Ira Morton is the type of literary character that evokes pity from the reader. His wife dies suddenly while his children are still young, and his son Fred moves to France to fight in the war and die for it. Ira is left to tend the corn fields of the original Morton property with little help from the only remaining member of his immediate family, mischievous Madeline. Ira shows signs of mental instability, obsessively caring for his corn at all costs. Ira seems helpless. The reader might think Ira cannot help himself, but can he? Does his instability and loneliness truly excuse his obsessive care for his corn and his resentment towards Madeline's decision to leave the college and face a prison sentence? Let's ask him.
Me: Ira, I believe that your disapproval of Madeline's decision to leave the college and go to prison for her beliefs is unreasonable. Madeline seems to be the only student at Morton College willing to take a stand against the deportation of Bakhshish. She seems to be the only one who understands what "democracy" and "Americanism" really mean.
Ira: Madeline's defense of Bakhshish does not represent "Americanism." If Madeline really wanted to show she was "American," she would give up these silly games and help me tend the land of her ancestors. To be "American" is to remember your roots.
Me: But, would any real change be made in our society if people like Madeline didn't exist? I don't see how the situation with the Hindu students would have ever been addressed if Madeline hadn't made such a big scene.
Ira: I don't see why Madeline had to rush to defend Bakhshish. My wife died because she rushed to save children dying of diphtheria. She abandoned her children and her husband to save people she barely even knew. She was worth more than them, but she died for them. I was left to run the cornfield and raise my children alone. Fred rushed to Paris to help others and to defend "democracy." Now, he is dead and I am even more alone. All of those I love the most have rushed to help others, but what about me? Have you ever thought that maybe I got the short end of the stick? My wife and my son left me to help perfect strangers, and now my daughter is doing the same. My ancestors started this town, and now my family has abandoned it it to pursue "Americanism." What's more American than tending to the land my ancestors left me?
Me: I did not consider how the actions of your most loved ones affected you. The ones whom you cherished most abandoned you to pursue "democracy," and now you are left alone to continue the work of your ancestors. You believed what you were doing showed the truest form of "Americanism," but you never received the support you needed from your wife or children. However, I still do not find you guilt-free. You seem to have resigned to Madeline's desire to leave. Why give up so easily?
Ira: I am not giving up. I would do anything to stop her from going, but not even the corn stays at home. Just as I have not been able to find a way to stop the wind from blowing the corn away, I have not been able to find a way to stop my family from leaving me.
Perhaps it is understandable for the reader to have pity on Ira. Although he does not support Madeline's actions, his views are understandable if one takes the time to consider his past. He was abandoned by his wife and son in their pursuit of "Americanism," and he simply does not want to lose Madeline too. Ira also sees tending the cornfields as his duty, his continuation of the hard work of his ancestors.
Ira's story demonstrates the importance of understanding the pasts of others before judging them. Although I still find his desire to keep Madeline from going to be somewhat selfish and unreasonable, I understand he just wants to take care of his cornfield and his family. So, even though Ira appeared selfish, maybe he ended up getting the short end of the stick after all.
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