REACTION/CRITIQUE

Focusing on the development of virtuous character, the novel employs the imagery of the
river to trace the moral, physical, and spiritual rise of Brian Kent. The river is constantly
mentioned because of its proximity to Auntie Sue's house. Upstream from the house is "The
Bend" with its lazy current, but as the stream passes the cabin, it narrows and rushes into Elbow
Rock which juts out into the stream. After the water hits this cliff, it turns a right angle and once
again becomes quiet. In the current by the log cabin is a small eddy which saves Brian Kent in
his stolen boat from the furious waters of the cliff (Brian Kent, p. 51). Not satisfied to let the
imagery of the river stand by itself, Wright tells the reader exactly what the river means:
She saw, now, that the river symbolized not only life as a whole, with its many
ever-changing conditions and currents, amid which the individual must live;--the
river symbolized, as truly, the individual life, with its ever-changing moods and
motives,--its ever-varying and often-conflicting currents of instinct and training;-its infinite variety of intellectual deeps and shallows,--its gentle places of spiritual
calm,--and its wild and turbulent rapids of dangerous passion. (Brian Kent, p.
96)
As Brian discovers himself, he realizes the importance of the river and compares its
currents not with the life force, as Auntie Sue does, but rather with people. The river represents,
then, the world (Brian Kent, p. 145). Judy fails to see the river's beauty because she is a cynic
despite Auntie Sue's kindness toward her. She is aware of the river's snags, quicksand, sunken

rocks, cross currents, and deceptive depths because she was taught the river's ways as a child so
that she could survive (Brian Kent, pp. 220-21). She provides the pessimistic note in the novel.
Brian, in finding Auntie Sue, is past the snags in his life: wife, city, and ambition. He
finds the quiet current with Betty Jo, and it is fitting that they begin their married life with a river
journey (Brian Kent, p. 343). Brian develops physically and spiritually, as well as morally, under
the care of the teacher. Through his physical labor, he becomes healthy and strong, an asset
when he fights the river to save his wife. The river also represents a spiritual development since
it begins as a spring, travels its path, and finally merges with the ocean or infinity. Auntie Sue
decides that she has seen enough of the river and prepares to meet the ocean, her acceptance of
her approaching death (Brian Kent, p. 111).
Auntie Sue symbolizes the boatman who guides souls, in this case Brian Kent, down the
river:
With artful suggestion and skillful [sic] question and subtle argument, she
stimulated his mind and fancy to lay hold of the truths and beauties that life and
nature offered. But ever the rare old gentlewoman was his teacher revealing
himself to himself; guiding him to a fuller discovery and knowledge of his own life
and its meaning, which, indeed, is the true aim and end of all right teaching.
(Brian Kent, p. 139)
Although Brian is Auntie Sue's success story, her eventual triumph in teaching Judy to see the
river as Brian Kent sees it is the more important of the two because Judy is handicapped
physically, morally, and spiritually. Brian Kent simply has to regain the character he has lost;

Judy has to develop her character since she never has been able to trust anyone. At the novel's
conclusion, Judy, who has dealt with many snags, decides to follow the current which has guided
Brian, Betty Jo, and Auntie Sue.