The Giver of Stars
Chapter 13: Thirteen
by Moyes, JojoThe chapter opens with Pastor McIntosh visiting the Packhorse Library to persuade Alice Van Cleve to return to her husband, invoking religious doctrine to justify her submission. He quotes biblical verses emphasizing a woman’s duty to her husband and home, framing her departure as a moral failing. Alice, however, remains defiant, supported by her fellow librarians, who silently challenge the pastor’s outdated views. The tension escalates as Alice confronts him with the hypocrisy of her in-laws’ actions, exposing their violence and exploitation, which starkly contrast with the Christian values he preaches.
Alice’s rebuttal is scathing, as she details the abuse she endured at the hands of her father-in-law, including physical violence and financial coercion. She contrasts her own charitable actions with the Van Cleves’ unethical behavior, such as exploiting miners and threatening dissenters. The pastor, visibly unsettled, retreats without a meaningful response, leaving the women in a charged silence. Alice’s boldness marks a turning point, as her refusal to conform spreads through the county, undermining the Van Cleves’ authority and reputation.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Van Cleve faces growing unrest among miners, fueled by anonymous letters and covert union organizing. His obsession with controlling Alice and dismantling the library distracts him from the brewing labor movement, which operates more discreetly than before. The governor hints that Van Cleve’s grip on power is slipping, both at home and in the mines, as rumors of his family’s dysfunction circulate. Van Cleve’s attempts to downplay the situation only highlight his diminishing influence.
The chapter underscores the clash between tradition and progress, as Alice’s defiance inspires others to challenge oppressive systems. Her moral stand against the Van Cleves’ corruption resonates with the miners’ quiet resistance, suggesting a broader shift in the community’s dynamics. The pastor’s failed intervention and Van Cleve’s mounting troubles illustrate the crumbling authority of patriarchal and exploitative structures, setting the stage for further upheaval.
FAQs
1. How does Alice challenge Pastor McIntosh’s religious arguments for her return to the Van Cleve household?
Answer:
Alice systematically dismantles the pastor’s biblical justifications by exposing the hypocrisy of the Van Cleve family’s actions. While the pastor quotes Ephesians and Timothy to emphasize wifely submission, Alice counters with pointed questions about biblical stances on domestic violence (“smashing your daughter-in-law’s head repeatedly into a table”), exploitation (charging inflated prices at company stores), and corruption (using money to cover abuse). She contrasts these actions with her own adherence to Christian values—ministering to the poor, remaining faithful, and giving generously—highlighting the disconnect between scripture and the Van Cleves’ behavior. Her challenge forces the pastor into retreat, underscoring her moral high ground.2. What does this chapter reveal about the power dynamics in Baileyville, particularly regarding gender and labor?
Answer:
The chapter exposes intersecting hierarchies of gender and class. Pastor McIntosh represents patriarchal authority, invoking religion to demand Alice’s submission, while the Van Cleves wield economic power over miners (e.g., debt bondage, violent union suppression). Alice’s defiance—supported by the unmarried library women—subverts both: she rejects domestic control and aligns with marginalized groups (motherless girls, exploited miners). Meanwhile, Van Cleve’s obsession with the library and mining “troublemakers” reveals his fear of losing dominance. The governor’s taunt (“you can’t even keep control of your own home”) ties personal and political power, showing how challenges in one sphere threaten the other.3. Analyze the significance of the library as a space in this chapter. How does it function beyond its literal purpose?
Answer:
The library serves as a sanctuary of resistance and solidarity. Physically, it’s where the women clean saddles and bond, creating a counterpoint to domestic spaces like the Van Cleve home. Symbolically, it embodies autonomy: Alice’s refusal to return “home” and Margery’s pointed remark about “happily unmarried women” frame it as a space free from male authority. The pastor’s failed intervention there underscores its role as a site of ideological challenge—where Alice weaponizes literacy (critical thinking, biblical knowledge) against dogma. Even Van Cleve’s offhand dismissal of the library (“obsessing about that damn library”) reveals its threat as a hub for subversive ideas.4. How does the chapter use irony to critique societal norms, particularly through Alice’s dialogue?
Answer:
Alice employs biting irony to expose hypocrisy. When she asks for biblical verses to justify abuse, she mirrors the pastor’s selective literalism, revealing how scripture is twisted to uphold power. Her closing line—”I do so enjoy our Bible studies!“—mocks the pastor’s retreat, framing their exchange as a farcical “lesson.” Even her title (“Mrs. Van Cleve”) becomes ironic; she reclaims it while rejecting its associated duties. The chapter also juxtaposes Van Cleve’s claim of “firmest of grips” with his crumbling control (mine unrest, Alice’s defiance), using dramatic irony to show his delusion about authority.5. What parallels can be drawn between Alice’s personal rebellion and the broader labor unrest in Baileyville?
Answer:
Both rebellions challenge exploitative hierarchies. Alice’s refusal to return mirrors miners’ quiet organizing—both acts of defiance are initially dismissed (as a “hiccup” or “disturbance”) but grow into systemic threats. Van Cleve’s attempts to suppress both (via pastor-intermediaries or “friends at the sheriff’s office”) reveal his reliance on institutional power. The “anonymous letters” and Alice’s public accusations similarly weaponize truth against silence. Just as the miners’ resistance is “smarter” now, Alice’s strategic use of morality (rather than outright confrontation) shows how marginalized groups adapt tactics to sustain resistance.
Quotes
1. “There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast, it is all a sham.”
This opening epigraph from Black Beauty sets the thematic tone for the chapter, critiquing hypocritical religiosity that lacks compassion. It foreshadows Alice’s confrontation with Pastor McIntosh about the Van Cleves’ un-Christian behavior.
2. “I don’t call in men with machine-guns from across state lines to threaten my own workforce. I don’t charge that same workforce four times the fair amount for groceries and sack them if they try to buy food anywhere but the company store… So tell me, Pastor, who really is the ungodly one in all this?”
Alice’s blistering monologue exposes the hypocrisy of being lectured about biblical submission while enduring abuse. This quote powerfully contrasts true morality with the Van Cleves’ exploitative practices, marking the chapter’s emotional climax.
3. “Word is you’re losing your grip… They say you can’t even keep control of your own home.”
The governor’s taunt reveals how Alice’s rebellion has damaged Van Cleve’s reputation. This quote shows the broader political implications of her defiance, connecting domestic conflict to Van Cleve’s weakening power in the community.
4. “Is that godly behavior, Pastor? Because I’m listening really hard and all I’m hearing is everyone telling me what I’m apparently doing wrong.”
Alice’s rhetorical question dismantles the pastor’s selective scripture-quoting. This concise challenge epitomizes the chapter’s critique of patriarchal religious authority being weaponized to justify abuse and maintain control.