Old Jabe's Marital Experiments
The narrative centers on an elderly man named Jabe, who is a former slave living on a plantation owned by the Meriwether family. Jabe is characterized by his humorous and cunning nature, having a reputation for marrying multiple women, often from distant plantations to avoid complications. His life post-emancipation is marked by a peculiar blend of freedom and dependency, as he continues to rely on his former mistress for support. Jabe's relationships with his wives are superficial and transactional. He claims to treat them well, providing for their basic needs, but his actions suggest a lack of genuine affection. His philosophy on marriage is pragmatic; he believes in keeping his wives at a distance to maintain his freedom. The narrative reveals his dismissive attitude towards the emotional aspects of these relationships, viewing them more as a means to an end. The story unfolds through a conversation between Jabe and Mrs. Meriwether, where he discusses his latest wife, Sairey, who has recently left him. Jabe's nonchalant demeanor about his wife's departure and his quick transition to seeking another partner highlight his callousness. He rationalizes his behavior by suggesting that women are curious and want to see what others find appealing about him. Mrs. Meriwether's reactions to Jabe's stories oscillate between horror and amusement. She is appalled by his lack of remorse and the speed with which he moves on from one wife to another. Jabe's confidence and self-assuredness in his dealings with women, despite his age and questionable morals, serve as a commentary on gender dynamics and the complexities of relationships in a post-slavery context. The narrative ultimately explores themes of freedom, dependency, and the nature of love and marriage, presenting Jabe as a figure who embodies both the resilience and the moral ambiguities of his time. His life is a reflection of the broader societal changes occurring in the South after the Civil War, where traditional structures of relationships are challenged and redefined.
By Thomas Nelson Page · First published 1900 · Genre: Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction · 3,096 words
First lines
Old Jabe belonged to the Meriwethers, a fact which he never forgot or allowed anyone else to forget; and on this he traded as a capital, which paid him many dividends of one kind or another, among them being a dividend in wives. How many wives he had had no one knew; and Jabe's own account was incredible. It would have eclipsed Henry VIII and Bluebeard. But making all due allowance for his arithmetic, he must have run these worthies a close second. He had not been a specially good "hand" before the war, and was generally on unfriendly terms with the overseers. They used to say that he was a "slick-tongued loafer," and "the laziest nigger on the place. " But Jabe declared, in defiance, that he had been on the plantation before any overseer ever put his foot there, and he would outstay the last one of them all, which, indeed, proved to be true. The overseers disappeared with the end of Slavery, but Jabe remained "slick-tongued," oily, and humorous, as before.
What this Textopian page supports
Old Jabe's Marital Experiments is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Nelson Page, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Thomas Nelson Page
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Character Study
- Length: 3,096 words
- Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Old Jabe's Marital Experiments by Thomas Nelson Page
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, particularly through Jabe's character and his humorous take on relationships and marriage.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques social norms and the dynamics of post-Civil War relationships, particularly regarding race and gender.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative centered around the life and experiences of a character named Jabe.
- Historical Fiction — Set in the post-Civil War era, it reflects the historical context of African American life and social structures.
Tags
marriage · experiments · relationships · Southern literature · humor · family dynamics · 19th century · American fiction · social commentary · character study · rural life · love