The Conjure Woman · Chapter
Tobe's Tribulations explained
Julius tells the story of Tobe, a slave who, after his wife dies, desires to run away to the North for freedom.
What happens
Julius tells the story of Tobe, a slave who, after his wife dies, desires to run away to the North for freedom. Aunt Peggy attempts to transform him into a bullfrog temporarily to evade capture, but a mistake in the potion leaves him permanently trapped as a frog in the marsh, where he still calls out for her decades later.
Themes in this chapter
Conjure and Superstition
Aunt Peggy uses conjure to transform Tobe into a bullfrog, and the story is framed by Julius's superstitious beliefs about the marsh.
Resistance and Agency
Tobe's desire to run away to the North represents an act of resistance against slavery, though his plan is thwarted by the failed goopher.
Characters to notice
- Uncle Julius
Narrates the story of Tobe, expressing his aversion to eating frogs' legs from the marsh.
- Aunt Peggy
The conjure woman who attempts to transform Tobe into a bullfrog but accidentally leaves him in that form.
- Mars Dugal' McAdoo
Mentioned as Julius's former master who owned Tobe.
- Mars Marrabo McSwayne
Mentioned as the master of a neighboring plantation from which a slave ran away.
Key passages
“I doan lak ter see nobody eat'n frogs' laigs out'n dat ma'sh.”
Julius dislikes seeing people eat frogs' legs from that marsh because he believes the frogs are enchanted.
Julius explains his aversion to eating frogs from the marsh where Tobe is trapped.
“Dat's po' Tobe, callin' Aun' Peggy—po' ole Aun' Peggy w'at's dead en gone ter de good Marster, yeahs en yeahs ago.”
The frog's call is actually Tobe, still calling for Aunt Peggy who died long ago.
Julius identifies the distinctive frog call as Tobe's eternal plea.