# VI explained — The Uncalled

> Chapter companion for The Uncalled by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

## What happens

This chapter explores the repressive upbringing of Frederick Brent under Miss Hester Prime, who crushes his natural impulses through strict religious and moral training. An incident at church where Fred laughs at Daniel Hastings's testimony leads to public humiliation and a forced apology to Willie Tompkins, which ultimately sparks a defiant fight. The chapter highlights the conflict between repression and natural human expression.

## Themes in this chapter

### Repression and Authenticity

Miss Prime's systematic crushing of Fred's natural impulses versus his innate sense of humor and rebellion.

### Hypocrisy and Religion

The church's harsh judgment of Fred's laughter while adults like Daniel Hastings use testimonies for personal vendettas.

### Parental Legacy and Identity

Mrs. Tompkins's comment 'blood will tell' hints at inherited traits shaping Fred's identity.

## Character check-ins

### Fred Brent

Subjected to Miss Prime's repressive training; laughs in church and is publicly shamed; forced to apologize to Willie Tompkins but later fights him.

### Miss Hester Prime

Fred's guardian who enforces a strict, repressive upbringing; takes Fred to church and forces him to apologize to Willie Tompkins.

### Eliphalet Hodges

Fred's comforting influence; defends Fred's laughter as natural and tries to mitigate Miss Prime's harshness.

### Daniel Hastings

Delivers a fiery testimony that causes Fred to laugh; his ongoing feud with Thomas Donaldson is mentioned.

### Mr. Simpson

The Rev. Mr. Simpson who sternly rebukes Fred for laughing in church, comparing him to criminals.

### Willie Tompkins

The boy Fred fights after being forced to apologize; he taunts Fred but is ultimately defeated.

## Key lines

> Human beings are by nature evil: evil must be crushed: ergo, everything natural must be crushed.

Miss Prime believes that people are inherently sinful, so all natural impulses must be suppressed.

_This summarizes Miss Prime's philosophy of child-rearing._

> There is a bit of the pagan in every natural boy, and to give him too much to reverence taxes his powers until they are worn and impotent by the time he reaches manhood.

Every boy has a natural rebellious streak, and excessive reverence can exhaust his spirit before adulthood.

_The narrator critiques Miss Prime's overbearing religious training._

> There is nothing so terrible as the just anger of a child—terrible in its very powerlessness.

A child's righteous anger is frightening because it is so helpless.

_Reflects on Fred's intense but impotent rage after being forced to apologize._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_uncalled_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters