Black Beauty

Black Beauty
Study Guide by Course Hero
The main character and narrator is a black horse named Black

What's Inside Beauty. Often called Beauty as a nickname, the horse is not
only physically attractive but also is hardworking, gentle, and
obedient. The subtitle for Black Beauty, "The Autobiography of
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 a Horse," indicates that a horse capable of communicating its
thoughts will tell readers its life story.
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3
h Characters .................................................................................................. 3 d In Context

k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 9
c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 14
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 33 Anthropomorphic Fantasy

l Symbols ..................................................................................................... 36 Black Beauty is an anthropomorphic fantasy novel, which takes
the concept of talking animals to a new level. In fact, Anna
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 37
Sewell effectively created the subgenre. Anthropomorphism is
the giving of human characteristics to nonhumans. It is similar
to personification, a literary device in which authors attribute
j Book Basics human traits or actions to nonhuman things—for example, "the

scowling sky." Anthropomorphism, however, makes nonhuman
characters behave as if they were fully human. The wolf in
AUTHOR
"Little Red Riding Hood" or the title characters in "The Tortoise
Anna Sewell
and the Hare" are anthropomorphized.
YEAR PUBLISHED
Although anthropomorphized animals had appeared in fables
1877
and fairy tales, and even in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
(1865), Sewell was one of the first writers to center an entire
GENRE
novel around them. She termed her work an "animal
Drama, Fantasy
autobiography." Yet Beauty and his fellow horses are not fully
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR anthropomorphized. They do not wear clothes, speak with
The first-person narrator of the novel is a horse named Black humans, or have their own society as Kenneth Grahame's
Beauty who tells the story of his life as he sees it. characters do later in The Wind in the Willows (1908), but they
do have humanlike thoughts and feelings, which they express
TENSE to each other.
Black Beauty is narrated in the past tense.
Anthropomorphized animals may seem particularly
ABOUT THE TITLE sympathetic, especially for young readers who are still
Black Beauty Study Guide In Context 2
developing the ability to empathize. And to gain more sympathy whom were skilled workers. John Manly and the other head
for the horses, Sewell used first-person narration to bring her grooms would be part of the working class. People who rent
readers deep inside the horse's experience. Both first-person Beauty from the livery stable would be either middle-class or
narration and anthropomorphism serve Sewell's primary working-class individuals.
objective: advocating for better treatment of horses.
At the bottom of the working class would be unskilled laborers.
Although Sewell did not intend to write a book solely for Some experts divide this group into its own "underclass." The
children, most 19th- and early 20th-century novels with cab drivers would fall into the working class/underclass. Jerry
anthropomorphized main characters would be classified as Barker, however, is at the upper end, for he has saved enough
children's books. This classification began to change with to buy his own horses and runs his own business.
George Orwell's novel Animal Farm (1945), which uses
anthropomorphized animals for satiric commentary. Although Although Beauty's experiences are influenced by the class of
some modern adult novels, such as Garth Stein's The Art of people with whom he lives, Anna Sewell firmly rejects the
Racing in the Rain (2008), use anthropomorphized animals as notion that only upper-class individuals can provide good care.
narrators, the majority of "talking animal" books are still written Jerry Barker is a working-class man and one of the best
for children. Classics of this genre include Stuart Little (1945), owners Beauty ever has, whereas the earl's wife is an
Charlotte's Web (1952), The Cricket in Times Square (1960), aristocrat who mistreats horses.
and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971).
Animal Rights
Society in Victorian England
Anna Sewell wrote Black Beauty "to induce kindness,
Social structure was well defined in Victorian England. As had sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses." In the
been true for centuries, the nobles, like the earl who owns novel Sewell raises issues about docking horses' tails, using
Black Beauty for a time, held the most power. The aristocracy restrictive equipment such as checkreins (also called bearing
and wealthy gentry who owned land, such as Squire Gordon, reins), and overloading cart horses. A checkrein is a piece of
were considered members of the upper class. Some of those tack (accessory or equipment), or a strap, that runs from the
in the upper class might have earned their money rather than horse's back, goes over the head, and connects to the bit in
inherited it, such as owners of factories and large businesses, the horse's mouth. This rein keeps the horse from lowering its
and might have been looked down on by those who inherited head beyond a certain point, which is uncomfortable or painful
their wealth. The upper class, which also included some for the horse if it's too tight.
members of the government, held most of the financial and

When the book was published, activists hoped it would spark a
political power in the country. Their sons attended the same
conversation about animal rights. Advocates for the humane
schools, and they typically married within their own circles,
treatment of animals went so far as to distribute copies to
thus maintaining their social and economic status.
stable workers. Many experts believe the book helped
The middle class was a new development in Victorian England. decrease the use of the checkrein. Other practices, such as
The social and financial changes of the Industrial Revolution, tail docking, are still in use by some horse owners today,
which lasted from around 1750 to the early 1900s, had created though they remain controversial.
groups of people, such as shop owners, who were more

financially stable than they had been in earlier times. Neither
wealthy nor educated enough to be included in the upper Features and Uses of Horses
class, they nevertheless aspired to certain upper-class
behaviors. Mr. Barry, who briefly owns Beauty, is probably a A young horse is a foal; a colt is a male foal, and a filly is a
member of the middle class. female. An adult female horse is a mare, an uncastrated adult
male is a stallion, and a castrated male is a gelding. Black
Below them in the social hierarchy would be the working class: Beauty is a male horse, but Victorian sensibilities prevent any
people with less financial stability or education but many of statement about whether he is a stallion or a gelding. Geldings
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Black Beauty Study Guide Author Biography 3
and mares generally are perceived as easier to handle than

stallions. In size, horses can range from ponies that are less Early Life
than four feet tall to a large horse more than six feet tall. In
spite of their size, horses operate on a "fight or flight" Anna Sewell was born on March 30, 1820, in Yarmouth,
mechanism and usually flee from danger. England. She was educated at home by her mother, a religious
Quaker and successful writer of moral tales for children. As a
By animal standards, horses are highly intelligent, though most young girl, Anna Sewell injured her ankle and was unable to
of their brains are devoted to the interpretation of sensory walk long distances. Horse-drawn carriages allowed her to
information. Many horses can be high-strung and easily travel more easily, and she developed strong feelings for the
frightened, particularly thoroughbreds, which were bred for horses that led them. Sewell formed definite opinions about
speed rather than calm temperament. Black Beauty may proper care for horses, opinions that contradicted some
indeed be a thoroughbred, considering his ancestors won common practices of her era.
horse races. Horses appear to have good memories and can
be trained to perform many different tasks. Although Sewell
anthropomorphizes the animal characters in Black Beauty, her Black Beauty
descriptions of horse behavior are highly realistic.
She wrote her only novel, Black Beauty, to encourage children
Horses' legs are extremely delicate and easily injured, as are
and others who handle horses to pay attention to how horses
horses' hooves. The hoof is made of keratin, like a human
are treated. The novel is largely didactic—Sewell provides a
fingernail. In the novel Beauty suffers multiple leg and foot
great deal of information about how to care for horses and
injuries as a result of neglect or improper care. Horses must be
what happens when they are mistreated. Heavily influenced by
fed multiple times each day, and they do best with a variety of
her mother's work and beliefs in basic Christian doctrine, she
foods. Horses' teeth are designed primarily for grinding grains
combines humane and attentive horse care with a sense of
and grass. Horses can also nip with their front teeth, as
godliness. Sewell may have based the character of Black
Beauty's friend Ginger does.
Beauty on a black horse named Bess, which belonged to her
Horses were one of the primary means of transportation for family. Because of continuing poor health, Sewell spent about
much of history. By the time Black Beauty was written, the six years writing Black Beauty.
practical use of horses was beginning to decline. The Industrial

Revolution, starting in England in the mid-18th century, and
development of the steam locomotive led to an increasing Death and Legacy
interest in and dependence on machines. These changes in the
methods of farming, making products, and means of Sewell died on April 25, 1878, within months of the novel's
transportation inform Sewell's emphasis on the difference publication in 1877. Black Beauty was a remarkable success
between horses and machines, a topic that is raised and has continued to be a top-selling children's book for more
repeatedly. Horse-drawn carriages and farm vehicles were still than 100 years. Sewell's love of horses and passion for animal
the primary means of transportation for short distances, but rights make it a thought-provoking text for children of all ages
within 50 years after the publication of Black Beauty, cars and as well as adults.
airplanes were already in use.
h Characters
a Author Biography
Black Beauty
Black Beauty tells his life story from his earliest memories to
his "forever home" around the age of 14. Beauty is not only

Black Beauty Study Guide Characters 4
beautiful to look at but is a noble, generous, and faithful animal

who serves his masters loyally. In spite of his excellent Squire Gordon
character, he has multiple owners who do not care for him
properly because of ignorance, indifference, or selfishness. Squire Gordon purchases Black Beauty from Farmer Grey and
Beauty is called by several names throughout the book, but gives the horse a good home. As a model horse owner, Squire
Black Beauty is his name in his first adult home and in his last. Gordon is caring and knowledgeable about his animals. He
Beauty learns much about the ways of men, and nearly dies hires responsible, attentive grooms and makes sure they take
several times because of mistreatment. In the end, his inherent good care of the horses. The squire and his wife are also
good nature is rewarded, and he finds a happy home to live out advocates for animal welfare and repeatedly make efforts to
the rest of his days. help other horses that do not belong to them.
Ginger Joe Green

Beauty meets Ginger at Squire Gordon's, his first adult home. At 14, Joe Green is hired when he is too young and too small to
Ginger is more cantankerous than Beauty, but still has a good do much. Although he almost kills Black Beauty by accident
heart. Ginger was raised in a less loving home than Beauty. through his ignorance, he works hard under John Manly's
While not actually mistreated, she was not well cared for and tutelage. Joe eventually becomes a good groom and an animal
thus can be ill-tempered and mistrustful. She slowly improves advocate, like John and Squire Gordon. Years later, when
her disposition at Squire Gordon's, but she suffers when she Beauty arrives at the Blomefields', Joe is the head groom there.
and Beauty are sent to the earl, who is less kind than the He is delighted to be reunited with Beauty once more,
squire. Ultimately, Ginger's fate is crueler than Beauty's, and promising him a safe, happy home forever.
her spirit is broken.
John Manly
Primarily responsible for Beauty during his years at Squire
Gordon's, John Manly is one of Sewell's models of an
outstanding horse caretaker and virtuous man. He is rewarded
by finding a good job after leaving Squire Gordon's employ.
Jerry Barker
Jerry Barker is another of Sewell's examples of a model horse
owner. He goes to great lengths to care for Beauty and his
other horses, despite his limited financial circumstances.
Optimistic, kind, and cheerful, Jerry Barker is a loyal and caring
father and husband, as well as a man of principles, which he
will not compromise for financial gain. He lives by the Ten
Commandments, in which he strongly believes, and feels that
people's actions speak louder than their words.

Character Map
Employee
Ginger
Nervous horse;
fights against poor
treatment
Driver
Friends
John Manly Squire Gordon

Knowledgeable, Attentive, responsible
trustworthy coachman landowner; animal advocate
Driver
Owner
Black Beauty
Kind, well-bred,
obedient horse
Employee
Owner,
driver
Groom
Jerry Barker Joe Green

Happy, principled man; Young groom;
treats horses well accidentally injures Beauty
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Jerry Barker's wife, Polly Barker is a

kind-hearted woman who worries
Polly Barker about Jerry's health. Her relationship
with her former mistress saves the
Character Description
family after Jerry gets sick.
Black Beauty is a well-trained black

A good man who knows nothing
Black Beauty horse who has multiple owners in his
about horses, Mr. Barry buys Beauty
life, some good and some bad.
from the livery stable after Beauty is
Mr. Barry
sold by the earl. After two bad
A chestnut horse who becomes experiences with dishonest grooms,
Ginger Beauty's close friend, Ginger is ill- Mr. Barry sells Beauty.
tempered and mistrusts humans.
Colonel Blantyre is a relative of the
One of Black Beauty's best Earl of W—. He is riding with Lady
John Manly caretakers, John Manly is Squire Colonel Blantyre Anne when she is injured and is
Gordon's head coachman. impressed by how upset Beauty
seems by Lady Anne's accident.
One of Beauty's owners, Jerry

Barker owns and drives his own cab. Merry-faced Miss Ellen Blomefield is
Miss Ellen
Jerry Barker Although he not wealthy, he takes one the Blomefield sisters, Beauty's
Blomefield
care of his horses and his family as last owners.
best he can.
Pale, stately Miss Lavinia Blomefield
Miss Lavinia
Beauty's owner after Farmer Grey, is one of the Blomefield sisters,
Blomefield
Squire Gordon is a good man, who Beauty's last owners.
Squire Gordon
advocates for better treatment for all
horses.
Mrs. Briggs is a customer of Jerry's
who wants to hire him to drive her to
A young boy hired to work with John church every Sunday. When Jerry
Manly, Joe Green learns from John Mrs. Briggs refuses because he needs a day of
Joe Green rest, Mrs. Briggs stops using his cab
and Squire Gordon and eventually
becomes an excellent head groom. for a time but then changes her mind
again.
A member of the earl's family, Lady

Anne is Beauty's primary rider for a Arrogant Bill Bushby is a bully who
Lady Anne mistreats his horse. When he is
time. Beauty helps save her life when
she is injured while riding Lizzie. thrown, but uninjured, John Manly
Bill Bushby
informs Mr. Bushby of Bill's situation,
why it happened, and why he (John)
Mr. B— is the blue party candidate didn't help Bill.
Mr. B— who wants to hire Jerry Barker's cab
during election time.
A local farmer, Mr. Bushby treats his
Mr. Bushby animals well and is disturbed by his
Dolly Barker is Jerry's eight-year-old son Bill's treatment of the horse.
Dolly Barker daughter, who often brings her father
a hot meal.
A London tradesman, the butcher
scolds his son for overworking the
Harry Barker is Jerry's kindly 10- Butcher
delivery pony and insists the animal
Harry Barker year-old son, who defends his sister have some rest.
when she is called a "ragamuffin."

The London butcher's son overworks The earl's son, Lord George injures
Lord George
The butcher's the delivery pony because people Ginger by riding her too hard.
son have ordered their meat late and the
butcher must fill rush orders.
The girl is a child whose father hires
one of Skinner's cabs that Beauty is
Jerry Barker's other horse, Captain pulling. She notices Beauty's
was once a war horse. He is seriously Girl weakened condition and begs her
Captain
injured in a cab accident and has to father to hire a second cab, for their
be euthanized. luggage would make Beauty's load
too heavy.
Mr. Clay is the employer of the man

Mr. Clay Joe Green reports for abusing his George Gordon is Squire Gordon's
horse. George Gordon son. He is seriously injured in a fall
while hunting and later dies.
Squire Gordon's brother-in-law, Sir

Sir Clifford Clifford hires James Howard, on the Squire Gordon's wife, Mrs. Gordon
squire's recommendation. gives Black Beauty his name and is
as kind to the horses as her husband
Mrs. Gordon is. When she becomes gravely ill, the
The ploughboy at Farmer Grey's, squire is forced to sell his horses and
Dick throws stones at the horses. move to a warmer climate for her
Dick
When he is caught for the third time, health.
he is fired and sent away.
Governor Grant is the unofficial

Beauty's mother, Duchess, is with leader of all the cab drivers who work
him for the first few years of his life. in the same part of London as Jerry.
Duchess Governor Grant
She teaches him to always be good Governor Grant admires Jerry and
and obedient to his masters. helps the family when Jerry becomes
ill.
Beauty and Ginger are sold to the
Earl of W—, a friend of Squire Little Joe Green's father, Thomas
Gordon's. The earl is theoretically a Thomas Green Green helps in the stables when Joe
good owner, but he is less interested is too small to work alone.
Earl of W—
in the horses' health and comfort
than in appearance and fashion. He
does not stop his wife from using the Beauty's owner for the first four
checkrein. years his life, Farmer Grey treats his
Farmer Grey
horses well. He sells Beauty to
Squire Gordon.
The Earl of W—'s wife is less
concerned about the horses' health
Earl of W—'s than her husband is. She demands Hotspur is the energetic, high-
wife the horses be driven with a tight spirited horse Jerry Barker buys
checkrein, no matter how unhealthy Hotspur after Captain's death. Like Beauty,
or uncomfortable it is for the horses. Hotspur is a former carriage horse
fallen on bad times.
Mr. Barry's first groom, Filcher, steals

Beauty's food. When a friend of Mr. John Manly's assistant in Squire
Filcher Barry's notices Beauty is not being Gordon's stables, James Howard is a
well fed, Filcher is caught, arrested, good young man who has learned to
and imprisoned. James Howard be an excellent groom. Later he
earns a promotion and becomes
head groom for the squire's brother-
Mrs. Fowler is Polly's former mistress in-law.
Mrs. Fowler who later offers Jerry a good job
outside of London.

Jakes is the baker's cart driver who Peggy is a horse with an unusual gait
Jakes listens to good advice and loosens Peggy caused by short legs and the need to
Beauty's rein. keep pace.
The lady is an upper-class woman Rob Roy is horse that is euthanized

who encounters Beauty struggling after being injured while hunting.
Rob Roy
uphill and persuades Jakes to loosen Beauty later learns Rob Roy was his
The lady
Beauty's rein. Because she speaks brother.
kindly and civilly, Jakes follows her
advice.
A job horse with whom Beauty is
often teamed, Rory is seriously
Rory
Langley is a military man and friend injured when an ignorant driver
of Squire Gordon. When the squire crashes into them.
berates him for using the checkrein,
Langley
Langley agrees to consider what the
squire says but doesn't stop using A cab driver who works for a large
the checkrein immediately. company that rents horses to their
drivers, Seedy Sam complains to the
other drivers about how badly the
Seedy Sam
One of Jerry Barker's fellow cabbies, company pays and how desperate he
Larry is willing to drive his horses at is for a day off. Soon after, he grows
Larry
top speed to please a customer even ill and dies, presumably from
when speed isn't necessary. overwork.
Lizzie is a nervous horse who The owner of the cab company to

belongs to the earl. She gets startled which Beauty is sold and for which
Lizzie
while Lady Anne is riding her and Nicholas Skinner Seedy Sam worked, Nicholas Skinner
unintentionally hurts Lady Anne. is a cruel, selfish man who mistreats
his horses and his employees.
Nelly Manly is John Manly's sister

Nelly Manly who, along with her brother, was Mr. Barry's second groom, Alfred
helped by the Gordons. Smirk is vain and lazy and does not
Alfred Smirk
take good care of Beauty. Beauty
falls ill because of Smirk's bad care.
Owned by the earl, Max is another
Max horse who has had experience with
the checkrein. A groom who works for the earl,
Reuben Smith is an excellent groom
when sober, but has a drinking
A pony who lives at Squire Gordon's, Reuben Smith problem; while drunk, he rides Beauty
Merrylegs works with the children too hard. Beauty falls and injures his
Merrylegs
and tries to encourage them to be knees, permanently scarring them,
gentle with horses. and Smith is thrown and killed.
Sir Oliver is one of Squire Gordon's Farmer Thoroughgood buys Beauty

horses. He tells Beauty about his at his grandson's suggestion and
Sir Oliver Farmer
experiences with humans who helps nurse the horse back to health.
cropped his tail. Thoroughgood
Later he sells Beauty to his "forever
home."
The old ostler is the head groom and
horse handler at an inn where Squire Dick Towler is the man who left a lit
The old ostler Gordon and his wife stop for the Dick Towler pipe in the inn stable, causing a fire
night. The ostler admires how James and the death of two horses.
Howard handles Beauty and Ginger.

Black Beauty Study Guide Plot Summary 9
and Ginger are sold to the Earl of W—.

Farmer Thoroughgood's grandson,
Willie persuades his grandfather to
Willie
buy Beauty and is responsible for
helping nurse Beauty back to health. Part 2
The young woman with a sick child is At the earl's, Beauty's situation is far less pleasant. He and
a poor woman trying to find her way
to the hospital. When Jerry Barker Ginger must wear uncomfortable equipment that damages
Woman with a
drives her there—for free—he horses' bodies, simply because it is fashionable. Ginger tries to
sick child
encounters Mrs. Fowler, who offers rebel and is sent off to be a hunting horse, but Beauty is still
him work and a place to live when he
and his family are in need. used for riding and pulling carriages. Even though he is not as
well treated as he was at the Gordons', Beauty remains loyal,
helping to save the life of a young family member when she is
Mr. Wright is the kind gentleman who
allows Jerry Barker to finish his lunch injured by another horse.
and see Dolly safely across the
Mr. Wright
street before hiring the cab. Mr. Beauty is accidentally injured by Reuben Smith, a groom with
Wright later scolds a drunk carter for an alcohol problem. While drunk and riding Beauty, Smith
mistreating a horse.
neglects a loose nail in one of Beauty's shoes. Beauty thus
injures his foot and falls, unintentionally throwing Smith off.
The earl's coachman, York opposes
use of the checkrein but cannot Beauty's legs are badly damaged, and Smith is killed. While
York
stand up to the earl's imperious wife, recovering, Beauty is reunited with Ginger, who has been
who insists on it. permanently damaged by hard riding. Because the Earl of W—
will not keep a scarred horse—for aesthetic reasons—he sells
Beauty to a livery stable.
k Plot Summary At the livery stable Beauty is rented by many different people.
Most are clueless about horses, but a few are kind. One
customer takes a liking to Beauty and suggests a friend
Part 1 purchase him for a riding horse.
Beauty's new owner, Mr. Barry, is kind but ignorant about

The book begins with Black Beauty's earliest memories: life in horses, and he hires bad grooms. The first groom steals
a pasture with his mother and other horses. Beauty's Beauty's food and is arrested. The second is lazy and lies
experiences with humans are positive, though he sees how about how he cares for Beauty. Beauty gets sick from his poor
people may mistreat horses when he observes a hunt. He is care. Frustrated, Mr. Barry decides to sell Beauty.
thoroughly but gently trained and sold to Squire Gordon when
he is four years old.
At Squire Gordon's, he meets Ginger, a chestnut horse who will

Part 3
become his closest friend. Ginger is temperamental, largely
Jerry Barker, a cab driver, buys Beauty at a horse fair.
because of thoughtless treatment by previous owners. Squire
Although Jerry is poor, and the work is hard, Beauty has not
Gordon, his wife, and the two grooms who tend the
felt so well cared for since he was at Squire Gordon's. But not
horses—John Manly and James—are all gentle and kind.
every horse is as lucky. Jerry's other horse is seriously injured
Beauty is much loved by everyone at the squire's, especially by a careless driver and must be euthanized. One day in the
after he helps John fetch a doctor quickly when the squire's city, Beauty also sees Ginger, who is close to death from
wife is seriously ill. Unfortunately, in that crisis, Beauty is left to overwork. Jerry does everything he can to care for Beauty, but
be cared for by little Joe Green, whose inexperience causes then Jerry gets ill and can no longer put in the long hours
Beauty to become seriously ill. Beauty recovers, but the driving a cab. Jerry's wife helps him get a new job as a
Gordons must move away for Mrs. Gordon's health. Beauty coachman outside of London. Beauty must be sold again.

Part 4
Beauty works for a bakery and then a large cab company,
which is run by a nasty boss. Neither owner takes good care of
him. One day, from overwork, Beauty drops in his harness while
pulling a cab. The company's owner wants to send Beauty to
be killed but is persuaded to sell Beauty instead.
A gentleman farmer's grandson persuades his grandfather to

buy Beauty. The little boy insists Beauty can be brought back
with some rest and gentle care, and he is right. After several
months of rest, Beauty is sold to a nearby family. Their groom
recognizes Beauty. He is Joe Green, now grown up. He is
delighted to be reunited with Beauty, and Beauty is happy to
have found a comfortable place to live and a person who will
treat him well.

Plot Diagram
Climax
7
Falling Action
6
Rising Action
5 8
4
9
3
Resolution
2
1
Introduction
7. Sold again, Beauty collapses from overwork and

Introduction mistreatment.
1. Beauty has an idyllic early life with his mother.
Falling Action
Rising Action 8. Beauty is bought by a farmer and nursed back to health.
2. Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon.
3. The Earl of W— buys Beauty and allows mistreatment.

Resolution
4. Scarred for life, Beauty is sold to a livery stable. 9. Sold to the Blomefields, Beauty is reunited with Joe.
5. Kindhearted Jerry Barker buys Beauty as a cab horse.
6. Because he gets sick, Jerry sells Beauty to a baker.
Climax

Timeline of Events
Late 1860s
Beauty lives with his mother in a pasture and is "broken"

gently by Farmer Grey.
Four years later
Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon, whose grooms, John

and James, give the horses excellent care.
Soon after arriving
Beauty meets Ginger and becomes friends with

Merrylegs, the pony in the neighboring stall.
Several days later
Ginger, temperamental because of previous

mistreatment, tells Beauty her story.
December that year
Joe Green is hired to replace James Howard, who moves

to a new job.
Later that winter
After overexertion to save Mrs. Gordon, Beauty gets sick

because of Joe's inexperienced care.
After three years
When the Gordons have to move away, Beauty and

Ginger are sold to the Earl of W—.
Soon after arriving
At the earl's, Beauty and Ginger must use the checkrein,

which both horses detest.
Early April
Drunken groom Reuben Smith causes Beauty to fall,

seriously injuring Beauty and killing himself.
Months later

After a long recovery, Beauty is permanently scarred but

still fit for work.
About a week later
Beauty is sold to a livery stable, where he is often

mishandled by ignorant drivers.
Some time later
Beauty is sold to Mr. Barry.
Some time later
Because of two bad grooms, Mr. Barry gives up on

keeping a horse and decides to sell Beauty.
Some months later
Beauty becomes a cab horse for Jerry Barker, one of the

best men Beauty ever knows.
About three years later
Jerry becomes gravely ill with bronchitis.
Soon after New Year's
Jerry recovers but must give up cab driving and sell

Hotspur and Beauty.
Some time later
Sold to a baker, Beauty works as a cart horse but cannot

handle the heavy loads and ill treatment.
Summer
Beauty is sold to Skinner's cab company and works until

he drops while still in his harness.
About 12 days later
A farmer and his grandson buy Beauty and nurse him

back to health; they look for a new home for him.
The next summer
The Blomefields buy Beauty, who is reunited with Joe

Green and lives happily ever after.

