'Contending Forces ' Summary

Contending Forces begins with an introduction to Charles Montfort, a successful slave-owner who has moved to North Carolina from Bermuda with his family sons Charles Jr. and Jesse, and his wife Grace and his slaves. He plans to slowly free his slaves, against the wishes of the local townspeople. Upon the Montfort family's arrival to North Carolina, rumors are spread that Grace Montfort has African American descent, which Montfort discusses with friend Anson Pollack, the man Montfort had purchased his land from. Anson Pollack, unbeknown to the Montfort family, devises a plan alongside the other townspeople to kill Montfort and destroy his property. Though most of the townspeople are fueled by anger at Montfort's desire to free his slaves, Pollack is also embittered by Grace Montfort's rejection of him. On a beautiful day soon afterward, Pollack, followed by several other men, shoot Montfort dead, and tie Grace Montfort up and whip her. She disappears soon after, and the text implies that she commits suicide by drowning herself in the Pamlico Sound. Pollack takes ownership of the Montfort sons, selling Charles Jr. to a mineralogist. Jesse, sent on an errand by Pollack, escapes and runs away to Boston, Massachusetts, where he arrives at the house of Mr. Whitfield, a "negro in Exeter who could and would help the fugitive". While waiting for Mr. Whitfield, he rocks the cradle of a crying baby, Elizabeth Whitfield, who he marries fifteen years later, and has a large family with.

Several years into the future, the reader is introduced to Ma Smith, the daughter of Jesse Montfort and Elizabeth Whitfield. Ma Smith is a widow with two children of her own: Will and Dora Smith. Their family stays afloat through their lodging house business. The chapter begins with Dora eagerly preparing for a new guest. Will and John Langley, friend of the family and Dora's romantic interest, ask questions about the new tenant, and Dora responds by asserting her belief that Will will fall in love with her. Sappho Clark, the new tenant, arrives, but keeps to herself. Dora and Sappho become quick friends, and Dora is impressed by Sappho's work ethic as a typist. Will soon submits to Dora's prophecy, finding himself thinking of Sappho Clark, even when she is away. Sappho is reserved about her past, but soon becomes more social and involved in her new society by playing the organ at church.

Ma Smith decides to raise funds for the church by hosting a fair, and the local women meet in a sewing circle to make plans for the event, and discuss the role of women in their society, debating the morality of female decisions on virtue and desire. Before the big event, Will and Sappho individually hint their romantic feelings to the other, as Will builds Sappho a fire every day, and she helps mend his socks. To herself, Sappho identifies their love for each other, but acknowledges that she cannot be with him and consequently cannot ever be happy. At the fair, there is a fortune teller act, featuring a little boy named Alphonse, a child with mulatto features. who Sappho takes a great interest in and places on her lap. Dora is caught between childhood friend Dr. Arthur Lewis and Langley. Langley, then, flirts with Sappho, and when she rejects him, he challenges her and implicates that she is Alphonse's mother, to which she quickly refutes his assertion, and excuses herself. The fair is ultimately successful and enjoyable for all those who attend.