What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh, Master George.
Context: Spoken by Uncle Billy, an elderly formerly enslaved man, to Master George, this quote directly references the core theme of inherited character, suggesting that one's fundamental nature is inescapable despite upbringing.
I ain't gwine tell no lies for nobody, not even for Marse George.
Context: This declaration comes from a formerly enslaved character, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to truth and personal integrity, even when it might go against the interests of a respected white figure.
I'd rather be dead, suh, than to take a lie into court.
Context: This is a firm statement from a character, likely a man of honor, who refuses to compromise his integrity by committing perjury, underscoring the strong moral codes of the Old South that Page often depicted.
The past was not dead, but only sleeping, and might awake at any moment.
Context: This reflective statement from the narrator underscores the pervasive theme that the legacy of the Old South, with its traditions and conflicts, continues to exert a powerful, often unexpected, influence on the lives of characters.
He was born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
Context: The narrator uses this evocative simile to foreshadow or explain the recurring misfortunes that plague a particular character, implying that his fate is predetermined by his inherent nature or circumstances.
And I tell you, gentlemen, that when a white man's word goes back on him, there ain't no man can hold up his head.
Context: Spoken by Colonel Page, the character-narrator of "The Lynching of Jube Benson," he emphasizes the profound importance of a white man's honor and the devastating consequence of a broken promise in the post-Civil War South.
The law, you know, sometimes has to go slow, but the people, when they get mad, don't wait for no law.
Context: Colonel Page observes the volatile nature of mob justice compared to the slower processes of the legal system, highlighting the dangerous immediacy of public anger in the face of perceived injustice in the Southern community.
Yes, sir, I knows him well. He's a good nigger, Jube is.
Context: Said by Sandy, an old formerly enslaved man in "The Lynching of Jube Benson," this line attests to Jube Benson's character, setting up the tragic irony of his later fate and highlighting the complexity of racial relations.
We jes' gwine wait on de law, Marse.
Context: Jube Benson himself utters this plea, expressing his trust in the legal system and his hope for due process, which tragically contrasts with the mob's quick and brutal decision to take matters into their own hands.
There was a touch of the cavalier in him, a sort of reckless pride that would brook no insult.
Context: The narrator describes a young gentleman, highlighting the ingrained sense of honor and proud independence that characterized many Southern aristocrats of the era, even in decline, a recurring motif in Page's work.