In “The Goophered Grapevine,” there are two main narrators. The first storyteller’s name is unknown; he is a white Yankee who comes to the South to consider purchasing a vineyard (“The Goophered Grapevine”). Once, he and his wife meet Julius McAdoo, an old African American man who used to be a slave on the plantation. Julius tells the narrator: “well, sur, you is a stranger ter me, en I is a stranger ter you, en we is bofe strangers ter one anudder, but ‘f I ‘uz in yo’ place, I would n’ buy dis vimya’d” (Chesnutt). To prove his point, the old man tells the narrator and the readers the amusing and scary story of the vineyard. According to Julius McAdoo, the plantation “is goophered, cunju’d, bewitch’,” and it happened when the owner asked a local conjure woman named Aunt Peggy to prevent the slaves from eating the grapes (Chesnutt). The grapes became bewitched and caused people who ate them to “die inside’n twel’ mont’s” (Chesnutt). Henry, a new slave, is unaware of the curse, and Aunt Peggy saves his life after he eats the grapes.
Now, every spring, his bald head is covered with hair, and Henry is getting young; in winter, his strength leaves him again. When one Yankee comes to the farm and deceives the owner, the vine dies, and “Henry died too” (Chesnutt). After the death of the vineyard’s owner, Julius starts his own business and enjoys grapes. This is most likely why he tries to dissuade the narrator from buying the plantation.
This is a great short story, and it is no wonder it is famous. Probably the best part of it is the depiction of a clever slave who is able to adapt to the world where white people have all the rights and power (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The first narrator notices that at the end of the story: “Uncle Julius had occupied a cabin on the place for many years, and derived a respectable revenue from the neglected grapevines” (Chesnutt). Thus, this is a story about a rather clever slave who managed to outwit and outlive his master.
References
Chesnutt, Charles W. “The Goophered Grapevine.”The Atlantic, 1887. Web.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Charles W. Chesnutt.”Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020. Web.
“The Goophered Grapevine.”Encyclopedia.com, 2020. Web.