A Land Remembered: Tobias MacIvey

Source: http://www.jacksonholehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Cowboys-herding-cattle.jpg

Tobias MacIvey is one of the main characters in Patrick D. Smith's A Land Remembered. His purpose in the story is to show how the first generation MacIveys managed to live on the land after moving from Georgia to Florida. His purpose is also to show how his family has a strong connection to nature and the environment compared to his child Zech and his grandchild Sol.

When Tobias first moves to Florida, he was very closely involved with the environment. During the first few years of their stay in Florida, he struggled establishing a house and lived directly off the land. His relationship with the land is somewhat compared to a farmer and a rancher; he respects the land since it provided him a food resource, shelter, and protection from harmful predators and weather patterns. He furthers this connection by defending the Seminole Indians Keith Tiger, Bird Jumper, and Lillie, proving that even though there is a deep cultural schism between their races, working together to survive is a common ground he can relate to.

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Coeehajo.jpg

I believe that Tobias experienced a strong sense of place during his life in Florida. His wife Emma cooked anything Tobias could find, which was mostly hog and coon. He taught his son Zech lessons about the wildlife during their treks and how humanity had its affect on them. He would wish that his family lived entirely off the land and nothing more. In an unfortunate case of irony, it seems that the very thing he loved would in turn kill him.

Tobias is a strong headed character, which is why I believe that I relate to him so much. Although I haven't lived in harsh conditions and my family doesn't live in poverty, I can respect his characteristics. He is a man who is strong with integrity, kindness, compassion, and is firmly tied in tradition. One of my core values that I was brought up on is to treat everyone with equality and to give assistance to those in need, regardless of what they look like or how their past has shaped them. Tobias does exactly that by defending the Indians and helping the runaway slave. Tobias is a leader, one who chooses to stand above the rest and shepherd those on the right path; someone we all should aspire to be.

Source: http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/watershed1.jpg