Black Beauty Study Guide Chapter Summaries 14
Chapter 3: My Breaking In
c Chapter Summaries
Black Beauty stays with his master until he is four years old.
Chunking intro: Black Beauty has four parts and 49 chapters. The master believes colts should not have to work like adult
This guide groups chapters together in sections of two, three, horses any more than young boys should work like men. After
or four chapters for summary and analysis. Squire Gordon visits and examines Beauty, he likes what he
sees. The next day, Beauty's master himself begins the
process of breaking in the young horse to ensure Beauty is not
Part 1, Chapters 1–3 frightened or hurt. Breaking in is the training process for a
young horse to learn to be ridden, to pull a carriage, and to
acquire other skills. The master is thoughtful and gentle, and
Summary Beauty learns quickly. The master even sends Beauty to stay
at another farm where trains often go by, allowing Beauty to
learn not to fear locomotives. When she can, Duchess helps
Chapter 1: My Early Home Beauty learn and encourages him to strive to please his master
even though not all humans are good to horses.
The narrator, later to be named Black Beauty, describes his
earliest memories. He lives in an idyllic, pastoral environment
with his mother, Duchess. The horses are well cared for, and Analysis
Beauty runs and plays in a pasture with other colts. Sometimes
play gets a bit rough, but his mother encourages him to be well Anna Sewell's decision to narrate a story as a horse was
behaved. His lineage of horse ancestors was well respected, revolutionary at the time. The opening paragraph sounds like
she tells him. She hopes he "will ... never learn bad ways" and any human's remembrance of an idyllic childhood. Sewell
do his "work with a good will." The only negative Beauty intentionally makes Beauty's voice sound distinctly human. The
describes is Dick, the ploughboy who throws stones at the only clue in the first paragraph is the reference to "our master's
colts. But the master catches and fires him, so the horses are house," which could just as easily be a statement by a servant.
safe and remain well treated. However, paragraphs 2–4 begin to make it clearer that Beauty
is a horse. There is a reference to eating grass in paragraph 2,
and in paragraph 4 Beauty notes "there were six young colts ...
Chapter 2: The Hunt besides me."
When he is less than two years old, Beauty observes the hunt Sewell wants readers to admire Beauty. In Victorian England,
pass by. He sees the hare's violent death and the serious because people of higher social classes were generally viewed
injuries of two horses and one man. Some of the horses say it as more admirable or worthier than those of lower standing,
serves the men right, but Duchess disagrees. She claims she Sewell's protagonist becomes an aristocrat among animals.
never understood why men hunt, for "they often hurt Beauty's diction and syntax are distinctly well educated. His
themselves, often spoil good horses, and tear up the fields, and mother, in Chapter 2, refers to his illustrious ancestors, saying
all for a hare or a fox, or a stag, that they could get more easily he is "well bred and well born." Her name is Duchess, a noble
some other way." But, she continues, "we are only horses, and title. A human duchess would be a member of a noble family.
don't know." They learn the injured man is Squire Gordon's only Sewell seems to want readers to sympathize with Beauty, as if
son, George Gordon, and he is very seriously hurt. The black he were a young nobleman who lives as a servant.
horse that was injured has broken his leg and is shot to put him
Sewell introduces one of the book's main themes: the idea that
out of his misery. Beauty's mother is saddened by this death,
humans may or may not be good to horses, while horses
saying the horse was one she knew, a good one named Rob
always try to be good to their human masters. Duchess states
Roy. Later Beauty observes the funeral for Squire Gordon's
this goal for horses, which is reinforced by events in these
son, who also has died of his injuries.
chapters. Beauty's first master is remarkably thoughtful toward
his animals. He fires a ploughboy who mistreats the horses,

and he takes great pains with Beauty's training, doing it

Chapter 5: A Fair Start
himself.
Squire Gordon's coachman, who is in charge of the horses, is
In literary terms, however, Sewell might have realized that
John Manly. His helper, the stable boy, is James Howard. John,
beginning with a negative experience for Beauty could drive
Squire Gordon, and Mrs. Gordon all appreciate their new
away readers. Therefore, at the beginning, Beauty's life is
horse's temperament and behavior, and the squire's wife
generally idyllic. But even he, as a very young horse, sees
officially names the horse Black Beauty as a result. When
warning signs, such as the hunt in which Rob Roy and the
Beauty overhears John and James talking, he learns Rob Roy,
squire's son are killed.
the horse that died because of the hunt, was his brother.
Duchess, presented as a source of wisdom, freely admits she
Teamed with Ginger, Beauty begins to pull the squire's
cannot explain why humans love hunting. She reacts to
carriage. Although Ginger is temperamental, she does her job
humans as if they were gods, accepting that she and the
well, and Beauty praises her, wishing never "to have a better
others are mere horses who cannot understand. However,
partner in double harness." Beauty also develops a good
readers may see these lines as verbally ironic, for after
relationship with Merrylegs.
Duchess cites the dangers of hunting and the destruction it
can cause, readers may find the horse's view more plausible
than the hunters'. Readers might see, also, the moral issues
Chapter 6: Liberty
underscored in these chapters, in addition to the stance
against hunting, such as Duchess's advice to Beauty in Although Beauty acknowledges how lucky he is to have a good
Chapter 3: to do his best and keep up his good name. Lessons place, he misses the freedom he had in the pasture as a colt.
in morality will appear throughout the book, as readers keep in Young horses in particular, he notes, need a lot of exercise.
mind that Sewell's mother, a strong influence on her daughter, Sometimes he would be difficult to ride or drive because he
was a popular author of moralistic children's stories, many of had so much energy. Beauty says John helps him get out his
which Sewell herself edited. "fidgets," but other grooms might have misunderstood, thinking
Beauty was a bad or wild horse.
Part 1, Chapters 4–6

Analysis
Summary Beauty is grown up, although still young. His first experiences
with humans are positive, and he is lucky to go to Squire
Gordon's. Sewell illustrates Beauty's good fortune through his
Chapter 4: Birtwick Park descriptions of the spacious, well-aired, and well-maintained
stable, as well as through his pleasant interactions with the
Black Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon. Kept in a lovely barn, squire and his family.
Beauty meets 12-year-old Merrylegs, a fat little pony who is
Sewell also uses contrast to emphasize Beauty's situation.
used by the children and young women in the squire's family.
Ginger, who becomes Beauty's closest friend, had a rougher
Beauty also meets Ginger, a tall mare known for her ill temper
upbringing than Beauty, leaving her soured toward humans.
and biting. Merrylegs says Ginger suffered mistreatment by
Ginger is not an inherently bad horse. Merrylegs says Ginger's
other humans before she came to the Gordons, and it soured
problems are the result of earlier mistreatment, and Beauty
her temper. Her bad attitude makes her less popular with the
praises Ginger highly when they work together. Working "in
Gordon family and their servants. Merrylegs assures Beauty
double harness" requires horses to be well matched in size,
that Ginger's attitudes are not caused by the Gordons, for
speed, and—preferably—temperament. Beauty describes
Birtwick Park is the best "place for a horse all round the
Ginger as an ideal partner, thus giving the reader a clear image
country" and "John is the best groom that ever was."
of how outstanding Ginger must be.

Beauty is also contrasted with his brother, Rob Roy. He did not
Chapter 8: Ginger's Story Continued
know he saw his own brother die as a result of the hunt.
Presumably Rob Roy also belonged to the squire, since the Ginger tells how she was sold to a "fashionable gentleman"
squire's son was riding him. It is a sharp reminder that even who made her use the checkrein, a fashionable piece of horse
horses in good homes still face risks. tack that is uncomfortable and potentially damaging for
horses. Ginger reacted badly to the pain of the checkrein and
In Chapter 5 Mrs. Gordon gives Black Beauty his name.
was sold again. She had many owners, some better and some
Although the name may sound feminine to modern readers, the
worse, including those who beat her. She acknowledges John
word beautiful was commonly used for both males and
Manly and James Howard are gentle, and she tries to be
females. Sewell, like other Victorian novelists including Charles
gentler with them. Beauty, never having known a cruel master,
Dickens, chooses names deliberately for characterization.
thinks Ginger may be exaggerating about her bad experiences,
Black Beauty has an appealing nature and appearance, hence
but he is glad she is kinder with James and John. In fact, she is
his name. Ginger is a distinctly flavorful spice and also refers to
reacting well to kind treatment.
red hair. Black Beauty's friend Ginger is a chestnut horse and
thus has a reddish coat. The pony's name is Merrylegs, a
cheerful-sounding name that also suggests a lively step. James
Chapter 9: Merrylegs
and John both have first names of apostles; Sewell's writing
often reflects and alludes to Christian beliefs. Perhaps most Merrylegs the pony is kept for the children to ride. However,
noteworthy is John's surname: Manly. Sewell intends the name some of the boys are a little too rough, and one day Merrylegs
as a compliment. Though some of her readers might perceive throws them off. He is matter-of-fact about it, saying boys
gentleness toward horses as a weakness, Sewell portrays must be broken in just as young colts are broken: teaching
John as masculine as well as kind. them respect but not injuring them. He explains to Beauty,
"Boys ... think a horse or pony is like a steam engine or a
thrashing machine," and they need to learn better. Ginger says
Part 1, Chapters 7–9 she would have kicked the boys, but Merrylegs disagrees. He
sees himself as responsible for the children and would never
do anything to injure them seriously. He admits, too, that if he
Summary did, he might be "sold off in a jiffy, and no character." Merrylegs
is aware of the benefits of their current home.
Chapter 7: Ginger
Analysis
One day Ginger asks Black Beauty about his upbringing and
tells him about hers. She envies Beauty's gentle raising. Her One of Beauty's closest friends, Ginger also serves as a foil for
own experience was much more typical for horses—not Beauty. Ginger's initial training was far harsher than Beauty's.
exactly abused or neglected, but roughly handled. She "never The incident Beauty describes in Chapter 1, of the ploughboy
had any one, horse or man, that was kind" to her or that she throwing stones at him, takes on new significance here. When
cared to please. She was taken from her mother early, and her Ginger was young, boys often threw stones at her, and no
first owner did nothing beyond the necessities for her and the human ever spoke up. On the other hand, Beauty's owner
other horses. Boys threw stones at the colts and were never ensured Beauty and the other foals were safe.
stopped, not even when a colt was injured. Between minimal
Anna Sewell wants readers to recognize the varied ways in
attention and much harsher breaking in, Ginger began to see
which a horse may be badly treated. Ginger's story is not one
men as the enemy.
of abuse—at least not by the standards of that time—but
Sewell explains in detail the practices that traumatized the
horse. Ginger's description of her training is harsh. When men
started to break her in, Ginger tells Beauty, I "could hardly draw
my breath ... another [man] took my under jaw in his hard hand

and wrenched my mouth open ... one [man] dragged me along

by the halter, another flogging behind." Ginger also objects to Part 1, Chapters 10–12
the term horseflesh, with its implication of horses being meat
rather than living individuals who feel pain and suffer.
Summary
Ginger's story illustrates how a cycle of violence can
perpetuate itself. Ginger's rough early life has made her
distrustful of humans. Later, this history causes her to act Chapter 10: A Talk in the Orchard
aggressively to John and James, even though they are kind.
John and James forgive her, but many others might not. Black Beauty hears the story of Sir Oliver, one of Squire
Gordon's other horses, who has an unusually short tail. Sir
Ginger talks repeatedly about the checkrein. A checkrein, or
Oliver's tail was cut off when he was young because it was
bearing rein, is a short rein or strap that connects the horse's
fashionable to have horses with cropped tails. The procedure
bridle (the leather straps around the horse's head) to the
was very painful, and it still bothers Sir Oliver because he
harness on the horse's shoulders and back. The check rein
cannot use his tail to chase off flies. Sir Oliver also describes
keeps the horse's head lifted and the neck arched, a position
how dogs have their ears and tails cropped, another fashion
considered more attractive than the horse's natural position.
trend that is painful and potentially harmful to puppies.
Some riders and drivers use checkreins even today, although
Although the pain goes away after a while, the dogs are left
the practice is less common than it was in Sewell's time,
with nothing to protect the "delicate part of their ears from
especially because the checkrein can be uncomfortable or
dust and injury." Sir Oliver then asks why humans don't "cut
even injurious for the horse, depending on how tightly it is set.
their own children's ears into points to make them look sharp"
Although Beauty's first home is safe and happy, Sewell or "cut the end off their noses to make them look plucky?"
reminds readers that thoughtless cruelty can happen Finally, the horse, "a fiery fellow," asks, "What right have they to
anywhere. Merrylegs suffers with the local children who, he torment and disfigure God's creatures?" Sir Oliver's indignation
says, think of him as a machine. This "horse versus machine" sparks Ginger's, until Merrylegs reminds them of their good
contrast will come up again later in the novel as well. However, fortune to be where they are now, and both calm down.
Merrylegs is careful not to injure the children. Initially, he
Beauty asks the other horses about the use of blinkers, which
sounds almost parental about them, but then he speaks of
they all despise. Blinkers block horses' eyes so they can see
being sold with "no character." The phrase often appears in
only straight in front of them. The horses claim blinkers exist
Victorian-era writing, usually concerning servants. Servants
because humans do not trust their horses to behave properly.
who were fired would be turned out without a character
However, the horses argue they feel more frightened in the
reference, meaning with no positive recommendation for their
blinkers because they cannot see what is around them, and
next position. Such a situation was disastrous for servants, for
accidents could have been prevented if the horses had not
future employers wanted proof of good behavior—honesty,
been wearing blinkers.
willingness to work, and obedience to rules. Sewell repeatedly
draws parallels between horses and servants, perhaps for the
purpose of encouraging people to treat their animals more Chapter 11: Plain Speaking
humanely. Children's literature in Sewell's time typically
reflected middle-class and upper middle-class values, so the Squire and Mrs. Gordon are kind to all—people and animals.
idea of treating a faithful servant humanely would strike home They make efforts to encourage good treatment for all horses
for most readers. Moreover, Sewell's moral sense would not in their area. The squire worked for more than 20 years to
permit ill treatment of any creature. discourage the use of checkreins, and both he and his wife
frequently stop people in the road and encourage them to treat
their horses better. Beauty describes hearing Squire Gordon
try to persuade his friend Langley, a military man, to stop using
the checkrein. The squire points out how the apparatus
impedes the horses' movement and compares it to soldiers

trying to fight with their heads strapped to a board. Although another tactic: rather than focusing on kindness toward
Langley acknowledges the point, he doesn't readily agree to animals, it uses a practical claim. The horses are less effective
stop the practice. and efficient at work when they are checkreined. Still, Sewell
implies Langley is unlikely to change his ways. If not everyone
can aspire to the level of the Gordons, Sewell hopes the reader
Chapter 12: A Stormy Day will try.
John Manly and Squire Gordon are out with Beauty when a bad Sewell's writing combines elements of two different literary
storm begins. A fallen tree blocks their path, and they try to movements: realism and romanticism. Realist writers sought to
use a bridge to cross the river instead. Beauty senses recreate ordinary life accurately and truthfully, without
something is wrong and refuses to cross the bridge, even exaggeration. Certainly, Sewell would argue her representation
when they use the whip on him. Suddenly a man appears, of the daily experiences of carriage and riding horses is
shouting that part of the bridge washed away. Had Beauty realistic. Realism was becoming more popular in the last
gone forward, all three would have drowned. John and the decades of the 19th century, when Sewell was writing.
squire are deeply grateful for Beauty's instinctive wisdom, and
they reward him with an especially good meal and extra straw. However, Sewell was also influenced by other literary
movements, including the earlier Romantic movement of the
late 18th and early 19th century. Romanticism often celebrated,
Analysis even venerated, nature. Sewell reflects this ideal in Chapter 12,
when she celebrates the wisdom of animals. Because of his
Anna Sewell adds to the growing body of information about animal instincts, Beauty saves the squire and John, who treat
horse care—indeed all animals—with new examples. Ginger has Beauty's action with a near-religious reverence: a sign of how
already testified about the checkrein. Now Sir Oliver describes God gives "animals knowledge ... prompt and perfect in its
the pain and unfortunate results of tail cropping. Sir Oliver way." Sewell, writing to a largely Christian audience, suggests if
describes pain and loss of function, but a cropped tail might God has given wisdom to animals, surely humans should be
also expose a horse to disease. As Sir Oliver points out, a kinder to them. Readers will keep in mind, too, the author's
shorter tail could lead to more fly bites. Because flies carry strong moral convictions.
disease, a horse with a cropped tail might be more vulnerable.
Furthermore, the tools used to crop the tail might not be clean
and could lead to infections. Puppies whose ears and tails are Part 1, Chapters 13–15
cropped might suffer similarly. In both cases the cropping
serves no purpose other than a fashion statement, and the
practice is so abhorrent, Sir Oliver gets worked up enough to Summary
challenge humans to perform similar procedures on their own
children, causing pain and disfigurement.
Sewell began by showing readers how to care for horses they

