Death

Death is a normal part of life, but the people in this time and place are well aware that any one of them might succumb to the swamp fever or any number of other perils that exist in their everyday lives. Sadie personifies Death in one scene, which makes it even more real and present to the reader.

The family does not set out with the intention of settling in the Black Swamp, but they are literally forced to stop because the mud is so treacherous that they cannot continue their journey. Later summer brings swamp fever and the family is also not prepared for that constant threat. The first summer, one of their children dies. The second summer, another dies. At one point, James talks about the graves he had to dig during the first two summers in the swamp, and how difficult it was...