How do you think Cussy's father feels after he marries her off to an abusive man? Why do you think he agrees to Charlie Frazier's proposal in the first place?

How do you think Cussy's father feels after he marries her off to an abusive man? Why do you think he agrees to Charlie Frazier's proposal in the first place?

Cussy’s father probably felt that a husband would protect her and provide a home. He was ill and knew his time was short. When he finds her beaten and raped, I am sure he would never forgive himself for allowing this to happen to his daughter.

In their environment, he was doing his job as father. His involvement with changing the conditions at the mine show he was more modern than most, and he recognized his error. I did think it was an interesting plot twist that they involved the doctor after the husband died.

Although he was insistent that he was doing what every good father would do, I think he really felt he felt conflicted in doing his duty. Cussy was all he had, and he loved her with all his heart. Turning her over to someone who didn’t take care of her hurt him deeply. He was a desperate man who could not provide for his daughter after his death, which is why he married her off in the first place. Someone else would have to take care of Cussy, but her father realizes he was too rash in agreeing to the marriage to Charlie.

He felt horrible. He married her off to him because he thought it was the only chance for her to be a married woman. Although he was not the best choice I am sure her father did not know how evil he was. He wanted her married as he wanted a man to take care of her and he had promised his wife, her mother that he would find a husband for her.

Cussy's father knew his time was short and the life of a woman without a husband would be tough. It would be difficult (at that time) for a white woman, but even worse for Cussy because of her color. He obviously was trying to keep tabs on her if he found her almost dead and saved her.

Cussy's father had to feel awful when he discovered what this man was doing to his daughter. He was not, however, in a position to change it. It was wonderful that she was able to return to her father. The father felt he had to marry her off because he knew he had very little time left, he was dying of black lung and he had also promised Cussy's mother that he would see to it that she was married.

Cussy's father pushes her into a marriage in order to keep her safe. Unfortunately this puts her life in even more danger. In this time and place a woman alone needs protection especially someone who is as unique as Cussy.

marianned put it very well! I also think it was one reason Cussy's father allowed her to continue in her job as a "book woman" although he didn't really want her doing it. He felt he owed her something after the disaster of her first marriage.

I agree with the group. He knew his time was short, had promised his wife he would see Cussy taken care of and felt she would be safer with a husband and of course society dictated a woman should marry. I’m sure he felt terrible at the horror she experienced. I was intrigued by Cussy’s forethought to use her mother’s Tansy tea to end a pregnancy.

Agree with Tired Bookreader. I think Cussy's father's insistence that she marry was made out of desperation, a fear that she would be alone in the world and that being alone was far worse than being married to Charlie Frazier. Of course, he was wrong. Plus her suitors were few and far between because she was a "blue". She had to take what she could get - or so he thought.

He was doing his duty and providing for his daughter. In that environment, abuse wasn't an issue but being a woman alone was.

I am in agreement with all of the comments above. He had made a promise to his deceased wife that he would make sure she was taken care and he knew he wouldn't be alive to much longer to do that. He felt saddened to marry her off and later regretted it. He was doing what he thought was the best thing for her in the long run.

I felt that he married her off because he was concerned that he was ill and wouldn't be able to care for her much longer, as well as concerned about whether the mine would continue and also because of cultural expectations, which were extremely rigid during this time and place. I think he felt that Charles Frazier was the best Cussy could do, given her blue tinted skin. Once Frazier (thankfully) dies and her father takes Cussy home, I believe he allowed her continue delivering books because of his guilt for placing her in an abusive marriage and because it brought in a little bit of income.

I agree with most of the answers above. He knew he was ill and felt she had to be taken care if when he was gone. I am sure he felt terrible when he found out what had happened to her. He did, however, try to do it again.

I agree that Cussy's father felt a desperation in marrying his daughter while he was still alive and able to make the arrangements as his wife had wished. Acceptance by a non-blue was not going to be an easy find, and I think he jumped at the first chance he had to marry her off. Finding out it was an abusive relationship, though, brought him right back to protecting her and trying to restore her to a safe life again. To go from relief in making an arrangement for her marriage, to guilt for putting her into a bad arrangement added to his anxieties for his daughter.

I don't think Cussy's father knew that Charlie was abusive Although the information in the Hollar got around. Charlie hated "blue" people As soon as they got home Charlie started abusing Cussy. Their sex that night was horrifying When Charlie died the doctor and Cussy's father found her terribly beat up and took her home. I think Cussy's father is very shamed that he pushed her into getting married

I think he was devastated. He thought he was doing the right thing. In that time any husband was better than no husband. He wanted to be sure she was taken care of when he was gone. Maybe this experience is what made him reject Jackson's proposals.

I think Cussy’s father felt that he had failed utterly to fulfill what he believed to be his obligation as a parent: to see that Cussy was safe and protected after he died. He knew that her life would be even more difficult as a single woman in Troublesome Creek. He hoped that a husband, any husband, would provide for her.