"Since I married..."
Women & Patriarchy in River of Earth
Although Alpha Baldridge
is a woman in a mountainous, patriarchal society, she displays many
characteristics that assert herself as a domineering female character, which
will step outside the boundaries cast upon her. In one of the first scenes
in River of Earth, the Baldridge family is eating supper when Harl
and Tibb, two of Brack’s cousins, are immaturely kicking one another
underneath the table while engaged in laughter. Alpha says to Brack, “You’ll
have to ask them to go. These lazy louts are taking food out of the baby’s
mouth. What we have won’t last forever” (Still 4). Although Brack explains
that it is against his morals to send one of his own kin out without a place
to eat or sleep, Alpha sets the house on the fire when Brack is away,
driving off the uninvited guests.
Throughout the novel, Alpha is portrayed as the conservative mother who seems to always know what’s best for the family, but is contrasted against Brack, who is filled with stubborn pride. Brack, staring at his bean vines, says to Alpha, “I figure they’re ready for biling. Time we had a mess.” Alpha responds, “They hain’t nigh ready. When a bean snaps like you’d broke a stick, hit’s time. Wait till they’ve had their full growth” (Still 14). Unfortunately, the Baldridge family never enjoys the fruits of the earth because Brack can’t find it in his heart to turn down Fruit Corbitt, Ab Stevall, and Sid Pindler, the three coal miners who ransack the Baldridge’s garden for victuals.
Alpha’s dream is to live “in a lone spot, a place certain and enduring” (Still 51), a place where God’s green earth provides all the family’s needs. She is constantly objecting to Brack’s requests of moving to the Blackjack coal camp because of the unfavorable schooling environment, and on the account they have done fairly well with their crop production. With Baby Green about to be buried, Alpha is more sensitive about staying close to his grave. She wants to have to a funeral for Green, but Brack’s inability to let go of his pride results in him berating Alpha. “Green hadn’t even larnt to walk. There hain’t any use for a big funeral…It’ll look like we’re trying to put on the dog”(Still 174). He is so wrapped up with his personified image that he is hesitant on having a burial service for his own son. Comments like these ultimately portray Alpha and Brack of having two different and separate ideas of how to provide for a family. Alpha’s role in the patriarchal system allows her to make suggestions and pleas, but Brack holds up his end by acting out what he knows are best. Because of his dominance in the family, Alpha moves away from Baby Green’s grave, misses her mother die, and ends up in the identical situation from the novel’s beginning because Brack sacrificed his job so that another man could keep his. Once again, Brack is more concerned about the survival of someone else rather than his family’s well being. Alpha, in the end, is feeble and weak looking, slaving in the kitchen to adhere to Brack’s relatives.