When the Jessamine Grows

The final section of the novel intensifies and then resolves many of the conflicts in the novel, with Charlie leaving, and Joetta and Robert finding their house burnt. This culmination of the narrative brings closure to the various threads introduced earlier, highlighting Resilience and the Drive for Survival and The Impact of War on Families. Additionally, the deaths of key characters like Rudean and the overseer Miller serve as a grim reminder of the war’s indiscriminate brutality, emphasizing the unpredictability of life during times of conflict. In the novel, Rudean develops and succumbs to tuberculosis, while Charlie kills the overseer Miller to save Joetta. Rudean’s death leaves Joetta and the boys alone and makes them more vulnerable, with many historical fiction and war-related novels killing off or removing important older characters so that the younger characters must rely on themselves and or each other to survive. This narrative choice underscores the transition from an old, rigid way of thinking (represented by Rudean) to a new, more adaptive mindset embodied by Joetta, Robert, and Charlie. Robert revealing Rudean’s regrets about advocating for war also completes Rudean’s narrative arc: Though he is gone, he let go of his rigidity prior to his death and showed true love for his family, especially Joetta. The final section also reveals that Ennis is still alive. Ennis’s return serves as a symbolic resurrection, providing a moment of hope and healing for the family after their prolonged suffering and separation. The section also ends with the family leaving North Carolina for Texas to start a new life. This departure signifies a break from the past and the hope for a future unburdened by the trauma of the war, a common motif in stories of post-war renewal.

Joetta grows throughout the section, showing her ability to survive and adapt following the destruction of the house and her exile in the cabin. Her resilience in the face of repeated losses highlights her inner strength and determination to protect her family, even as the world around her crumbles. Robert also shows his strength and his skills at hunting and fishing, which help the family. His maturation from a sullen child into a capable young man marks a significant character arc, symbolizing the forced coming-of-age that many children experienced during the war. Charlie develops throughout the section, starting out guilt-ridden and feeling he should leave but realizing he has no future in Virginia and helping the McBrides survive the winter. Charlie's growth from a scared, displaced child into a reliable family member demonstrates the power of human connection in times of crisis. He proves himself further when he saves Joetta from Miller and helps Robert and Joetta in 1864, and, in a sense, Charlie can be read as a lost son after Henry’s disappearance. Charlie’s mother was killed, and Henry is missing after the war; together, Charlie and the McBrides have built a new family, showing true determination and love in the face of adversity. Rudean becomes ill and, before his death, tells Joetta about Anna’s vegetable garden. Rudean’s regrets about glorifying war following Ennis’s presumed death also serves as a moment of character redemption, demonstrating a love for Ennis that Rudean was unable to show in life, particularly in Ennis’s childhood when Rudean was physically violent with his son. After Ennis comes home, he is shown to have changed, being traumatized by the war and wishing to leave the farm, as he cannot go back to the way things were. Joetta realizes she cannot either, and, against her nature, decides to leave North Carolina with Ennis and the boys. This decision marks Joetta’s ultimate transformation, as she lets go of her attachment to the land and embraces the possibility of a new beginning, aligning her growth with the theme of Resilience and the Drive for Survival. Following the war’s end, Joetta reconnects with Mary and stays with her for a while until part of the cabin is rebuilt. Bess is remorseful for how she and her husband acted toward Joetta, but Joetta struggles to forgive the Caldwells for their treatment of her and the impact their actions had on her. This demonstrates a roundness to Joetta’s character: Though she repeatedly highlights her maternal instincts, she is not an overwhelmingly kind figure, as she holds anger toward those who have wronged her family.

The Moral and Social Implications of Neutrality in Conflict is present with the destruction of the McBrides’ house and Joetta, Robert, and Charlie’s forced isolation as they are presumed dead. The novel suggests that neutrality is a double-edged sword, offering both moral clarity and social alienation, as seen in Joetta’s continued ostracization by her community despite her efforts to help others regardless of their affiliations. When Miller finds her, he tries to kill her, only to in turn be killed by Charlie. After the war and Ennis’s return, some townspeople like Eliza and Rebecca still do not like her, but the Caldwells regret their actions, as do a few others. Then, Elmore Finley takes an interest in her story and seems to admire her strong morals. This moment of recognition and validation underscores the novel’s exploration of integrity and the strength it takes to hold onto one’s beliefs in the face of widespread opposition. 

The Impact of War on Families is shown as the destruction of the house has led Joetta, Robert, Charlie, and Rudean to rely on each other to find animals to hunt and crops to grow, with them struggling at times until the end of the war. Resilience and the Drive for Survival play an important role in the final section as Joetta, Robert, Charlie, and Rudean must depend on each other to survive and Charlie’s determination to help the McBrides helps all of them survive the winter of late 1863 and early 1864. This theme is emphasized through the use of small, daily victories—such as finding food or rebuilding part of the cabin—that highlight the characters’ collective perseverance. 

The McBrides’ land appears as a symbol of the peace and simplicity Joetta wants in life and the memories she holds dear. For this reason, Joetta has trouble letting the land go. The land, representing Joetta’s hope for stability and continuity, becomes a bittersweet reminder of both the family’s past happiness and their current hardships. However, the destruction of the house, the family’s struggle to survive during the war, and Henry’s absence make it difficult for her to hold onto the idea of a peaceful and simple farming life there, knowing it will never be the refuge it used to be for her. The decision to leave is a symbolic act of closure, allowing Joetta to reclaim her agency and look forward to a future untethered by the traumatic events of the past. Jessamine also appears in the final section as a symbol of resilience and a motif driving Resilience and the Drive for Survival, with Joetta associating them first with survival while staying with Mary, and then at the end of the novel as the family leaves for Texas, with her associating them with a new start in life. The recurring image of the jessamine flower represents endurance and renewal, mirroring the characters’ journey from suffering to a hopeful new beginning.

Imagery is an important literary device, showing that nature is an important source of peace for Joetta and that Joetta is a detail-oriented person who pays close attention to the world around her. The novel’s vivid descriptions of the changing seasons and the landscape serve as a backdrop for the emotional arcs of the characters, reinforcing the idea of transformation as the war draws to a close. Flashbacks are used effectively in this final section, with Joetta’s memories of Ennis and their life before the war serving as poignant reminders of what was lost, while foreshadowing the possibility of new beginnings.