Chapter 13: The Devil's Trademark
own. Now, in these chapters, she begins to model how Squire
One day John Manly sees young Bill Bushby being cruel to his
and Mrs. Gordon advocate for animals they do not own. "There
pony. As a consequence, the pony throws him. After
was no oppressed or ill-used creature that had not a friend in
determining Bill is uninjured, John refuses to help him, saying
them, and their servants took the same tone," Beauty reports.
he deserves what he got. John and Black Beauty then head to
Sewell offers persuasive arguments, such as Squire Gordon's
the Bushby farm to tell the boy's father what happened. Mr.
discussion with his friend Langley, to convince others to
Bushby agrees with John's assessment of the event. Back at
abandon cruel practices.
the squire's, John tells James Howard what happened. James
The squire asks Langley to imagine his soldiers with "their knows Bill, who was a classmate of his at school. James
heads tied to a backboard." He questions, "How would it be in a relates how he once caught the boy, an arrogant bully, pulling
bayonet charge against the enemy?" This analogy offers wings off flies. Their teacher found out and told the class that

"cruelty was the Devil's own trade mark" and anyone who took seems to trouble Sewell, but the cruelty of it. The boy is pulling
pleasure in cruelty belonged to the devil. their wings off for amusement. To a modern reader the leap to
hellfire can feel a bit abrupt, and Sewell's religious views would
seem severe today. She is known to have attributed some of
Chapter 14: James Howard her ideas to Horace Bushnell (1802–76), an American
clergyman who tried to bridge the gap between early Puritan
After asking John's opinion of James, Squire Gordon preachers and later thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson
recommends the young man for a new job as head groom for (1803–82). John, Sewell's example of good and "manly"
the squire's brother-in-law, Sir Clifford. It is a big promotion, behavior, says religion is a sham if it does not encourage
and James needs driving practice, so he begins to drive Beauty kindness to beasts as well as humans.
more often.
The old ostler is even more direct in his religiosity, quoting the
Old Testament book of Proverbs. The biblical quotation refers
Chapter 15: The Old Ostler to the raising of children, and the ostler in effect views horses
as children. Here again, Sewell argues for gentler treatment of
James drives Beauty and Ginger, taking the squire and his wife
horses. Horses were like servants, according to Merrylegs
on a trip. After 32 miles, they stop overnight at an inn. James
earlier on, and in Sewell's time, it would have been considered
watches the old ostler, or horse handler, tend to Beauty and
inappropriate to treat a good servant badly. Mistreating a child,
Ginger. The man is excellent at his job, and he and James
however, would be even worse. This "horse as child"
begin discussing horses. When he handles a horse, the ostler
comparison also emphasizes the importance of good training
claims, he can tell how well it is cared for at home, and he
for young horses.
compliments James on Beauty's and Ginger's care. Comparing
horses to children, the old ostler advises "train 'em up in the One of Sewell's main themes is that doing good will be
way they should go, as the good book says, and when they are rewarded, another strong Christian belief. The ostler, who
old they will not depart from it." The ostler then comments treats horses well, is old yet lively and cheerful, thus rewarded
about the deaths of the squire Gordon's son and Rob Roy, with contentment in life. James has been good to Beauty and
saying that "a man's life and a horse's life are worth more than the horses, and he is rewarded with an important promotion.
a fox's tail." More examples of rewards for the righteous will appear in
future chapters.
Analysis
Earlier Anna Sewell discusses how Squire and Mrs. Gordon
encourage kindness toward horses. The Gordons are wealthy,
influential, and socially prominent. Sewell later points out the
squire is a magistrate. Wealthier people could afford to care
Summary
for their horses. However, Sewell rejects the idea of kindness
toward animals as limited to class and economic status. John,
James, and the old ostler at the inn are all poor and powerless,
Chapter 16: The Fire
yet they strive to protect and care for the horses in their
The inn's barn catches on fire because of a lit pipe left there,
charge.
against the old ostler's warnings. Black Beauty and Ginger are
Heavily influenced by her mother, a writer of religious tales for terrified, and Beauty, like the other horses, refuses to be led
young readers, Sewell incorporates more Christian theology as outside by the ostler because of the chaos all around.
the novel progresses. In Chapter 13 she makes a connection However, when James Howard arrives at the burning stable, he
between cruelty to living things—Bill Bushby, who torments risks his own life to lead Ginger and Beauty outside. They
flies—and the devil: "for the Devil was a murderer from the survive only because of James's kind words and quick action,
beginning, and a tormentor to the end." It is not killing flies that but other horses in that stable die.

could have died saving them.

Chapter 17: John Manly's Talk
Although he did not save the horses from a fire, John remains
James is justifiably praised for his efforts to rescue Beauty and
one of Sewell's models for good behavior. In Chapter 17 John
Ginger, and many people comment on what that action says
talks about his own childhood, recounting his difficulties only to
about his feeling for the horses and the horses' trust of him.
illustrate his argument that people should look out for each
James is almost ready to leave for his new job, but he will miss
other. There are definite parallels between horse and man
John Manly. John then tells about his own childhood and his
here. John had a rough start and could have been abandoned
gratitude to the Gordons. John and his sister Nelly Manly were
to his fate, but the squire stepped in. Then there is Ginger, a
left penniless after their parents' deaths and survived only
horse with a rough start who could have been left to her fate,
because of the kindness of the squire and his wife, who
but John stepped in. John helps Ginger, and he also helps little
provided for both of them. John rejects the "Everybody look
Joe Green, who he believes is in need of guidance—and willing
after himself, and take care of number one" philosophy, asking
to accept it.
what would have happened to him as a boy if others had taken
that approach. At first, a modern reader may wonder why the author focuses
on James's new job. Sewell has a dual purpose in shifting
John hires Joe Green to replace James. Joe is very young and
readers' attention from John to James. First, James
inexperienced, and his father, Thomas Green, has to help in the
demonstrates John's influence and thus provides another
stable sometimes. Nonetheless, John believes Joe will learn
example of how good deeds are rewarded. Perhaps more
and become a useful stable boy.
important, though, is that James's exit brings in Joe Green,
whose lack of experience nearly kills Beauty. Horses are
surprisingly delicate creatures that need care by someone who
Chapter 18: Going for the Doctor
understands their needs. If horses run hard, they need
Squire Gordon's wife is seriously ill. John takes Black Beauty to specialized attention, without which they can become seriously
fetch the doctor. Beauty races along, eager to help Mrs. ill. In Chapter 18 Sewell provides details of that care, reminding
Gordon. The doctor's own horses are unavailable, so John lets her intended readers—people who handle horses—what to do
the doctor ride Beauty back to the Gordons'. Beauty runs at full in such situations. Horses can die from mishandling, even
speed again and is exhausted by the time they get home. But unintentional and even with modern veterinary medicine.
John is walking home, so the new boy, Joe, is the only one Beauty suffers, but he does not seem to regret it since his
available at the stable. Not knowing how to care for a horse in mistress survived.
Beauty's condition, Joe does his best, but his ministrations are
wrong, and Beauty gets very sick as a result. When he does
return, John is angry with Joe and takes over Beauty's care. Part 1, Chapters 19–21
The squire visits to thank Beauty for saving his wife's life.
Summary
Analysis
In Chapter 15 Anna Sewell compares horses to children and in Chapter 19: Only Ignorance
Chapter 16 shows horses at one of their most childlike
moments: when they are afraid. Horses instinctively flee from Black Beauty is critically ill. The other horses have been moved
danger, and their finely tuned senses pick up danger signals, from the stable to give Beauty quiet, for his high fever
such as smoke, faster than humans do. In a dangerous sharpens his hearing, which keeps him from resting. The horse
situation, however, horses may retreat from fire or smoke is suffering from an inflammation of the lungs and has trouble
without realizing they can be trapped. They panic and may fear breathing.
strangers or commotion. Even today, horses are often victims
of fire because they hide in their stalls. Beauty and Ginger One night Beauty overhears John Manly and Thomas Green
survive only because of the bravery shown by James, who talking after the two men give the horse his medicine. Joe

Green feels guilty about Beauty's illness, and his father asks
John to be kind to his son, explaining Joe's mistake was only
Analysis
ignorance. To John, however, ignorance is no excuse. He
John is a gentle man, so his diatribe against ignorance is
recounts stories of the catastrophic results of ignorance: a
startling. John calls it "the worst thing in the world, next to
woman who killed a baby by dosing it with too much medicine;
wickedness ... which does the most mischief, heaven only
a boy who "frighten[ed] his brother into fits" and made the
knows." In Victorian England, education was becoming more
brother "no better than an idiot"; and some young ladies who
widespread and more valued. Although wealthy boys had
ruined the plants Joe's father was growing in the hothouse. All
always been educated, 19th-century Britain saw an increase in
of them claimed ignorance. Still angry, he challenges Thomas
the number of schools for middle-class and poor children.
Green, asking, "Don't you know that [ignorance] is the worst
John, James, and little Joe would potentially have been
thing in the world, next to wickedness?" Joe's father agrees, at
students at such a school.
least in part.
In spite of his vehemence, however, John hired Joe, whose
When Thomas Green asks John to give Joe a kind word, John
ignorance nearly killed Beauty. The reader knows why John
says he will—but only if Beauty recovers. And he does.
hired Joe, but John's generosity has unintended
consequences. Even John cannot keep Beauty safe all the
Chapter 20: Joe Green time. These consequences foreshadow future events: even
when the humans around Beauty try to protect him, they are
Joe has been learning well and quickly. Needing a message to not always successful.
be delivered, Squire Gordon entrusts Joe to ride Beauty. When
Joe unintentionally hurt Beauty, but Joe is not a bad person. He
they are on their errand, they see a man abusing his horses.
just needs to grow up and learn the right way of caring for
Joe speaks to the man, even offers to help lighten the horses'
horses. Anna Sewell illustrates the beginnings of Joe's maturity
load, but the man shouts at him. Angry, Joe informs Mr. Clay,
when he tries to stop the man who is beating his horses. Joe
the man's employer. The abusive man ends up on trial before
acts like John. Given John's name, Sewell implies that watching
the magistrate—Squire Gordon himself—and Joe gives
out for vulnerable animals is the "manly" thing to do. Beauty
evidence. The man may face prison time as a result. After the
and John both comment on how much Joe seems to have
incident, John and Beauty both notice Joe seems more grown
grown after the incident.
up, "as if he had jumped at once from a boy into a man."
Sensitive to the suffering in the squire's family, Beauty claims
"horses can tell more by the voice than many men can." This
Chapter 21: The Parting animal sensitivity connects to the veneration of Nature, the
Romantic thread in Sewell's writing. She fosters the idea that
Mrs. Gordon will die unless they move to a warm climate, so
horses have inherent wisdom humans overlook. Beyond the
the family must leave. Departure includes selling the horses.
thematic elements, however, horses do in fact communicate
Merrylegs goes to the vicar's family, with Joe to help in the
with each other through vocalizations as well as through
stable. The squire sells Beauty and Ginger to his friend, the
physical interactions and body language. Many riders give
Earl of W—, reputed to be a good horse owner. John,
anecdotal evidence of how a horse responds to various tones
saddened by the family's departure, does not take another job
of the human voice. While horses are repeatedly referred to as
immediately. He tells the squire he would like to be a horse
"dumb beasts," Sewell suggests that even though they may not
trainer, because he believes many horses are spoiled by bad
speak, horses perceive more than many people realize.
training experiences. The squire encourages John in this goal.
The squire and his wife leave, sad to say goodbye to the
horses. John believes they will never see her alive again.

