Sally Whitehead answers “Who was Ollie (at the end with the...”

Hilary Martin asked this question about The Underground Railroad:

Who was Ollie (at the end with the horseshoe brand)? I feel like I am supposed to know him but didn't. He shared the same brand as Sybil but couldn't find a reference to him when I went back through the book. Stumped.

Sally Whitehead I don't think we're supposed to "know" him, and it's a bit reductive to assume we should. The brand is surely symbolic of the fact that he too has an …moreI don't think we're supposed to "know" him, and it's a bit reductive to assume we should. The brand is surely symbolic of the fact that he too has an untold story of suffering, oppression and eventual "escape" - much like Cora. THIS is what she recognises in him. The closing lines even ponder "how far he had to travel before he could forget" - the answer undoubtedly being that neither he, nor Cora, nor us as readers will or should ever forget.(less)

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Kailynn TOTALLY AGREE! That line is the "what and why" of this story. ...more
Apr 11, 2017 07:31AM · flag

Jim Not sure why it would be "reductive" to assume this. I too wondered the same thing at the end. The horseshoe brand and the name "Ollie" both seemed ve ...more
Oct 21, 2019 11:16AM · flag

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The Underground Railroad

by Colson Whitehead (Goodreads Author)

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