“The wicked flee when none pursueth(17)”.
-This is a biblical reference from Proverbs 28:1. It means that you can tell when someone is a bad person when they run away and no one in particular is after them. They are obviously hiding something, or are just a coward and afraid of the world. Portis referenced this quote because bravery is a theme in the book. The title itself means bravery and toughness. If one has “true grit”, then they will not run away from something that is not chasing them.
Who does this proverb apply to in the novel? And how might it apply to more than just the obvious bad people?
ReplyDelete-This is a biblical reference from Proverbs 28:1. It means that you can tell when someone is a bad person when they run away and no one in particular is after them. They are obviously hiding something, or are just a coward and afraid of the world. Something Portis left out though is the last half of the proverb which is, "But the righteous are as bold as a lion". He left this out on purpose, possibly so he would't foreshadow too much. He didn't want to give away Mattie and her true bravery. Portis references this quote because bravery is a theme in the book. The title itself means bravery and toughness. If one has “true grit”, then they will not run away from something that is not chasing them.
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