Summary Analysis
Until now, Beauty has doubted Ginger's stories about the
Chapter 22: Earlshall checkrein, but after being forced to tolerate it, he fully
understands. Still, Beauty accepts the rein and does not rebel,
Black Beauty and Ginger are sent to their new owner, who is as Ginger does. Beauty's behavior demonstrates how a horse's
not as kind as the squire. The earl's wife insists on using the early experiences shape his later reactions, as John Manly and
checkrein because it is fashionable, and her husband cannot or the old ostler both have claimed. Anna Sewell offers readers
will not dissuade her from doing so. A proud and authoritative an explanation for badly behaved horses: maybe they never
woman, she demands the rein be shortened repeatedly, forcing were properly trained.
the horses' heads upright. Beauty now understands why
Ginger complained about the checkrein. After having it Beauty's new partner in pulling the carriage serves a single
progressively tightened, he dreads being put in harness. purpose: to share the horse dealer's story. This will not be the
However, Ginger says the rein is still looser than it could be. last time Beauty hears about, or personally experiences,
humans who are more concerned about their incomes than
about horses' lives. The horse dealer's attitude also reflects
Chapter 23: A Strike for Liberty one of the novel's main ideas: a person should be willing to do
what is right, even if the rest of society does something
When the checkrein is finally shortened beyond endurance, different. The horse dealer does not. The earl's wife will not,
Ginger rebels, accidentally hurting Beauty. Ginger will be used and the earl permits her to continue.
for a hunting horse now, and Beauty will pull the carriage with
Max, a horse used to checkreins. Max tells Beauty the In Victorian society the Earl of W— would be the head of his
checkreins shorten their lives. He repeats a conversation he household. If he did not want his wife to use the checkrein, he
once heard, in which a horse seller admitted that checkreins could forbid it. That he does not suggests either he is
hurt horses. Because the seller sold more horses that way, he indifferent or he is a weak husband (by Victorian standards)
continued to use them. Beauty then explains how checkreins who lets his wife rule. Neither is acceptable to the author.
damage horses' mouths and impede their breathing.
Beauty has a new name in his new home. Sewell uses this
York, the earl's coachman, is upset about the event but cannot name, as she does with others, to express something about
stand up to his employers' indifference toward their horses. the new owner. Lady Anne names him Black Auster. Auster is
Beauty thinks he should have defended the horses more one of the four Roman gods of wind. As the god of the
vigorously. southern wind, known as the sirocco, Auster brought summer
and autumn storms. Sirocco winds often have the strength of
cyclones. The name does not suit Beauty, neither wild nor
Chapter 24: The Lady Anne cyclone-like, but it does suggest something about Lady Anne,
who perhaps longs for adventure. This hint foreshadows Lady
Beauty becomes a saddle horse for Lady Anne, who renames Anne's risky attempt to ride Lizzie. Beauty's new name,
him Black Auster. One day, Lady Anne goes riding with her however, does suggest his nobility, and perhaps his speed,
cousin, Colonel Blantyre. She tells Blantyre to ride Beauty while both of which he demonstrates again by helping to save Lady
she rides a less reliable horse named Lizzie. While they are out, Anne. Beauty is loyal even when his owners are unkind to him.
Lizzie gets startled and throws Lady Anne. Blantyre sends a
bystander, an inexperienced rider, on Beauty to get the doctor,
and Beauty runs as fast as he can. Later, when Lady Anne is Part 2, Chapters 25–27
out of danger, Blantyre claims he believed "the horse knew of
Annie's danger as well as he did."

our youth and strength, you by a drunkard, and I by a fool."

Summary They enjoy their time together, but they cannot run and play as
they once did. Though Beauty recovers, he is sold because the
earl, concerned with fashion and appearance, "could not have
Chapter 25: Reuben Smith knees like these" in his stables. Beauty goes to a livery stable,
where people who do not own horses may rent them for riding
Sometimes Reuben Smith is left in charge of the earl's stable.
or driving. It is ostensibly a good home, but not what Beauty is
When sober, Smith is an excellent groom—kind,
used to.
knowledgeable, and responsible—and could have been in
charge of his own stable. When drunk, however, he is prone to
violent and highly irresponsible behavior, thus hindering his
career. He was dismissed from employment with the Earl of
Analysis
W— because of a drunken episode, but York persuaded the
This is the first, but not the last, time Anna Sewell expresses
earl to take him back on the promise of no further drinking. For
herself strongly on the subject of alcohol. The temperance
a while Smith kept his promise and was useful to York.
movement was strong in Victorian England, usually targeting
While out with Black Beauty driving Colonel Blantyre to the lower- or middle-class individuals like Reuben Smith.
station, Smith stops for a meal at an inn. Beauty has a loose Alcoholism was not recognized as a disease but viewed as a
nail in one shoe, and the inn's ostler mentions the problem to moral failing to be overcome. Sewell paints a Dickensian
Smith. Smith loudly dismisses it, saying he has met some portrait of the suffering widow and children, left behind
friends and will be staying longer. Beauty is surprised because because of Smith's problems with drink. She goes to great
Smith is generally attentive to the horses' needs. When he lengths to establish Smith's abilities, making alcohol solely
finally leaves the inn, Smith is drunk and ignores Beauty's responsible for his and Beauty's injuries.
painful foot. He rides Beauty hard, insensitive to the horse's
A sober and responsible groom would not ignore a loose
unusual gait, until Beauty loses his shoe and hurts his foot.
horseshoe. Horseshoes are designed to protect the horse's
Beauty trips and falls on the rough road, throwing Smith.
delicate feet. Running on hard surfaces can damage or even
Beauty's knees are badly injured, and Smith lies motionless.
split a hoof, just as a human splits a fingernail. Horseshoes do
come off, but a good groom would work the horse carefully
until it could be fixed. Yet Smith dismisses the warning and
Chapter 26: How It Ended
rides Beauty hard. On some level, he gets what he deserves,
Hours later the earl's men discover Beauty and Smith. Smith is yet Beauty (and Smith's family) will suffer the consequences.
dead, but the men figure out what happened. The next day a
A modern reader may wonder why a valuable horse like Beauty
farrier—a maker of horseshoes who also, in this era, worked as
is seen by a farrier, not a veterinarian. In England, nonlicensed
something of a lay veterinarian—examines Beauty. He says
people were legally permitted to do veterinary surgery up until
Beauty will recover but will bear permanent scars on his knees.
1948. This practice was so commonplace Sewell does not even
An inquest about Smith's death proves he was drunk and
think to question it. However, no farrier or veterinary surgeon
clears Beauty of all blame. But Beauty is still injured, and
could save Ginger from the ill effects of a thoughtless rider.
Smith's wife and children are left to mourn the loss of a
She may have been fed and watered, but no one gave any real
husband and father.
thought to her health or contentment. These horses are merely
property to the earl, to be disposed of when they no longer
meet his standards.
Chapter 27: Ruined and Going Downhill
Unlike Ginger, Beauty shows no long-term health effects from
Beauty is put in a pasture to heal. He likes the freedom but is
his injury. He can still be ridden and driven. The earl gets rid of
lonely, until one day Ginger joins him. She is not well. Her
him solely because of his scarred knees, which function well
rider—Lord George, the earl's son—pushed her too hard in
enough but detract somewhat from his appearance. The
hunting and racing, and her lungs and back are permanently
modern equivalent might be selling a car because its bumper
damaged. Ginger says, "Here we are—ruined in the prime of

was dented—and couldn't be fixed. horses with them, could rent a horse for riding or horses and a
carriage for driving. These people would be generally be
middle class, less well off financially or socially prominent than
Part 2, Chapters 28–29 the Earl of W— or Squire Gordon, but wealthy enough to afford
to rent a horse. For Beauty, life there would be very different.
He has always appreciated his knowledgeable caretakers, but
Summary many people who rent livery horses would be ignorant, and
even indifferent, about how to handle horses.
In the livery stable chapters Anna Sewell repeatedly uses the

Chapter 28: A Job Horse and His word ignorant or ignorance, recalling John Manly's diatribe
Drivers against ignorance. Beauty also complains that "cockneys" treat
a horse like an engine, just as Merrylegs once said about the
In his new role Black Beauty has many riders and drivers, most young boys riding him. A cockney is typically a working class,
of whom don't know how to ride or drive a carriage well. low-income resident of London's East End. London natives,
Beauty describes some of the incompetent drivers he must particularly those of lower income, might know little about
deal with and the ways in which they fail to control or cause horses, especially if they have no had no contact with them in
harm to the horses. His descriptions include a driver who never their urban lives.
noticed Beauty was hurting because of a sharp stone stuck in
Sewell continues to emphasize the ways a single person can
his shoe. A farmer helps Beauty get the stone out and tells the
make a difference for a horse. In the past Beauty witnessed
driver to be gentle with Beauty. Once the farmer drives away,
Squire Gordon, Mrs. Gordon, John, and Joe stand up for proper
the driver continues to push Beauty hard.
treatment for other horses. Now total strangers help Beauty
when he is struggling: the farmer who gets a stone out of
Chapter 29: Cockneys Beauty's horseshoe and the gentleman who asks for gentler
tack, or equipment, when riding Beauty. That gentleman does
Beauty complains of "cockneys," who think a horse is like a Beauty an even greater service by helping him get a new
steam engine and mistreat it accordingly. He recounts the owner. Beauty's position in the world has deteriorated, and he
stories of several horses he is teamed with. Rory was seriously must rely on strangers' kindness to survive.
injured when an ignorant driver crashed into them. Peggy is
frequently whipped because her short legs make her gait
rough as she tries to gain speed. A third horse is prone to Part 2, Chapters 30–31
"shying" away from unexpected sights or sounds because of
the blinkers that prevent him from seeing around him. All three
suffer because of ignorant humans, either their current drivers Summary
or people who trained them earlier.
Then one day a gentleman who knows and cares for horses
hires Beauty. He asks the livery stable staff to change Beauty's
Chapter 30: A Thief
gear so that Beauty will be more comfortable. Eventually, this
Black Beauty's new owner, Mr. Barry, is generous but ignorant
man convinces a friend of his to buy Beauty as a private riding
about horses. Not having his own stable, he hires a place for
horse.
Beauty and engages Filcher as Beauty's groom. Mr. Barry
orders the best food, but Filcher steals much of it. Beauty
grows weak from the poor food he is given, but Mr. Barry does
Analysis not notice. Finally, a friend comments on Beauty's appearance
and energy level and tells Mr. Barry to watch Filcher. It seems
Livery stables worked much like rental car companies today.
to Mr. Barry's friend that Beauty isn't getting enough
People who did not own horses, or who did not have their

nourishment. Soon after, the groom's scheme is revealed, and

he is arrested. Part 3, Chapters 32–34
Chapter 31: A Humbug Summary

Mr. Barry hires a new groom, a vain and lazy man named Alfred
Smirk, whom Beauty calls a "humbug." A skillful liar, Smirk Chapter 32: A Horse Fair
comes up with plausible excuses whenever Mr. Barry
questions Beauty's care. Smirk can make Beauty look quite Black Beauty is at a horse fair, waiting to be sold. He observes
presentable, but he does not clean Beauty's stall well and "a horse fair is a very amusing place to those who have nothing
leaves the floor damp. Beauty develops thrush, a foot disease, to lose." He sees different types of horses, including some "like
which Mr. Barry discovers with the help of a farrier. Smirk is myself, handsome and high-bred, but fallen into the middle
fired, and the farrier cures Beauty. However, Mr. Barry is so class." The sellers are not always truthful: Beauty's seller
disgusted by his two bad experiences that he decides to sell insists the scars on his knees were from a fall in the stable,
Beauty. which is not true.
Beauty judges his potential owners according to how they

Analysis handle him. Some are harsh, others gentle. Beauty particularly
likes "the grey-eyed man," who knows how to handle horses
Anna Sewell uses these chapters to warn her readers that and smells "as if he had come out of a hayloft." Beauty is afraid
even if they themselves are kind to animals, they must be sure another man will buy him and makes his preference clear by
to hire honest caretakers. In keeping with Sewell's Dickensian reaching his head out toward the gray-eyed man, who raises
naming conventions, the first groom, who steals food, is named his offer and becomes Beauty's new owner. He rides Beauty
Filcher. To filch means to "steal secretly." The second groom back to a poor section of London and introduces Beauty to his
makes sure he and Beauty both make a good appearance, but family, who all fuss over their new horse. Beauty feels as
he fails to give Beauty any actual care or maintain his health. though he will be happy there.
His name is equally obvious: Smirk. He may have smirked as he
got away with doing little work for his pay, and Beauty is the
one who suffers because of it. Chapter 33: A London Cab Horse
Mr. Barry is made aware of his grooms' misdeeds only by more Beauty's new owner is Jerry Barker, a cab driver. Jerry owns
knowledgeable people. When Filcher is stealing Beauty's food, his own cab and two horses: Beauty, now called Jack, and
a farmer friend points out that Beauty looks unhealthy, as if he Captain, formerly a Crimean war horse. Jerry and his family
were being fed only on grass. Although horses should graze, take excellent care of the horses despite their limited money.
they need a variety of nutrients. Imagine a human who ate Beauty is very grateful. Jerry's family fusses over him,
nothing but lettuce. Lettuce can play a large role in a healthy reminding him of Squire Gordon's family. Jerry himself is
diet, but eating nothing but lettuce could rob one's body of vital compared to John Manly in terms of how he cares for his
nutrition. Mr. Barry discovers Smirk's misdeeds only when animals. As Beauty begins to work in London, he is frightened
Beauty has become ill from a poorly cleaned stall with a by the loud noises and new sights. But Jerry is gentle, and
perpetually damp floor and generally neglectful care. Thrush is Beauty learns to trust him.
a hoof infection that needs serious attention, even with modern
veterinary treatment. Mr. Barry may have meant well, but he Beauty is grateful for having fresh water available all the time,
never troubles himself to learn how to care for his horse. as it is better for horses to drink small amounts throughout the
Sewell implies a responsible horse owner certainly would take day rather than have to gulp down large amounts when water
the time to ensure his horse was receiving proper attention is available to them. And he is happy to have Sunday as a day
and the groom doing his job. of rest.

