The novel The Narrows tells the story of a small town with a close knit group of people. When individuals from outside the community enter in, there are certainly some challenges and mishaps that cause the inhabitants of the Narrows to react in a way that could potentially affect their lives. The effects may have to do with their race, their class or their future destiny. The characters in The Narrows are greatly influenced by their environment and the people in their life. The male characters seem relatively content with the life they lead and respond to things that happen to them in a way that keeps their lives as simple as possible. But the main female character, Abbie Crunch is determined to makes decisions to better her own life as well the people she encounters. Rather than accepting a predetermined destiny like Link Williams and Mr. Powther, Abbie challenges situations and people so as to defy the lines of class and race.
Link Williams is a characters in The Narrows who is very reactionary and makes decisions in accord with his predetermined destiny. He was adopted at a young age Abbie Crunch and this adoption may have influenced his “go with the flow” personality, but he continues to simply react to the things that happen to him, which he deems beyond his control. This type of reactionary behaviors starts when Link is very young is around when Abbie’s husband, The Major, passes away from a stroke. Due to the fact that Abbie is so grief stricken and can barely form a thought, she seemingly forgets to take care of Link and frankly, seems to forget about his existence. This is confusing for Link and he does not know what to do which forces him to react to her lack or care and seek comfort elsewhere. “He left the house quickly. He was cold. He was hungry. He was alone. He was afraid. Worst of all, he now distrusted Abbie. Though he did not now it, he was already seeking for something, or someone, to put in the place that Abbie had held in his heart,” (p. 114). Link could not control how Abbie responds to the Mayor’s death and he uses the little knowledge he has about those around him to find someone who can take care of him, Bill Hod. As Link grows older, he continues to react to what is happening around him. When he meets a woman he finds himself really coming to adore, Bill Hod steps in and influences how he feels about the woman. She is a white woman, which Link is aware of, but she is one of the wealthiest women in the area and she is married. When Bill Hod finds out about this, he leaves a newspaper article lying around where Link works that reveals her status. “Picture of Camilo Williams, laughing. Only that wasn’t her name. her name was Camilla Treadway Sheffield. Internationally known heiress. Young wife of Captain Bunny Sheffield,” (p. 270). . Upon seeing this, Link decides he should no longer see her. He cannot control her wealth or her race but he decides to no longer keep her as a part of his life because of these circumstances that he cannot control. Link is depicted as a strong young man but his reactionary manner shows that he is easily influenced by those around him that he deems important and he does not necessarily stand up for what he believes in. This shows readers that he is not in control of his own destiny and he continuously falls back on the path that is seemingly predetermined for him. He allows for his race to be a factor in not letting him find all the success that he may want and he is intimidated by class. Overall, Link seems to be a character that is okay with accepting a fate that is given to him and not motivated to challenge the curves that life throws at him.
Mr. Powther is similar to Link in that he reacts to whatever it is that happens to him, but he seems to be a pushover in the way that he not only lets circumstances determine his destiny, but also lets the other people in his life control his decisions. That is very clear from the moment that his significant other, Mamie, enters his life. From the first time he meets her, Mr. Powther is completely captivated by her and does anything and everything that he can in an effort to win her over. Even when he thinks that she is disinterested, he leaves her to herself for three weeks before returning to her. He is so determined to marry her and make her a part of his life and he is willing to deal with any of the baggage or issues that come along with her. “He knew too, just but looking at her, that if she married him, he would always find gentlemen callers in his home….but he could foresee jealousy and insecurity. Knowing this, he still intended to marry Mamie Smith, and so directed all his resources toward that end,” (p. 184). This is an example of Mr. Powther being aware of his potential future destiny and accepting it without planning on making any decisions to remedy these issues with Mamie or challenge the potential gentlemen callers. This tells readers that Mr. Powther is content with his class, race and destiny and allows it to take its own course. He does not seem to feel the need to change the course of his life, so long as there is a basic foundation to his life. Once Powther marries Mamie, he is determined to make her as happy as possible, even if that means giving up working for one of the wealthiest families. Against the advice of his employer, Mr. Powther is deadest on following Mamie’s plans, which is what guides his decision to move to Connecticut. “‘Connecticut! Of all the godforsaken swampy places to live,’ he shuddered. ‘It’s go the goddamndest climate, the goddamndest weather in the whole United States. The goddamndest – I know what I’m talk’ about, Powther. I was born there,’” (p. 186). Rather than listening to the advice of Old Copper, Mr. Powther is forced to comply with the life that would suit Mamie best, which always make him a second priority and obstructs any possibility for him to make a decision that he wants to make on his own. Again, he allows entrance to Mamie into his life to influence his destiny which guides his life in a manner that becomes beyond his own control.
