The Cane Cutter Sculpture

The Cane Cutter sculpture reflects a good deal of symbolism throughout the story. When Charley recalls the story of her father first bringing the Cane Cutter home, she remembers the conversation she had with her father about it. Together, they admired the man's strength, determination, and work ethic. They also saw a degree of defiance in the man's expression, which symbolizes the defiance Ernest experienced that actually encouraged him to buy the old LeJeune farm when it was for sale. Ernest did not want the farm because he longed to work long hours in the fields. He bought it out of defiance because LeJeune knocked him in the head with a shovel when he was a teenager working on the farm. He got a drink before the white workers and was abused for it. By owning the land, Ernest takes ownership of the...