Mr. Logan starts the fire that saves T.J.
The Desperate Act to Save T.J.
In a critical moment, Mr. Logan takes drastic action to intervene in T.J.'s dire situation. T.J. faces severe consequences, being taken to jail, and is likely headed for the chain gang, a grim fate that could easily lead to his death. Realizing the extreme danger T.J. is in, Mr. Logan sets a fire, an act Cassie later understands was a direct effort to save T.J.'s life.
This pivotal event serves multiple purposes:
- Diversion: The fire acts as a powerful distraction, drawing attention away from T.J. and the mob that intended him harm.
- Intervention: It creates an opportunity, however brief, that alters the immediate course of events and prevents T.J. from being hanged on the spot.
- Symbolic Impact: For Cassie, her realization about Mr. Logan's actions evokes deep emotion, causing her to cry not only for T.J. but also for the profound struggles and injustices faced by their community and their connection to the land.
This desperate measure highlights the extreme circumstances and the lengths to which individuals must go to protect their own in a world fraught with prejudice and systemic injustice.