Despite the example that the male characters in this book have set, Abbie Crunch is a woman that makes her own decisions and would rather be in control of her own destiny than let anyone else get in her way. She is a widow, which seems to be one of the reasons that she is so insistent on doing things her own way because she wants to be a strong and independent woman who can make it on her own. She is managing a large property which shows right away that she makes all of her own decisions that affect that business venture of hers. Abbie is a prominent figure in town and therefore has many close acquaintances and people who are involved in her life. When others try to give advice, Abbie gladly listens, but makes the decision on her own terms. “‘Do you remember the time that F.K. Jackson said: ‘Abbie, never never rent out any part of the premises without first seeing all the members of the family. On the other hand, perfectly respectable couples have been known to produce children who have all the unpleasant qualities of the Japanese beetle!’” (p. 15). Abbie recalls this conversation when Mr. Powther comes to her and wants to rent out a room in her house. However, because she is impressed by his polished look and well mannered personality she decides to rent the room out to his family of five. She soon finds out that his decision was not the greatest one she has ever made, but what is done is done and she must live with her choice. This ends up leading Abbie to have an unexpected relationship with the youngest Powther child as she takes him under her wing, much the same as she did with Link before she adopted him. Little J.C. Powther loves to pester Abbie and always seems to be around every corner that she turns. At first, Abbie is annoyed, but then she makes her own decision to help the boy, as she feels he is being neglected in some way in his own home. She teaches him his alphabet, instructs him on how to be a more well-mannered young boy and always tries to have him look presentable when they are out on the town. J.C. seems to take quite a liking to Abbie, all thanks to her choice to keep him around and refrain from shooing him back upstairs to his own living space. This relationship is reminiscent of Abbie’s relationship with a young Link and her choices to try and make young children the best they can be and give them as much opportunity as possible. At the end of the novel, when Abbie must deal with and work through Link’s murder, J.C. comes around and it reminds Abbie of how she must not neglect the young boy in a time of mourning or sadness, like she did with Link. Instead, she makes the choice to keep JC around, for whatever reason. “She heard an echo out of the past, heard Frances’ voice saying, Run along now, Link, run along and play, and saw that small desolate figure leave the room, slowly, reluctantly, and tried to call him back and could not form the words, could only huddle under that shawl with Frances and weep because the Major was dead. “‘All right,’ she said, and patted J.C.’s shoulder. “You can come with me.’” (p. 427-428). Abbie realizes the mistakes that she made with Link and makes the conscious decision not to let it happen again with J.C. so this gesture is her way of “adopting” J.C. into her life and showing him the love and comfort he clearly is looking for from her. From the decisions that Abbie makes, readers can see that Abbie is not afraid to challenge her own destiny, race or class. She is open to all individuals and wants to create the best possible life for herself as well as for those around her. It is not always easy or simple on her emotions, but it is the way she is and those around her are able to benefit from her good heart and ability to make strong decisions. Throughout the novel, the individuals of the Narrows are forced to respond to some large events that greatly influence their lives. Link and Mr. Powther seem to want to keep things as simple as possible and let their lives follow along a predetermined path while Abbie Crunch is looking to make some changes and challenge the hand the life has dealt her. As readers watch this individuals at the same time deal with the life circumstances they are given, they are able to how the different characters value race, class and destiny very differently, which makes the story very unique.