Homecoming

At 10 years old, James surfaces as Dicey’s second in command. Where Dicey demonstrates “street smarts,” James prevails as academically gifted. He is curious and introspective, often sharing insights about his siblings that Dicey misses. When Dicey struggles to handle Sammy’s problematic behavior, James provides commentary on Sammy’s different relationship with Liza, the children’s mother. Dicey realizes “how he must have hated to go to school every morning and then come home, and if Momma was there she would talk to him—but less and less like a mother” (48). Ever observant, James uncovers Dicey’s plan to leave the children with Eunice, pulling Maybeth and Sammy from school to accompany Dicey to Abigail’s house. Although James thrived in school on paper before the siblings began their journey, he had no friends; thus, he clings to his family and fights to unite his siblings.

James’s morality is tested on several occasions. He approves of Sammy’s theft and steals money from college students (Windy and Stewart) who offer help. Instead of turning the children away, Windy and Stewart take James under their wing, stressing the importance of integrity. This point in Homecoming marks a significant change in James, revealing the significance of strong male role models for boys. James never again considers theft after his conversations with Stewart, and he plays a more active role in leading the family to safety. By the novel’s close, Dicey waits until she can consult James before making decisions.

Though quiet and reserved, nine-year-old Maybeth’s actions identify her as strong and resilient, all the more impressive because of her young age. While she outwardly appears shy and vulnerable, Maybeth possesses a strength of character that isn’t as easy as noticeable or easy to identify. She rarely complains about the children’s hardships and is often the only sibling who can convince Sammy to continue to walk. Her gentle and sensitive demeanor sets her apart from her siblings.

Despite the struggles she faces, including her difficulties with speech and the absence of her mother, Maybeth frequently comforts herself and her siblings through song. The children feel more connected to each other and their absent family members when Maybeth sings familiar songs with her beautiful voice. She inspires her siblings to think beyond survival and cherish each other, adding to the novel’s overall definition of family.

Maybeth is described as pretty with blonde, gently curled hair. Eunice and her friends favor Maybeth for her looks and find her silent, accommodating personality good, wifely qualities, though Eunice projects her goal of becoming a nun on Maybeth. The Catholic church teachers suggest Maybeth has a severe learning disability, and they suggest that she be committed to a school for children with similar disabilities. Although the details of Maybeth’s learning disabilities are never clearly defined, Dicey, James, and the public school guidance counselor in Crisfield agree that Maybeth is more than capable of thriving in a traditional academic environment.

Sammy, the youngest of the Tillerman siblings at six years old, faces several conflicts. He feels desperate to reunite with Liza and is the last of his siblings to accept the loss of their mother. The journey proves hardest for Sammy; he slows down his siblings and adds days to their travels. The narrator establishes that Sammy’s “stubbornness [is] beyond measure. When he [makes] his mind up, there [is] nothing you [can] do to move him” (21), setting him apart from other children his age as more challenging behaviorally. Sammy’s conflicts identify his innocence and youth, the defining characteristics his siblings attempt to preserve. James and Dicey play into Sammy’s imaginative spirit when he struggles to walk, inviting him to pretend to be a soldier marching to battle. They recognize how difficult the journey is for Sammy, knowing he will respond better to a game than a scolding.

Sammy is loyal to his family. Though he routinely fights at school, he does so to defend his mother, whom his classmates label “crazy.” He prefers recreational physical activity, like riding the bikes from Will and Claire, to intellectual pursuits. His older siblings adore his innocence and feel protective of it. Abigail, Sammy’s grandmother, smiles and laughs while watching Sammy roll in the mud. Sammy’s playful spirit reminds Abigail, Dicey, James, and Maybeth of the joys of family, enriching life and adding purpose.

Liza’s cousin and Abigail’s niece, Eunice, is the only daughter of Aunt Cilla—the children’s only family contact. Eunice dislikes surprises, and the unannounced arrival of the Tillerman children shocks her. Ultimately, Eunice agrees to care for the children on a trial basis, though only because of her Christian beliefs that instruct duty above all else. Eunice expects Dicey to have her “cup of tea ready[...] at precisely twenty of six” (166). She values her strong work ethic and weekly church commitments and projects these practices on the Tillermans. She expects Dicey to earn the Tillermans’ keep by taking on all domestic chores and caring for James, Maybeth, and Sammy. Eunice disapproves of Liza’s decision never to marry, and she judges the children harshly for lacking religious education. She brings Maybeth to church services only because Maybeth is quiet and pretty; Eunice’s church friends frequently compliment Maybeth for these attributes.

Eunice’s plan to put Sammy and Maybeth into different foster homes highlights Gender Roles and Social Services, one of the novel’s central themes. Eunice follows the recommendations of Father Joseph and the other Catholic church leaders, who believe that Maybeth should be committed to an institution for children with disabilities and that Sammy needs firm disciplinary action. Though Father Joseph and Eunice preach about the need for welfare and duty, in practice, they are only willing to extend charity to those who meet their expectations. While the Tillermans find a safe haven at Eunice’s house, it comes with conditions and expectations. Eunice ultimately fails the Tillermans by not advocating to keep them together and by presenting them with obligations at an incredibly vulnerable time.

Still, Eunice is ready to sacrifice her dream of becoming a nun to care for the Tillermans. While this decision is selfless, it also highlights the limitations of the church. Moreover, the fact that Eunice cannot become a nun while caring for the Tillermans represents the disadvantages faced by women responsible for children. Often, women must choose between careers and children, even when the children are thrust upon women without their consent. Father Joeseph could adopt children without sacrificing his position in the church. Eunice’s sacrifice weighs on Dicey’s conscience, adding to the feeling that she and her siblings are impositions to their caregiver. The Tillermans’ time with Eunice helps to define home and family by establishing the need for complete acceptance, love, trust, and empathy.