In The Glory Field, by Walter Dean Myers, significant characters help the development of Meyer’s theme. The theme of the book was family staying together through the hard times. In the time period of 1994, Malcolm Lewis is the most important character that represents this theme. He shows a sense of family, heritage, and connection with his ancestors.
Malcolm has an understanding of how important family is. He shows considerable signs of it when he helps Shep get to the reunion, and when he helps Planter in the fields. He doesn’t care how messed up Shep may be; he helps him all the time on the way there. This sense of family togetherness has gotten the Lewis family together in the past, and now. When Malcolm helps Shep to reach the reunion even though he’s sick, is a noteworthy event.
‘ “Yo, Shep, come on man.” He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder, surprised at how thin it was. “We can take a bus.” “I don’t think I can make it,” came the muffled reply. “Why don’t you go on, I don’t feel so good.” “You can try, Shep,” Malcolm said. “We’re people, man. I’m here to help you. Don’t turn me away.” ’ (Myers, 324)
He isn’t going to give up on Shep and shares a strong family bond with him. His heritage is strong with him as he goes on through the days after the reunion. Malcolm understands about all his family and race went through to be at this point in time. The Lewis family reunion really opened his eyes to the past, Muhammad Bilal’s shackles, and the invisible ones worn for generations.
‘ “He had thought of even putting them (the shackles) around his ankles, but knew it would never be the same. It wasn’t his to experience, only to imagine about, no matter how hard it had been. The weight of the shackles gave substance to all the people who had worn them, and who had triumphed in spite of them. They gave weight, even, to those who had been broken by them, or by the invisible shackles they had found along the way.”’ (Meyers, 374)
Even though it was over three hundred years ago, Malcolm shares a very strong connection with his ancestor, Muhammad. He experiences a feeling of being trapped and struggling to take a place in the world. Uncanny feelings and thoughts have moved though him as they did long ago on the slave ship.
‘When they stopped and there was light through the grating, Malcolm could see particles of dust floating through the air, as if suspended on the stifling heat that seemed to come from the hides and perhaps him and Shep. The stench of the hides was crushing. It seemed to fill him up, take his breath away.” ’
Malcolm Lewis is the most important character that represents the theme of family staying together through the hard times. It is represented in him with his sense of family, heritage, and connection with his ancestors. His living in 1994 has shown how far the Lewis family has come, and will continue to come on strong thanks to Malcolm Lewis.