Balaklava in the Crimean War. The Light Brigade's soldiers on

Chapter 34: An Old War Horse
horseback made a dangerous advance based on incorrect
Captain, Jerry's other horse, tells Beauty about his life as a war orders. Approximately 200 of the 600 soldiers were killed or
horse. He enjoyed being an army horse in England but disliked injured, and estimates suggest nearly 400 horses were killed in
being shipped overseas. The horses were hoisted onto the the fighting or euthanized as a result. The charge was
ships, strapped in place, and rarely allowed to move. immortalized in Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Charge of
the Light Brigade" (1854), and this time Sewell takes advantage
At first, Captain enjoyed his role and felt no fear, but things of the opportunity to describe the participation of horses in
changed. Loyal Captain was grief-stricken when his master battle and the suffering that war causes them as well as human
was killed while they were charging across a valley in front of soldiers. Many readers might be accustomed to reading about
the enemy's cannon. In addition to the loss of his master, loss of human life in wartime, but fewer think of the suffering
Captain describes in detail the event that left so many men and and sacrifice of horses as a result of war. Captain's description
horses injured and dead on the bloody battlefield. Beauty asks is well crafted to arouse readers' pity and perhaps anger.
why the battle was being fought. Captain does not know but
says, "the enemy must have been awfully wicked people, if it If Captain really did take part in the Light Brigade, he would be
was right to go all that way over the sea on purpose to kill more than 20 years old when Beauty meets him. Beauty does
them." describe Captain as old, and horses can live more than 20
years. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely Captain could have
survived so long. Sewell may have left Captain's participation
Analysis deliberately vague so she could describe the horrors of the
battlefield from a horse's viewpoint.
While wealthy people like the squire and his wife have an
easier time providing for their animals, Anna Sewell does not
believe horse owners with lower incomes cannot. Jerry Barker Part 3, Chapters 35–37
is Sewell's example of an outstanding but poor owner. Jerry is
clearly lower class and lives in London, much like the despised
cockneys about whom Beauty complained earlier. Yet Sewell Summary
aligns Jerry with one of the most important people in Beauty's
previous life: John Manly. In fact, Beauty's name with Jerry is
Jack, a nickname for John. Chapter 35: Jerry Barker
Beauty's comment about Jerry's smell is also significant. He
Black Beauty says he "never knew a better man" than Jerry
describes Jerry as "clean, fresh" rather than smelling of
Barker, again comparing Jerry to John Manly. Jerry is pleasant,
tobacco smoke or alcohol. London was a dirty city, and London
makes up moralistic little songs, rarely argues with anyone, and
cabbies driving throughout it were unlikely to look or smell
cheerfully lets his children help him ready the horses each
fresh. However, Jerry's smell foreshadows the kind of owner
morning. However, Jerry is not a pushover. He refuses to rush
he will be. He does not drink, like Reuben Smith, and he spends
his horse because a fare is in a hurry and turns down those
his time with horses and horse feed, unlike Filcher and Smirk,
jobs, even if they pay extra, as he does with two "wild-looking
the two bad grooms. Readers may be relieved the horse once
young men" who are coming out of a tavern and want to be
again has a good home, and Sewell has another chance to
rushed to the station.
speak out against alcohol and tobacco use.
However, he will rush his horses for a good reason. Beauty tells
Beauty's new colleague, Captain—the name is a reference to
of a polite young man who urgently needs to get to the train
his military life—must also have been relieved to find a safe
station. The man is running late because he has tripped and
haven after his military experiences. Part of Captain's story
fallen in the street. Jerry helps him up, and he and Beauty get
bears a distinct resemblance to one of the most famous—or
the man there on time, driving in and out of dense London
infamous—British military attacks of the Victorian era: the
traffic. Jerry refuses the extra money the man offers, more
Charge of the Light Brigade, part of the 1854 Battle of

satisfied about his success in arriving on time than about Carol is among is the best-known examples of this character
making extra money. Other cabbies tease him and tell him he'll type. Jerry knows his place and accepts it. He does his job with
never get rich, but Governor Grant, the cab drivers' unofficial a song and a smile. Although he doesn't have much money, he
leader, praises Jerry for caring about things other than money. refuses to take extra pay from some customers, saying he
And Jerry, who lives by the Ten Commandments, is happier not values some things more than money.
to be rich.
Jerry's ideas toward religion are somewhat similar to John
Manly's. Both reject people who make a display of their faith
Chapter 36: The Sunday Cab without doing any real good. Both men do in fact perform
significant acts of kindness to help others, going out of their
Mrs. Briggs, who often uses Jerry's cab, wants him to drive her way to do so. When challenged to go against his decision not
to church every Sunday. Jerry resists, even when offered extra to work on Sundays, Jerry must consider which is more
money. Politely, but firmly, he explains the need for time with important: personal and religious integrity or financial gain. He
his family and rest for his horses. When Jerry later relates the chooses integrity, a choice that is ultimately rewarded when
offer to his wife, Polly Barker, she supports his decision. Mrs. Briggs finds no other driver that suits her and begins
However, Mrs. Briggs stops hiring Jerry's cab after he refuses using Jerry and Beauty again. Jerry's choice may seem to
the Sunday job. Some of the cabbies say he made a mistake contradict John's idea that people should consider others
and criticize so-called religious people who claim God as a needs when making their own choices, but Jerry's decision not
reason not to work on Sundays. Jerry, however, argues a to drive Mrs. Briggs is merely an inconvenience for her, not the
religious person should be recognizable by how he treats sort of true need that John has referred to.
others: "If a man gives way to his temper, and speaks evil of his
neighbor ... he is not religious, I don't care how much he goes to
church." Part 3, Chapters 38–40
Summary
Chapter 37: The Golden Rule
Jerry eventually gets work from Mrs. Briggs again. She tried
Chapter 38: Dolly and a Real Gentleman
other cabs and found none she likes as well as Jerry's. She
keeps using his cab, but not on Sundays. Beauty describes the Jerry Barker and Black Beauty struggle to stay warm and dry
one time they worked on a Sunday: to take a friend of Polly in winter. Cabs often have to wait outside for long periods of
Barker's to see her dying mother. Polly emphasizes the Golden time, and navigating wet or icy streets is hard on horses. Dolly
Rule as a reason for the Sunday work: "we should do to other Barker often brings her father warm food from home while he
people as we should like they should do to us; and I know very waits for someone to hire his cab. Although some of the other
well what I should like if my mother was dying." Jerry agrees cab drivers wait in the tavern for fares, Jerry, who doesn't
after Polly's "Sunday-morning sermon," saying she's "as good drink, prefers the coffee shop.
as the minister." After delivering Polly's friend, Jerry is able to
turn Beauty out in a nearby field, which is a real treat, for One day as Jerry is eating, a man approaches to hire the cab.
Beauty hasn't been in a field since Earlshall. Jerry stops eating, but the man insists he finish his lunch and
make sure Dolly crosses the street safely. Jerry is impressed
by this kindness. This "gentleman" begins to hire Jerry's cab
Analysis often, sometimes taking time to stroke Beauty and speak
kindly to him. Beauty says "ninety-nine out of a hundred would
Jerry is a good man, almost too good. Like many Victorian as soon think of patting the steam engine that drew the train."
novelists, Anna Sewell creates a virtual saint who cheerfully Jerry and Beauty also see the man intervene to stop a drunk
endures hardship. Dickens's Bob Cratchit from A Christmas cart driver from beating his horse. Beauty hears the man,

whose name is Mr. Wright, tell a friend, who has asked why he group of drivers who rent the horses by the day and end up
bothers to intervene in others' business, "If we see cruelty or overworking them. Seedy Sam works seven days a week and
wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we cannot make enough to provide for his family or ever rest his
make ourselves sharers in the guilt." horse. Furious about his desperate situation, he can do nothing
to save himself. Jerry is better off than Sam because he owns
his cab and his horses, and he can take Sundays off. Yet much
Chapter 39: Seedy Sam of what Sam describes in the cabman's life could apply to Jerry
as well.
Beauty is lucky to have Jerry Barker as an owner. Other drivers
who don't own their own horses must rent them from big cab In the next chapter, Sewell foreshadows Beauty's possible fate
owners. The drivers are forced to pay exorbitant fees and work by briefly reuniting Beauty with Ginger. Ginger already talked
long hours just to break even. One of Jerry's colleagues, Seedy of being ruined in Chapter 27 at the earl's. Now she is truly
Sam, vents his frustration and desperation after being teased ruined, begging for death. Ginger was Beauty's closest friend.
by another cabbie. Sam complains about being poor and When he hopes Ginger has died, the reader feels the true
exhausted from cab work, detailing the impossibility of making horror of what Ginger's life became.
a living because they are subjected to fixed rates and
passengers' tightness about money. Sam continues by Sewell links these stories together for several reasons. First,
explaining that he doesn't mistreat his rented horse out of both Seedy Sam and Ginger suffer at the hands of large cab
cruelty but because he has to choose between overworking owners. More important, both hint at what could happen to
the horse and feeding his family. The others sympathize with Jerry and Beauty in the future. Jerry, like Sam, could grow ill
him. A few days later, Sam is too ill to work, and the day after, from overwork. If anything happens to Jerry, Beauty could find
he is dead. himself in much the same situation as Ginger.
Chapter 40: Poor Ginger Part 3, Chapters 41–43

One day an old, worn-out horse speaks to Beauty. It is Ginger,
though he never would have recognized her. She tells him she
never fully healed from the hard riding at the earl's and was
Summary
sold repeatedly, always into worse situations. Now she is a
horse for the same kind of cab company Seedy Sam worked
Chapter 41: The Butcher
for, with never a day of rest. Beauty asks if she stands up for
herself as she once did, but she replies, "It's no use; men are
Black Beauty says much of the trouble people have with
strongest ... if they are cruel and have no feeling, there is
horses is preventable if the humans only used "a little common
nothing that we can do but just bear it." She wishes to die at
sense." He notes that horses belonging to wealthy people are
work rather than be sent to the knackers and tells Beauty he
not automatically happier, pointing to his own experience with
was her only friend. A little while later Beauty sees a cart
the earl.
carrying a dead horse that looks a lot like Ginger. Beauty
hopes it is in fact Ginger, so she would finally be free from However, he pities the delivery ponies used by butchers and
suffering. other tradesman. He overhears a butcher criticizing his son for
working their pony to the point of exhaustion. The son argues
they often have rush deliveries because people do not order
Analysis their meat in advance. The butcher acknowledges this but
insists the pony have the remainder of the day to rest. Beauty
Although Beauty has a respite from suffering, Anna Sewell says the age of the driver and the age of the horse do not
continues to foreshadow a perilous future. Chapters 39 and 40 matter if there is kindness.
present Sewell with an opportunity to expose readers to the
evils of large cab companies, with a stable of horses and a big

Chapter 42: The Election Analysis

It is election time. Mr. B—, the candidate from one group, the After Anna Sewell reminds the reader of Beauty's unhappiness
"blues," wants to hire Jerry Barker's cab to deliver voters to the at the earl's, she devotes most of Chapter 41 to delivery
polls. Jerry says no because he doesn't want political posters ponies. Ponies were used more often than horses for deliveries
on his cab. Nor does he want to drive around to pubs to pick up because they are smaller, sturdier, and less expensive to
drunk voters and take them to polling places. Although Jerry maintain than horses. Despite ponies' humbler status,
agrees with some of the blues' policies, he does not want to be Beauty—and Sewell—believe delivery ponies deserve better
a part of manipulating the vote. Jerry believes "an election is a treatment. The discussion opens the door for Sewell to bring
very serious thing; at least it ought to be." He says the chaos up another way humans unintentionally make life harder for
and partisanship around the elections interfere with each working animals: rush deliveries. The butcher tries to care for
man's chance to vote his conscience. Jerry tells Polly Barker his pony, but his customers' demands undermine his efforts.
that Mr. B— doesn't understand workers' needs and therefore Sewell concludes the chapter with examples of how kindness
will not vote for him, despite agreeing with some of his ideas. lightens the loads of hard-working poor people and horses. "It
may be hard work sometimes, but a friend's hand and voice
When Harry Barker criticizes "orange blackguards" who were
make it easy," Beauty explains. His statement could serve as a
mean to his sister, Jerry speaks sternly, advising Harry not to
motto for his time with Jerry.
attack people based on their political affiliations and praising
the boy for defending his sister. Jerry and Beauty also face unreasonable demands from some
clients. Jerry resists these orders, even though it can cost him.
Sewell has already established Jerry as someone who will go
Chapter 43: A Friend in Need against the crowd when necessary, and his principles are put
to the test—and reinforced— during the elections. Jerry
On Election Day Jerry Barker's cab is busy. Just as he stops
refuses to participate in electioneering. He cautions his son
for lunch, Jerry sees a young woman with a sick child. She is
against assuming one political group is automatically better
lost and trying to get her boy to the hospital. Jerry offers to
than another: "There are as many blue blackguards as there
drive her for free, but before she can accept, two election
are orange ... I won't have any of my family mixed up with it." To
workers run up and claim the cab. Their task is more important
Jerry voting is a question of conscience, not of party, and he
than the woman's, they claim, and insist Jerry drive them. Jerry
deplores the actions of both parties in their campaigns.
refuses, even when they threaten him. Eventually they leave,
and Jerry takes the woman and her son to the hospital. The Sewell continues to emphasize Jerry's strong moral
woman thanks Jerry and rushes inside. Jerry then utters the conscience, using it as a platform for her beliefs. Thus, it is
words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of completely in character for him to help the woman and child: "I
these." know a father's feelings," he says, and would be ashamed "to
let a woman and sick child run a risk like that." After delivering
Moments after Jerry drops them off in the pouring rain, a
her to the hospital, Jerry once again falls back on his Christian
woman in a veil steps out of the hospital and calls for a cab.
beliefs as he quotes from Matthew 25:40: "Verily I say unto you
Recognizing Jerry, she asks after Polly and the children.
inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these the least of my
Beauty learns the woman is Mrs. Fowler, Polly's former
brethren, ye have done it unto me." Jerry is quoting Jesus's
mistress. When Mrs. Fowler asks about Jerry's health, he
response to the crowd when he is explaining to them who will
admits he does get sick sometimes, and Mrs. Fowler worries
be welcomed to the Kingdom of Heaven: "For I was an
he may grow ill driving a cab in winter weather. She
hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
encourages him to contact her if he ever wants a different job.
drink." When the people ask when they did these things for
God, or Jesus, the response is what Jerry quotes. Helping "the
least"—that is, the poor and those in need—is like helping God.
Sewell has again linked kindness to horses with Christianity.
Jerry's words go beyond his delivering the woman and child to

