The Walls of Jericho · Chapter
V explained
Shine, Jinx, and Bubber move Fred Merrit's belongings into a house on Court Avenue, a cold, snobbish street threatened by the encroaching Black neighborhood.
What happens
Shine, Jinx, and Bubber move Fred Merrit's belongings into a house on Court Avenue, a cold, snobbish street threatened by the encroaching Black neighborhood. Merrit shows Shine an anonymous threatening letter, but Shine is dismissive. The crew is suspicious of Merrit's unusual friendliness. As they finish, a beautiful Black woman walks by and enters a house two doors down, captivating the crew. Shine defends her dignity against Bubber's crude remarks.
Themes in this chapter
Freedom and Entrapment
Court Avenue is described as a 'snob of a street' that is 'somewhat to be pitied in its pretense at ignoring the punishment that is at hand: the terribly sure approach of the swiftly spreading Negro colony.' This highlights the tension between the white residents' attempt to maintain an exclusive enclave and the inevitable change brought by Black families seeking better lives.
Identity and Self-Deception
The crew's suspicion of Merrit, a 'dickty' who acts like an equal, reveals their preconceived notions about class and race. Shine's internal thought, 'If this bird wasn't a dickty he'd be OK. But they never was a dickty worth a damn,' shows how identity is shaped by social standing and mistrust.
Secrets and Revelation
The anonymous threatening letter Merrit receives introduces a secret plot to drive him out of the neighborhood. The chapter ends with the revelation of the woman's presence, hinting at future connections and potential conflicts.
Characters to notice
- Pat
Leads the moving crew, takes pride in his work, and is suspicious of Merrit's demeanor. He is immediately struck by the passing woman and defends her honor.
- Fred Merrit
Greets the moving crew with surprising cordiality, shares the threatening letter he received, and gives casual instructions about his furniture.
- Bubber Brown
Part of the moving crew, makes crude and admiring comments about the woman who passes by, and is surprised by Shine's defense of her.
- Jinx Jenkins
Part of the moving crew, comments on Merrit's wealth and situation, and joins Bubber in admiring the passing woman.
- Linda Young
The beautiful Black woman who walks down Court Avenue and enters a house two doors from Merrit's, capturing the attention of the moving crew.
Key passages
“Court Avenue is a straight, thin spinster of a street which even in July is cold.”
Court Avenue is a narrow, unwelcoming street that feels cold and forbidding, even during the summer.
The personification of the street as a 'spinster' sets a tone of primness and hostility.
“It is the sort of smile that goes with the words, 'My dear! Can you imagine such a thing?' and you might suppose that the street was returning even the sun's genial greeting and warm farewell with a disapproving sneer.”
The street's reaction to the sunlight is like a condescending, judgmental sneer, as if it disapproves of everything around it.
This reinforces the street's snobbish character.
“He personified them, and out of controlling them, handling them, directing them helpless through midair, he derived a satisfaction comparable to that of a tamer of beasts.”
Shine treated pianos as living enemies, and mastering them gave him a thrill similar to a wild animal tamer's.
This shows Shine's pride in his physical skill and his sense of control over his work.
“Such cordiality in a dickty was nothing short of astonishing, and it put the suspicious workers immediately on guard.”
The workers were shocked and wary because a wealthy Black man like Merrit was being so friendly, which was unusual.
This highlights the class divisions within the Black community.
“You are not wanted in this neighborhood. If you move in, we'll move you out.”
The anonymous letter threatens Merrit with eviction if he tries to settle in the area.
This is a direct example of the racial intimidation faced by Black families moving into white neighborhoods.
