# Rutherford McDowell explained — Spoon River Anthology

> Chapter companion for Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.

## What happens

Rutherford McDowell, a photographer, reflects on the ambrotypes he made of the old pioneers and their descendants. He observes a mystical pathos in the pioneers' eyes, a serene sorrow that he cannot fathom. In contrast, the faces of the third generation show a loss of the old strength, faith, mastery of life, and courage that once characterized their forebears.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Legacy

The pioneers are gone and forgotten, their legacy fading in the third generation, who lack the old strength and courage.

### The Search for Meaning

McDowell cannot fathom the 'mystical pathos' in the pioneers' eyes, suggesting a search for understanding the deeper meaning of their lives and the loss of their spirit.

## Character check-ins

### Rutherford McDowell

The photographer who captures the faces of pioneers and their descendants, noting the decline of pioneer virtues.

## Key lines

> They brought me ambrotypes / Of the old pioneers to enlarge.

People brought me old photographs of the early settlers to make larger copies.

_McDowell's work as a photographer involves restoring and enlarging images of the town's founders._

> Truly did my camera record their faces, too, / With so much of the old strength gone, / And the old faith gone, / And the old mastery of life gone, / And the old courage gone, / Which labors and loves and suffers and sings under the sun!

My camera captured the faces of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but they have lost the strength, faith, mastery, and courage that once allowed the pioneers to work, love, endure, and celebrate life.

_McDowell laments the decline of pioneer virtues in the younger generations._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/chapters/rutherford-mcdowell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/chapters