the hospital. They are an explicit statement of the author's night, Jerry Barker is told to pick up customers at 11 p.m., but
belief: animals are some of "the least," so being kind to an they make him wait out in the cold and sleet for more than two
animal is kindness to God—and a path to heaven. hours. They never apologize for being so late and grumble
about paying for Jerry's time. The next day, Jerry develops
Sewell has repeatedly foreshadowed troubles for Jerry, and bronchitis and cannot work. He gets worse and is near death
she does so again near the end of Chapter 43 when Jerry talks but recovers, according to the doctor, in large part because he
with Mrs. Fowler. Jerry admits he has had health issues, and has abstained from alcohol. Harry Barker cares for the horses,
such admissions generally signal more of the same in the and Governor Grant drives Hotspur, sharing the money he
future. At the same time, Sewell foreshadows a challenging earns with Jerry's family.
time for Beauty. If Jerry chooses, he could leave cab driving,
thanks to Polly's mistress. But then what will happen to Polly exchanges letters with her former mistress, Mrs. Fowler,
Beauty? who offers Jerry a job as coachman when he is well, and
Jerry's family can live on her estate. It is wonderful news for
the family but bad news for Beauty. Hotspur is easily sold to
Part 3, Chapters 44–45 Governor Grant, but Beauty worries about his future. Polly,
Dolly Barker, and Harry Barker are saddened to say goodbye
to Beauty, and Beauty never again sees Jerry.
Summary
Analysis
Chapter 44: Old Captain and His As she has shown in earlier chapters, Anna Sewell was deeply
Successor concerned about the consequences of heavy drinking.
Captain's injuries, caused by a drunk cart driver, raise the topic
Captain is seriously injured when a drunk driver loses control again. This time Sewell gives a concrete example of how
of his wagon and Jerry's cab tips over. Although Jerry is not someone can overcome a drinking habit. Surprisingly, her
seriously injured, Captain is. Furious, Jerry rants about those example is Jerry. Although Jerry is a model citizen now, he was
who put others at risk with their drunkenness. Jerry admits he once a heavy drinker, who "cured" himself through relatively
once drank heavily but broke himself of the habit with help minor actions, such as drinking a cup of coffee or reading a
from God and Polly Barker. In spite of Jerry's best efforts, book. No modern medical professional would suggest these as
however, Captain will never be right again. Jerry arranges for a treatment for alcoholism, but they fit with Victorian ideas
him to be shot dead to end his misery. about alcoholics. The Victorians generally believed alcoholics
were weak and lacked moral fiber. They thought simply
Jerry gets a new horse, Hotspur. Hotspur once belonged to a
exercising a little self-control, as Jerry does, could resolve any
nobleman but injured himself after running away. Although
drinking problem.
perfectly healthy and strong, the horse now has scars that
render him "no longer fit for a gentleman's stables." Hotspur Sewell has established Jerry's good intentions toward his
thinks cab work is demeaning at first, but as he gets used to horses. If Jerry's best solution for Captain is to have him shot,
Jerry, Hotspur tells Black Beauty "an easy mouth and a free readers should have no doubt about the severity of Captain's
hand made up for a great deal." After a week, he adjusts well to injuries. Horses are surprisingly delicate, and even modern
life with Jerry and Beauty. veterinary medicine acknowledges that horses may suffer
untreatable injuries that require euthanasia. In fact, a bullet to
the brain remains a legitimate choice for euthanizing horses.
Chapter 45: Jerry's New Year This incident reinforces how little control horses have over
their lives. Captain survived a war zone, was lucky to have a
The holidays are busy for cab drivers, who work long hours
good owner, and still lost his life because of another human's
during these times. They have many customers and often must
carelessness.
wait outside parties for hours, no matter the weather. One

The author's name choices strike again with Hotspur. Aside One day a lady stops the driver, Jakes, and asks him to cease
from the obvious sound of the name, it is a reference to whipping Beauty and release the checkrein. Jakes ridicules the
Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. Hotspur is the nickname of a idea but does it to please the lady. Jakes is surprised when
hot-tempered and rebellious young nobleman who stands Beauty pulls the cart better. The lady says humans have an
against the king and ultimately dies in combat. Since Beauty obligation to be good to animals and tells Jakes "we call them
and Hotspur do not have much time to get acquainted, the dumb animals ... for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they
name alone paints a picture of what Beauty's new partner must do not suffer less because they have no words." Jakes agrees
be like. It also suits a high-quality horse that has come down in to release the checkrein on hills, but will not promise to stop
the world, which is certainly how Hotspur presents himself. using it because the other drivers would laugh at him if he did.
To this comment the lady answers, "Is it not better ... to lead a
Sewell's foreshadowing finally comes to fruition for Beauty and good fashion than to follow a bad one?" Impressed by being
Jerry. True to the novel's point of view, Sewell provides very spoken to like a gentleman, Jakes does in fact loosen Beauty's
few details of Jerry's illness, about which a horse couldn't rein and removes the checkrein when going uphill. Even so,
know. Bronchitis, the only diagnosis mentioned, is not generally Beauty gets worn down by all the hard work and is sold to a
life threatening today. However, if left untreated, or treated cab owner.
with Victorian medical knowledge, it could develop into
pneumonia. Sewell establishes the severity of the illness Beauty also comments on another problem for horses: poorly
through others' actions. If he could manage it, Jerry would be lit stables. The darkness sensitizes horses' eyes to light,
out with the horses. He would not depend on another cabbie's causing considerable pain and difficulty seeing when the
work to feed his family. Jerry's illness is very grave indeed. horses are exposed to daylight. Had Beauty remained there, he
says, he might have lost much of his sight—a condition worse
One of Sewell's themes, reinforced in these chapters, is that than complete blindness.
good people are rewarded. Governor Grant, not a soft-hearted
person, gives up some of his own income to help Jerry's family.
Polly's old employer offers Jerry a new job with better Chapter 47: Hard Times
circumstances for the whole family. However, the other side of
Sewell's theme is also touched on here: horses, no matter how Beauty is now part of the large cab company for which Seedy
good, may not be rewarded. There is no good news for Beauty Sam, in Chapter 39, worked. Its owner is a cruel man, Nicholas
in these chapters. Jerry says he wants to put Beauty in a good Skinner. Beauty's driver is equally cruel, and the horse is
home, but Beauty has heard that before. Squire Gordon worked much too hard and whipped until he bleeds. One day a
thought sending Beauty to the earl was doing the horse a family tries to hire Beauty's cab, but the young daughter of the
favor, and readers know how that turned out. family says Beauty looks too weak and should rest. She wants
to hire a second cab to carry part of their load. She is
overruled, and they take Beauty's cab, piled with the family's
Part 4, Chapters 46–47 luggage. Beauty collapses on the drive.
When Beauty makes it back to Skinner's stables, a farrier

examines him and diagnoses his main problem as overwork.
Summary With six months' rest, Beauty would be fit and able to work
again. But Skinner would rather sell him for meat than let him
rest. When the farrier tells Skinner of a horse sale at which
Chapter 46: Jakes and the Lady Beauty could fetch a better price, Skinner begrudgingly agrees
to feed and care for Beauty properly and try to sell him to a
Black Beauty is sold to a baker. Although he has good
new owner. Twelve days later Beauty, hopeful of improving his
intentions, the baker pays little attention to the horses, and the
lot, is taken to the sale.
other workers overload the animals and push them hard.
Beauty now must wear the checkrein while pulling heavy loads.
When he struggles, he is whipped.

situations because of what others will think. Jakes says his

Analysis colleagues will laugh at him if he stops using the checkrein. To
counter that comment, the lady insists the upper classes, who
Nowhere else in the book is the whip mentioned as often as in
would be considered his "betters," no longer use them. Sewell
these two chapters. Sewell emphasizes whips and beatings
most admires those who put the health and safety of the
that draw blood. Being whipped under the belly and near the
horses over peer pressure. Moreover, she repeatedly sets
head causes great pain to two exceedingly delicate areas on a
Jerry at odds with his peers: he doesn't drink, doesn't take
horse. Sewell even uses the word flogging, suggesting a level
rushing customers who might endanger his horses, doesn't
of abuse beyond what a horse might normally expect to
work Sundays, and doesn't engage in political debates. John
endure. Beauty is being flogged for the third time by Jakes,
Manly is another who would happily push back against
when the lady intervenes.
prevailing attitudes to do what he thinks is right. Because
Beauty is almost a Christlike figure, beaten and whipped and Sewell's stated purpose for the book is to encourage readers
mistreated in the streets like Jesus carrying the cross before to be more thoughtful of the animals, she refutes the
his crucifixion. Sewell is careful with this allusion, because it counterargument of "everybody does it" through the admirable
could offend her largely Christian audience, but the implication behavior of two of her characters. The fact that these are
is there nonetheless. lower-class characters is more interesting, since her audience
would presumably be middle- to upper-class readers.
These chapters feature two female characters who attempt to
ease Beauty's burdens. One is referred to only as "a lady."
While a modern reader may read that as simply a woman, Part 4, Chapters 48–49
Sewell intends it as a comment on class. A "lady" is an upper-
class woman. Sewell doesn't claim all upper-class women are
superior—witness the earl's wife and her insistence on
checkreins in Chapter 22. But Victorians increasingly believed
Summary
women served as men's consciences and the conscience for
society as a whole. This belief focused largely on upper-class
Chapter 48: Farmer Thoroughgood and
women, with Queen Victoria as the leading example. The other
person who speaks up is the young girl who begs to spare his Grandson Willie
Beauty from a long drive with a heavy load. This girl is already
demonstrating the womanly virtues of charity and kindness, as At the sale Beauty finds himself in the midst of "old, broken-
contrasted with her father's gruff, "masculine" reaction, which down horses" and potential buyers who "looked not much
emphasizes business. The girl's kindness and generosity better off than the poor beasts they were bargaining about."
toward Beauty also reflect a Victorian trend toward idealized Many people examine Beauty but do not buy him. Finally, a
children. In the Victorian era people began to think of children farmer and his grandson spend a long while looking at him. The
as inherently innocent and good. This girl makes only a brief farmer says Beauty has good breeding. The grandson is
appearance in Black Beauty, but she represents both the convinced Beauty is salvageable and points out his good
childlike and the feminine qualities (to Victorians) of gentleness points. The farmer is slowly convinced to purchase Beauty.
and kindness.
Farmer Thoroughgood is now Beauty's new owner, thanks to
The "lady" who tries to save Beauty from the checkrein claims his grandson Willie. Willie spends a lot of time caring for
the gentry she knows have not used the checkrein for 15 years. Beauty, whom he calls "Old Crony." With a lot of rest in a
Presumably, her statement is an exaggeration. Beauty is later pasture and plenty of good food, Beauty recovers his strength
estimated to be 13 or 14 years old, and he has experienced the and is able to work again. Eventually the farmer and Willie
checkrein repeatedly. The only gentry in the book who do not begin to look for a new home for Beauty.
use the checkrein are the squire's family.
Throughout the book Sewell refers to situations involving peer

pressure. People force horses into unpleasant or dangerous

Black Beauty Study Guide Quotes 33
Mr. Blomefield, where Merrylegs—and Joe Green—went when

Chapter 49: My Last Home
the Gordons moved away. At this point Sewell's novel becomes
Farmer Thoroughgood and Willie sell Beauty to the Blomefield more of a morality tale. This choice may have been influenced
sisters for use as a carriage horse. Their groom comes to by her mother, who wrote morality tales for children. Sewell
handle the new horse. He questions the farmer about selling a repeatedly reinforces the idea that goodness is rewarded.
horse with damaged knees, but the farmer insists Beauty has a While the horses in the novel often have not received their
good temper and is totally safe. rewards, Beauty, whose behavior has been exemplary
throughout, finally gets his reward in the end, returning to an
At Beauty's new home, the groom begins to work with him and ideal home.
notices how much this horse is like one he once knew called
Black Beauty. When the groom finally realizes it is indeed Beauty is relieved and happy to be reunited with Joe, who, as
Beauty, he is delighted. The groom is Joe Green, who cared for John Manly once predicted, has turned out to be a good
Beauty back at Squire Gordon's many years ago. He vows to groom. In fact, Beauty calls him "the best and kindest of
take good care of Beauty forever. Joe tells his employers grooms." Beauty's final statement brings him back to the happy
about Black Beauty. Miss Ellen Blomefield offers to write to days of his youth—he has come full circle. The reader is left
Mrs. Gordon and tell her of Beauty's fate. They give Beauty his with a positive image to reinforce the moral of the story,
old name back and promise they will never sell him. Beauty is reassured that kind people can make a difference in an
happy to know he has found a forever home. animal's life.
Analysis g Quotes
Beauty's final salvation comes through the intervention of a
child: Willie, the farmer's grandson. Like the child in the "I never yet could make out why
previous chapter, who begged her father not to overtax
Beauty's tired body, Willie is more perceptive than his elders.
men are so fond of this sport ... but
Victorians often idealized children as pure and innocent beings. we are only horses, and don't
Some believed children were closer to God. Whether or not
Willie is divinely influenced, he puts his grandfather's lessons know."
about horses to good use and convinces the farmer to save
Beauty. — Duchess, Part 1, Chapter 2
Willie names Beauty "Old Crony." To a modern reader the word

crony has a negative connotation. In its original use, however, a Black Beauty's mother neither understands nor approves of
crony was a close, longtime friend. The author's name choices hunting. Speaking plainly, she cannot see its purpose and
are always intentional, for Willie has developed an instant bond explains its dangers. However, in an example of verbal irony,
with Beauty. The "old" part of Beauty's name is bittersweet for she views her and other horses' knowledge as unequal to
readers who have followed Beauty since his earliest days, but human wisdom and does not expect to understand them.
Beauty is 13 or 14 years old now. A modern horse's lifespan is
25–30 years, but in the Victorian era it was less. Readers will
note, too, that Willie's family name is Thoroughgood, an "I never had any one, horse or
appropriate name for absolute forces of good in Beauty's life.
man, that was kind to me, or that I
In the final chapter Sewell puts forth a series of coincidences
cared to please."
that may astound the modern reader. Beauty's "forever home"
turns out to be with friends of Squire and Mrs. Gordon, and
— Ginger, Part 1, Chapter 7
they employ Joe Green, who had helped John Manly with
Beauty all those years ago. Indeed it is the family of the Vicar,

