# Tobe's Tribulations explained — The Conjure Woman

> Chapter companion for The Conjure Woman by Charles W. Chesnutt.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conjure_woman_se/chapters/tobe-s-tribulations
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conjure_woman_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conjure_woman_se/chapters