The Land of Little Rain · Chapter
My Neighbor’s Field explained
The narrator describes a beloved field at the foot of Kearsarge, its natural beauty, and the history of its ownership—from the Paiutes and shepherds to Edswick, Roeder, Connor, Ruffin, and finally Naboth.
What happens
The narrator describes a beloved field at the foot of Kearsarge, its natural beauty, and the history of its ownership—from the Paiutes and shepherds to Edswick, Roeder, Connor, Ruffin, and finally Naboth. The field remains untouched by human greed but bears traces of Indigenous and shepherd use. The narrator observes the return of wild plants and animals, the subtle cycles of bloom and decay, and reflects on the field's enduring spirit, which Naboth's plans for development cannot diminish.
Themes in this chapter
Human Relationship with the Land
The field's history of ownership—from Paiutes to homesteaders, cattlemen, and Naboth—shows how humans claim, use, and alter the land, yet the field itself remains unchanged.
Beauty and Harshness of Nature
The field's seasonal transformations—from wild almond's rosy tint to lupine's blue, and the golden bigelovia—are described as a 'succession of color schemes,' while the harshness of drought and frost is acknowledged.
Cycles of Life and Death
The return of wild plants, the secretive lives of animals, and the unnoticed passing of bloom and leaf illustrate the continuous cycle of growth, decay, and renewal in the field.
Characters to notice
- Naboth
The current owner of the field, who fenced it and plans to turn it into town lots.
- Edswick
Homesteaded the field during the mining rush, built a stone hut with loopholes.
- Roeder
Owned the field for fifteen years, used it for cattle, lost it to Connor during the Big Snow.
- Connor
Took possession of the field by law when Roeder was delayed by snow.
- Ruffin
One-armed lawyer who won the field for Connor and later sold it to Naboth.
- Seyavi
Mentioned as the narrator's destination when taking the trail to the campoodie.
Key passages
“It is one of those places God must have meant for a field from all time, lying very level at the foot of the slope that crowds up against Kearsarge, falling slightly toward the town.”
The field seems divinely intended to be a field, perfectly flat at the base of Kearsarge, gently sloping toward the town.
Opening description of the field's natural suitability.
“Curiously, all this human occupancy of greed and mischief left no mark on the field, but the Indians did, and the unthinking sheep.”
Despite the greed and conflict of human owners, the field shows no trace of them, but the Paiutes and sheep left visible signs.
Contrast between human impact and Indigenous presence.
“Naboth expects to make town lots of it and his fortune in one and the same day; but when I take the trail to talk with old Seyavi at the campoodie, it occurs to me that though the field may serve a good turn in those days it will hardly be happier. No, certainly not happier.”
Naboth plans to subdivide the field for profit, but the narrator believes it will never be as happy as it is now.
Final reflection on the field's intrinsic value versus development.