Ginger makes this sad revelation when she tells Black Beauty the devil, is one of her harshest criticisms in the book. Although
the story of her life. With such a lonely early life, it is others might be ready to ignore injuries to a fly, Sewell sees
unsurprising that Ginger becomes a difficult horse. According them as signs of larger problems and exhorts the reader to do
to the author, early training and treatment are crucial in likewise. Because the boy, whom the story is about, has
forming a horse's attitude and behavior. already been seen beating his pony, he clearly is moving
toward greater levels of violence and abuse.
"Boys, you see, think a horse or

"People may talk ... about their
pony is like a steam engine or a
religion, but if it does not teach
thrashing machine"
them to be ... kind to man and
— Merrylegs, Part 1, Chapter 9 beast, it is all a sham."
Merrylegs's assessment of the boys' behavior brings up one of — John Manly, Part 1, Chapter 13
the novel's themes: the problems that arise when people treat
an animal like a machine, which has no feelings.
Although not well educated, John has his own theology, which
meshes nicely with Jesus's statements in the Bible. John
emphasizes actions rather than words. In the Bible, Jesus
"We horses must take things as values those who do the right thing more than those who say
they come, and always be content the right thing but do not follow through with actions.
and willing so long as we are kindly

used." "Give me the handling of a horse
for twenty minutes, and I'll tell you
— Sir Oliver, Part 1, Chapter 10
what sort of a groom he has had."
Sir Oliver, an older horse belonging to Squire Gordon, gives
— The old ostler, Part 1, Chapter 15
Beauty advice much like the advice his mother, Duchess, has
given him. However, Sir Oliver is more self-protective. He says
horses should be good if they are treated well. The old ostler is experienced with horses and has his own
methods of handling them. Anna Sewell wants the reader to
consider, as the ostler does, how a horse's previous handling
"Cruelty was the Devil's own trade might affect its current behavior. Because Ginger already has
told her story, the ostler's evaluation seems accurate.
mark, and if we saw any one who
took pleasure in cruelty, we might
"Train 'em up in the way they
know who he belonged to."
should go, as the good book says,
— James Howard, Part 1, Chapter 13 and when they are old they will not
depart from it."
Anna Sewell was a devout Christian and frequently refers to
Christian theology. This story, linking cruelty to animals with

— The old ostler, Part 1, Chapter 15

of our youth and strength, you by a
Although the old ostler appears only briefly in the book, he

drunkard, and I by a fool; it is very
shares one of the author's profound philosophical moments. hard."
Horses are compared with children, as the ostler cites a
biblical passage familiar to many readers. Therefore, if horses
are like children, then mistreating them is very serious.
Although Victorians certainly did not view childcare the way
modern parents do, there would have been a moral imperative Ginger sums up what has happened to Black Beauty and
from the Church to care for one's children. Sewell wants to herself because of humans. While Ginger is pessimistic, later
extend that imperative to one's animals as well. events prove her right. Neither she nor Beauty will ever be as
strong again, and their perceived value will diminish greatly.
"How can you talk about only

"Good Luck is rather particular
ignorance? Don't you know that it
who she rides with, and mostly
is the worst thing in the world,
prefers those who have got
next to wickedness?"
common sense and a good heart."
— John Manly, Part 1, Chapter 19
— Governor Grant, Part 3, Chapter 35
Ignorance is no excuse for mistakes or misbehavior, according

to John Manly—and Anna Sewell. This idea fits with the Grant, the cabbies' unofficial leader, makes this proclamation in
Victorians' increasing emphasis on universal education. Later, front of Jerry and several other drivers. He is addressing
Beauty suffers because of ignorant owners, riders, and drivers. another cabman, but his comments are about Jerry, who has
Sewell does not view their ignorance as an excuse. They have both common sense and a good heart. Later, Jerry does have
an obligation to learn how to handle a horse if they will be good luck, and the reader feels he deserves it.
dealing with one.
"If a thing is right, it can be done,

"I believe we horses can tell more and if it is wrong, it can be done
by the voice than many men can." without ... A good man will find a
— Black Beauty, Part 1, Chapter 21
way."
— Jerry Barker, Part 3, Chapter 36

Black Beauty is an extraordinarily perceptive character who
often recognizes the unspoken emotional state of those
around him. Sewell partially attributes this to a general Jerry, like John Manly, is a poorly educated man who has his
sensitivity in horses, which fits the veneration of nature theme own theology. Like John, Jerry emphasizes actions. Anna
that appears periodically in the early parts of the novel. Sewell puts these moral arguments in the mouths of her poor
characters for a reason. If working men without vast financial
resources can make moral decisions, then the more fortunate
readers should be able to do the same.
"Here we are—ruined in the prime

Black Beauty Study Guide Symbols 36
horse. They consider the horses' comfort and how the tack
"It's no use; men are strongest,
makes the horses' tasks easier, symbolizing their own innate
and if they are cruel and have no goodness, and their understanding of their horses' needs.
Others, including the earl and his wife and Black Beauty's
feeling, there is nothing that we
driver at the bakery, choose tack according to fashion. They
can do but just bear it." force the horses to use checkreins, which are uncomfortable
and unsafe, because of the way they force horses to hold their
heads. Other drivers use blinkers because they mistakenly
assume that horses will shy at things in their peripheral vision.
However, the horses claim they would be less frightened if
Ginger, the horse who always fought back, no longer believes they could actually see what was happening around them
there is a point in fighting. She wants to die. Her broken spirit rather than hear or sense things they can't identify.
may be more upsetting to Black Beauty than her broken body.
Certainly readers will be struck that Beauty's reaction is to
hope Ginger dies soon, but they never know exactly what
broke Ginger's spirit completely. Scars and Other Physical
Damage
"Inasmuch as ye have done it to
one of the least of these."
Few horses in the book escape without some type of physical
damage or scarring. These marks symbolize human
— Jerry Barker, Part 3, Chapter 43
thoughtlessness, carelessness, and selfishness. Because of
Reuben Smith's carelessness, Black Beauty gets scarred
Jerry quotes the Bible after he helps the woman and her sick knees, which repeatedly change the course of his life. He is
child get to the hospital. These words express Jerry's Christian sold from the earl's stables because his scarred knees are
faith and also foreshadow his future. According to the Bible, unattractive. Later on, people notice Beauty's scars and fear
those who have done good deeds are permitted to enter they signal another fall, even though they were not his fault.
heaven. Helping those in need is both a good deed and an Ginger, too, bears physical damage as a result of poor
indication of godliness. It is an act that pleases God. In this handling. Other horses, such as Captain, are marked by serious
case it helps Jerry, too, by putting him in touch with his wife's injuries, all caused by humans' thoughtlessness.
old employer, who later offers him a job that will make his
family's life something of an earthly paradise. Anna Sewell also makes a point of including Sir Oliver's story.
One of Squire Gordon's other horses, Sir Oliver had his tail
cropped by a previous owner and now suffers as a result. Sir
Oliver tells the other horses about how he has seen dogs' ears
l Symbols and tails cropped, too. These examples of physical damage

represent human thoughtlessness. They permanently change
the animals' bodies because the humans like the way they
make the animals look, without considering how these changes
Tack, or Horse Equipment might pain the animals.
Tack, or the equipment used in riding or driving horses,

symbolizes different types of horse owners and grooms. Those
humans who are kind and thoughtful, like Squire Gordon and
Jerry Barker, choose equipment according to its impact on the

Black Beauty Study Guide Themes 37
m Themes and Horses
Kindness to Animals: A One of Anna Sewell's intentions for Black Beauty was for the
book to be a source of moral instruction. Therefore, almost
Christian Duty without exception, human characters who are righteous and
obedient are rewarded. The horse characters, however, do not
always get what they deserve.
Anna Sewell wrote Black Beauty to encourage people to The humans who do good are ultimately rewarded, even if they
practice kinder treatment of horses. The concept is grounded experience suffering. Mrs. Gordon grows seriously ill, but at the
in Sewell's Christian faith, and she equates kindness toward end of the book she is still alive and in good enough health to
horses with Christian teachings about helping the needy and exchange letters with friends. Despite a difficult childhood,
less powerful. John Manly has saved enough money, after working for Squire
Gordon, to be able to have some choice about a new job. Such
John Manly talks repeatedly about both helping the less an opportunity most likely would be unusual for a man in his
fortunate and being kind to horses, linking the two together. position. James Howard risks his life to save Beauty and
James Howard, his first assistant, tells how a classmate was Ginger, and he ends up with a promotion and a good job. Joe
cruel to flies, leading their teacher to associate cruelty, even to Green, after his initial mistake with Beauty, also proves himself
insects, with the devil. When Black Beauty and Ginger are a worthy person and fine groom and has a good job by the end
stabled at an inn overnight, the old ostler quotes the Bible as of the book. The Barker family, who live through poverty and
he explains how horses trained well in their youth continue to the challenges of Jerry's illness, are rewarded with a good job
be easy to handle as they grow up. Later, Jerry Barker, one of for Jerry and a home in the country.
the kindest owners Beauty has, cites the biblical exhortation to
help "the least" in society as he helps the poor woman take her For the horses, however, life is more capricious, no matter how
child to the hospital. Jerry also talks about being responsible good they are. Merrylegs is patient with children yet fears he
for one's behavior and making decisions to guard one's soul, could lose his position. Beauty suffers through many bad
even if those decisions go against popular sentiment or cause situations, even when he has nearly killed himself trying to save
a loss of income. a human's life, as he does for Mrs. Gordon. Other horses, like
Jerry's horse Captain, suffer life-threatening injuries through
Sewell includes biblically influenced expectations of helping no fault of their own. While Sewell's human world has a moral
the destitute and rearing children, and she connects these logic to it, the horses are at the mercy of their masters. This
expectations with kindness toward animals. Caring for one's situation, connected to the previous theme, gives Sewell a two-
animals is equivalent to raising children, and helping other pronged argument: good people are rewarded, and kindness to
animals—as several characters attempt to help horses is part of being a good person.
Beauty—parallels helping the needy. This theme not only adds
another dimension to Sewell's writing through biblical allusions,
but it also serves as a method of persuasion, which was
Sewell's primary goal. Horse versus Machine
Goodness Rewarded: Humans Black Beauty was written only decades after the first modern
railway carrying passengers opened (in 1830) and machinery
began to take over many tasks done by horses and humans.
Sewell explores the problems that arise when a horse is
treated like a machine. Unlike a machine, a horse is a living

Black Beauty Study Guide Themes 38
creature and deserves respect, an idea that dovetails with

Sewell's other thematic point: that kindness to horses is a
godly act in the same way as kindness to humans in need.
Merrylegs is the first character to raise the question of why

some humans treat horses like machines. "Boys, you see, think
a horse or pony is like a steam engine or a thrashing machine,"
he says, and he teaches them a lesson by throwing them off.
Because those humans are children, they can still be taught.
Years later, when Beauty is a livery stable horse, he returns to
the comparison, saying the cockneys treat horses like steam
engines. However, Beauty has no power to stop them. The
theme of horse versus machine also comes up when Beauty is
a cab horse with Jerry: a kind gentleman pats Beauty, who
comments, "ninety-nine out of a hundred would as soon think
of patting the steam engine that drew the train."
In opposing the treatment of horses like steam engines, Sewell

includes in most chapters some information about the care and
handling of horses. If the novel is moralistic, it is also
instructive. Sewell explains horses' particular sensitivities and
stresses repeatedly that caring for horses is far different from
caring for insensate machines.
Sewell's novel works in a similar way to a persuasive or

argumentative essay: her thesis is that kindness to horses is an
act of God, and her supporting claims include the idea that
God rewards those who do kind deeds and that it is unkind to
treat a horse like a machine. The themes link together to help
Sewell persuade the reader to act accordingly.
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Black Beauty

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Black Beauty

Study Guide by Course Hero

The main character and narrator is a black horse named Black

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3

h Characters .................................................................................................. 3 d In Context

c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 14

g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 33 Anthropomorphic Fantasy

j Book Basics human traits or actions to nonhuman things—for example, "the

and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971).

members of the government, held most of the financial and

groups of people, such as shop owners, who were more

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and mares generally are perceived as easier to handle than

practical use of horses was beginning to decline. The Industrial

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beautiful to look at but is a noble, generous, and faithful animal

Ginger Joe Green

her spirit is broken.

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John Manly Squire Gordon

Jerry Barker Joe Green

Other Major Character

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Full Character List Jerry Barker's wife, Polly Barker is a

Black Beauty is a well-​trained black

One of Beauty's owners, Jerry

A member of the earl's family, Lady

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Mr. Clay is the employer of the man

Squire Gordon's brother-​in-​law, Sir

Governor Grant is the unofficial

Mr. Barry's first groom, Filcher, steals

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The lady is an upper-​class woman Rob Roy is horse that is euthanized

Lizzie is a nervous horse who The owner of the cab company to

Nelly Manly is John Manly's sister

Sir Oliver is one of Squire Gordon's Farmer Thoroughgood buys Beauty

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and Ginger are sold to the Earl of W—.

Part 1 purchase him for a riding horse.

Beauty's new owner, Mr. Barry, is kind but ignorant about

At Squire Gordon's, he meets Ginger, a chestnut horse who will

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A gentleman farmer's grandson persuades his grandfather to

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7. Sold again, Beauty collapses from overwork and

1. Beauty has an idyllic early life with his mother.

Rising Action 8. Beauty is bought by a farmer and nursed back to health.

2. Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon.

3. The Earl of W— buys Beauty and allows mistreatment.

5. Kindhearted Jerry Barker buys Beauty as a cab horse.

6. Because he gets sick, Jerry sells Beauty to a baker.

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Beauty lives with his mother in a pasture and is "broken"

Four years later

Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon, whose grooms, John

Soon after arriving

Beauty meets Ginger and becomes friends with

Several days later

Ginger, temperamental because of previous

December that year

Joe Green is hired to replace James Howard, who moves

Later that winter

Black Beauty is a well-trained black

Squire Gordon's brother-in-law, Sir

The lady is an upper-class woman Rob Roy is horse that is euthanized