Lantern light Quote by Manly Wade Wellman
““Another lightning flash, another thunder growl. Old Mr. Jay hunched his thin shoulders under his jeans coat, and allowed he'd pay for some crackers and cheese if the storekeeper'd fetch them out to us. "I ain't even now wanting to talk against Forney Meechum," said the farmer. "But they tell he'd put his eye on Lute for himself, and he'd quarreled with his own son Derwood about who'd have her. But next court day at the county seat, was a fight betwixt Jeremiah Donovant and Derwood Meechum, and Jeremiah put a knife in Derwood and killed him dead." Mr. Jay leaned forward. The lantern light showed the gray stubble on his gentle old face. "Who drew the first knife?" he asked.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Lightning Flash” by Manly Wade Wellman, 1935
A tense rural confrontation reveals a cycle of violence sparked by jealousy and rivalry, ending in murder.
In simple terms: Violence spreads from jealousy and rivalry.
Key Takeaway
Beware letting grudges dictate actions.
Themes
jealousy
violence
family conflict
justice
rural life
Mood
tense
foreboding
tragic
Type
narrative
dialogue
warning
When to use this quote
- court dispute
- family feud
- small-town gossip
- moral dilemma
Key Concepts
fatalism
honor
retribution
Questions to Reflect On
- What could have broken the cycle of retaliation?
- How does community gossip fuel conflict?
A Different Perspective
Violence often escalates beyond the original cause, making resolution harder.
