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Edgar thinks there has been an agreement made between him and Henry. What is the agreement?
What is significant about Edgar's encounter with the farmer's ghost?
What does Henry's story about Belva show us about him as a character?
What has Baboo decided about Henry? Why is this important?
6 comments:
The quote shows that Edgar and the dogs are relearning everything about each other and together they are making sense of the world again. The agreement between Edgar and Henry is that Henry provides Edgar and the dogs with food, medical supplies, and a place to hide without asking questions and, as a repayment, Edgar cleans out Henry’s shed. Henry’s story about Belva shows that he thinks of himself as ordinary because of what his ex-fiancé said but that fact that he is helping Edgar and the dogs proves that he is anything but. Though he may seem ordinary, Baboo has decided that Henry is trustworthy. Baboo’s character analysis of Henry enforces Edgar’s decision in trusting Henry and staying at his house.
After Edgar kind of establishes that he is going to stay with Henry for a little while longer they work out an agreement. This agreement isn't really discussed, but Edgar and Henry both know what the other wants. All Edgar needs is dog food, supplies, and food for himself. While Henry just wants the company and someone to help clean out his barn filled with junk, so he can fit his car in it. While Edgar is cleaning out the barn the old ghost of a farmer appears and just talks. He doesn't talk about really any certain thing, but as soon as Edgar turns to look at him he disappears. I'm not yet sure about what this encounter means, but it definitely is something significant.
As Henry and Edgar spend more time together, they come to a type of “unspoken agreement.” Edgar relies on Henry for food, medicine, shelter, and protection from the law and other unwanted attention. Henry relies on Edgar to perform manual labor and, to some degree, keep him company in his loneliness.
Henry’s ex-fiancée, Belva, left him because she felt he was too “ordinary.” To some degree, I feel that this description fits him, but I also think that this label can be interpreted in many different ways. Henry is an honest, hardworking man with a steady lifestyle; in that sense, the word “ordinary” becomes much more appealing. The story about Belva also shows that Henry may be heavily affected by the way that others describe him. It isn’t until Belva describes him as ordinary that he ever really considers himself to be distinctly ordinary. Edgar and the dogs may also hold a certain appeal for Henry, as they add some variety into his life.
When Edgar arranges to stay with Henry for an uncertain amount if time, he discovers Henry is a simple man. He explains to Edgar that he was engaged to be remarried, but his fiancee has left him, saying he is too ordinary. I think Henry continues allowing Edgar and the dogs to stay, hoping to do something that is not ordinary. Maybe in hopes that doing so will appease Belva, though I don't predict a reunion. At Henry's, Edgar finds some peace. He is no longer running, though he does desires to move on.
The agreement that Henry and Edgar have worked out is Edgar gets food shelter and medicine, and Henry gets help from Edgar, or labor.
Henry's story about Belva shows that Henry is really ordinary and has that sort of life. But even if Henry is ordinary that doesn't mean he is boring.
The unspoken agreement between Edgar and Henry is basically Edgar cleans and helps Henry out while keeping him company and Henry provides Edgar with food for himself and his dogs, and other supplies.
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