey's refusal of political office, including the Territorial governorship. Yancey fights for Oklahoma statehood and Indian rights, while Sabra secretly publishes opposition views. A new dress with balloon sleeves from Chicago causes a sensation, but Yancey's attention is on a telegram announcing the Cherokee Strip Opening. He proposes they make the Run and start a ranch, but Sabra violently refuses, leading to a hysterical outburst. Despite her efforts to anchor him with a farm, Yancey prepares to leave for the September opening.
Chapter 18
Chapter XV
Five years after Yancey's departure, Sabra Cravat has developed into a capable newspaper editor, running the Oklahoma Wigwam and raising her children Cim and Donna alone. Rumors about Yancey's fate swirl through the territory, but Sabra remains steadfast. She rejects her mother Felice Venable's attempts to bring her back to Wichita. The chapter contrasts Sabra's moral rectitude with Dixie Lee's brothel, which serves as a rough-hewn social club for men. Sabra's friendship with Sol Levy grows, as he provides business advice and helps her survive economically. The chapter also notes the rise of Pat Leary as a lawyer and the growth of Osage.
Chapter 19
Chapter XVI
Yancey Cravat returns to Osage after five years, appearing in the uniform of the Oklahoma Rough Riders amid the town's patriotic fervor for the Spanish-American War and its moral crusade against Dixie Lee. Sabra, who has been running the Wigwam and leading the campaign against vice, is torn between her joy at his return and her horror when he decides to defend Dixie Lee in court, leading to a violent confrontation. The chapter culminates in a packed courtroom as Yancey takes on the case.
Chapter 20
XVII
The trial of Dixie Lee begins in Osage. Pat Leary prosecutes with brutal rhetoric, but Yancey Cravat dramatically intervenes to defend her, delivering a sentimental and impassioned plea that captivates the crowd and shifts sympathy toward Dixie.
Chapter 21
Chapter XVIII
Osage and Oklahoma pause before a period of intense change. The chapter reflects on the town's rough, male-dominated past and the quiet, transformative power of women's clubs. Yancey returns from the Spanish-American War as a hero, resuming his role at the Wigwam and overshadowing Sabra's authority. He publishes a controversial editorial advocating for Native American freedom, sabotaging his chance to become governor. The chapter also explores Sol Levy's isolated position in the community and his bond with Yancey.
Chapter 22
XIX
Sabra Cravat runs the Wigwam newspaper and her household alone, with Yancey, Cim, and Donna absent. Donna is sent to an Eastern finishing school against Yancey's wishes, while Cim dreams of geology and hates newspaper work. Sabra leads Osage's social and civic clubs, but her control is challenged when Ruby Big Elk insists on attending an Indian festival, forcing Sabra to rely on a Cherokee substitute. After a tense afternoon, Yancey returns moody and drunk, laughs at the pineapple and marshmallow salad, then leaves. Sabra, unable to sleep, goes to the Wigwam office late at night.
Chapter 23
Chapter XX
Sabra confronts Yancey about the newspaper's sign, asserting his ownership. Donna returns from school with a cynical, calculating attitude, declaring her intention to marry the richest man in Oklahoma. Yancey returns during the oil boom, shabby but dramatic, while Sabra reflects on her family's dynamics and the town's growth.
Chapter 24
Chapter XXI
The chapter describes the transformative oil boom in Oklahoma, focusing on the sudden wealth of the Osage Indians and the societal changes it brings. Young Cim returns home and is swept into the oil industry, while Yancey Cravat remains a detached observer, drinking heavily and occasionally writing fiery editorials. Sabra Cravat runs the Oklahoma Wigwam, documenting the boom and maintaining the paper's integrity. The chapter also recounts the death of Dixie Lee, who adopted a child but had it taken away by the 'good women' of Osage, leading to her death from a broken heart.
Chapter 25
Chapter XXII
Sabra and Yancey learn that their son Cim has married Ruby Big Elk, the daughter of Chief Big Elk. Sabra is devastated by the news but musters her composure to attend the wedding celebration at the Big Elk home, where she struggles with her emotions and eventually faints during the meal.
Chapter 26
XXIII
Osage has transformed into a sophisticated city, with skyscrapers, luxury shops, and social rivalries. Sabra and Donna orchestrate a social coup in Washington by introducing Ruby Big Elk to high society, effectively neutralizing opposition. Back in Osage, wealth becomes the sole measure of status, with Tracy Wyatt and Pat Leary competing for the tallest building. Sabra, now a Congresswoman, still wears her plain gold wedding band. The chapter contrasts the old frontier with the new opulence, highlighting the loss of Native American identity and the rise of materialism.
Chapter 27
Chapter XXIV
Sabra Cravat, now a Congresswoman and editor, is interviewed by sculptor Masja Krbecek for a half-million-dollar statue embodying the Oklahoma Pioneer. She recounts her life with Yancey Cravat, from the Run to the early days of Osage, the Pegler murder, outlaws, the newspaper, Indians, and oil. Krbecek is moved and later unveils a heroic statue of Yancey stepping forward with a sombrero and gun, a weary Indian behind him. The chapter also reflects on the Osage Indians' wealth and struggles, and Sabra's advocacy for abolishing the Indian Reservation system.
Chapter 28
Chapter XXV
Sabra Cravat, now a Congresswoman, leads a party of influential men to the crude oil town of Bowlegs to expose its lawless, frontier-like conditions. After witnessing a squalid trial and a dance-hall girl's case, she learns that an old bum—revealed to be Yancey Cravat—has been fatally injured catching a can of nitroglycerin. She rushes to him and holds him as he dies, forgiving him and speaking words of love.
Chapter 29
List of Illustrations
This chapter contains a list of illustrations, including a music score for an Osage Mescal Ceremony song.
