Coming of Age Themes in "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive
Coming of Age Themes in "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Burns
Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns, is a coming of age novel, seen and narrated through the eyes of a developing young boy named Will Tweedy. It is set in a small humble town known as Cold Sassy. This once peaceful town turns scandalous after the announcement of remarriage from the recently turned widower, Rucker Blakeslee. Burns, in her novel, depicts the diversity of interpretations towards religion; it mainly focuses on Grandpa Blakeslee’s portrayal of religion verses the society of Cold Sassy’s traditional beliefs.
Residents of Cold Sassy follow the traditional beliefs towards religion. God to them is no more than a punisher and a spiritual being to be feared. During their sermons, preachers of Cold Sassy would define God as a being who will smite you down if you sin. Cold Sassy’s beliefs were simplistic rituals to follow. The community believed that just by living a life in which they avoided blasphemy, prayed, and attended church every Sunday, would suffice for themselves to be considered good religious people. To them, God is only thought of in Church, in bad times, and when in need of help the community of Cold Sassy only attends Church because it is in their tradition. Miss Love stated that the only time they do mention God out of Church is “when [they’re] sick or scared” God to them is just someone there to turn to when needed. People of Cold Sassy also believe in predestination he defines it as “what is to be is to be and you can’t do anything about it.”
Much talk about predestination arises when Will was stuck between the tracks on the trestle, and go run over by the train. Visiting Will after his incident, Cretia and Looly began to express predestination they said that “hit just wadn’ his time to die” and that “hit were the Lords will for the boy to be alive” Rather than to blame themselves and feel guilt for the deaths and disappointment which occurred in Cold Sassy, the townspeople would utilize the Cliché it is “God’s will” thus easing the guilt in their hearts towards the heartaches that took place. Will conversed with Grandpa Blakeslee about God’s will, and asked if “it was God’s will for Bluford Jackson to get...