Clyde Edgerton's "Walking Across Egypt" is a humorous novel that explores the unlikely friendship between a spunky senior citizen and an orphaned delinquent. Set in the South, the story is filled with quirky characters, down-home cooking, and heartwarming moments that leave a lasting impression. This book is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that lingers with the reader.
Plot Overview
The story revolves around Mattie Rigsbee, an independent and strong-minded 78-year-old woman who feels she is "slowing down." Mattie's life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Wesley Benfield, a 16-year-old juvenile delinquent. She believes strongly that she should follow the Lord’s instruction to “love the least of these my brethren” and is certain that Wesley qualifies as her personal “least of these my brethren.”
Mattie's life, strange though it may sound, took a turn for the positive when she met the town dogcatcher, a fortunate meeting for both of them, actually. The dogcatcher, who had come to Mattie’s to pick up the stray dog she called about, became her rescuer when he cut her out of the bottomless rocking chair she had accidentally wedged herself into several hours earlier. As a result of that timely meeting, the dogcatcher had a nephew who was in juvenile detention.
The real heart of "Walking Across Egypt" is the relationship between Mattie and Wesley whom she takes to visiting at the reformatory. Wesley, who preceded his stay in the reformatory with some years growing up in an orphanage, gave Mattie a new reason for living. The novel explores their bond as Mattie tries to guide Wesley and provide him with the love and support he needs.
Characters
Mattie Rigsbee
Mattie Rigsbee is the heart of the story. She is an independent, strong-minded senior citizen who at seventy-eight might be slowing down just a bit. She is known for her cooking and her desire to help others. Mattie believes that she is “slowing down” and she is not bashful about pointing out to family and friends the numerous things that she can no longer do as quickly or effectively as she used to do them. Of course, Mattie is still more alive than most of the younger people around her, and she still works circles around most of them, but by her own standards she has definitely begun to slow down.
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Wesley Benfield
Wesley Benfield is a 16-year-old juvenile delinquent who finds an unlikely friend in Mattie. He has spent years growing up in an orphanage and is in juvenile detention when Mattie meets him. Wesley's relationship with Mattie gives him a new sense of belonging and purpose.
Themes
"Walking Across Egypt" explores several important themes:
- Unlikely Friendships: The bond between Mattie and Wesley highlights the power of friendship to transcend age and circumstance.
- Faith and Charity: Mattie's strong Christian faith and her desire to help "the least of these" drive the plot and inspire those around her.
- Family and Belonging: The novel examines the importance of family, both biological and chosen, and the need for a sense of belonging.
- The South: The agrarian cultural base of the South makes it an easy target. The city cousin and country cousin will always make fun of each other, like monkeys jumping up and down, grinning and pointing fingers-except the country cousin is often having too much fun outdoors to worry about pinhead uppity intellectuals who wear turtlenecks and with their lips near the rims of their wineglasses spout off about Wittgenstein and red states while standing perfectly still.
Walking Across Egypt is funny but it is filled with little truths that Edgerton offers via the many wonderful characters that surround Mattie and Wesley, from eccentric neighbors, to slightly hypocritical church friends, to family members who understand neither of them. This one is guaranteed to make you laugh…and to leave you with a few things to ponder when the laughing stops.
Clyde Edgerton's Writing Style
Clyde Edgerton is known for his humorous and folksy writing style. His characters are often quirky and eccentric, and his stories are filled with Southern charm. Edgerton's ability to capture the nuances of Southern culture and dialect makes his writing both authentic and engaging.
Reading Twain, Crane, Hemingway, Welty, O’Connor, Faulkner, and others has brought me great satisfaction and inspiration, but I also draw from being in places where odd things happen. I practically memorized Welty’s “Why I Live at the P.O.”-in part because I was in some readers’ theater productions of it, playing several different parts, including Mama, and also because the story seemed to be made of my own private language. I’d never heard Welty read, nor seen her, until May 14, 1978, when I turned on PBS and there she stood behind a podium, reading “Why I Live at the P.O.” I was mesmerized.
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Edgerton creates a great story from this very basic line-up. there is also some very nice writing included along with the occasional craziness and thoughtfulness. Here we see Mattie in the early morning. She walked into the kitchen, turned on the light and saw through the window that the eastern sky was dark red. It was her favorite time of day. She stepped out onto the back step. It was cool. She also liked it when it was cold and she could stand there taking in the cold morning while the sky was red, and time stopped, stood still, and rested for a minute. People thought that time never stood still, except in Joshua when the sun stood still; but she knew that for a minute before sunrise when the sky began to lighten, showing dark, early clouds, there was often a pause when nothing moved, not even time, and she was always happy to be up and in that moment; sometimes she tried to stand perfectly still, to not move with time not moving, and it seemed that if she were not careful she might slip out of this world and into another.
Reader's Guide
Here are some questions for discussion and reflection:
- Is religion treated positively in this novel? Negatively? Neither? Both? How?
- Does the novel seem to end too soon? Why or who not?
- What is your opinion of the manner in which Mattie Rigsbee, standing before several “ghosts,” makes her decision to take in Wesley Benfield.
- Do you know people who remind you of Mattie Rigsbee? If so, what are their shared characteristics?
- The novel is over one-third finished when one of the main characters, Wesley Benfield, is introduced. Does this delayed entry seem to detract from or enhance the plot structure, and how?
- How would you interpret, psychologically, Mattie’s need to feed people?
- Do you think Mattie did a good job raising her children? Why?
- How would you describe Mattie’s relationship with her church?
- At one point in the story, Mattie speaks of marrying Wesley. Is this her idea of a joke? A sign of senility or stroke? All of the above? Neither?
- Would this book be appropriate for high school readers? Why?
- In two sentences say what you think this book is about.
- What are issues in this book that divide and will continue to divide generations in the foreseeable future?
Critical Reception
"Walking Across Egypt" has received positive reviews for its humor, heartwarming story, and well-developed characters.
Here are some quotes from reviews:
- "An unpretentious, finely-crafted novel that will linger with the readers like the last strains of a favorite hymn. It is more enjoyable than a pitcher full of sweet tea and one of Mattie's home-cooked dinners." -The Atlanta Journal & Constitution
- "Warm and comforting. . . Wise witty, down-home and real, Walking Across Egypt is a book for everyone."
Table: Main Characters and Their Traits
| Character | Traits |
|---|---|
| Mattie Rigsbee | Independent, strong-minded, generous, devout |
| Wesley Benfield | Delinquent, orphaned, vulnerable, seeking connection |
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