Bert Breen's Barn is a man's world. True, there are some indomitable ladies: Polly Ann has an incredibly strong influence on Tom, and Widow Breen starts off as a salty granny with a gun. Both of these women are more than willing and more than able to take care of themselves when there are no men in their lives, and for Polly Ann at least, men have been nothing but trouble.
Nevertheless, the book is about Tom's growth from a boy to a young man and about what kind of man he should be. Sure, he could learn a lesson or two from Mulan about being a man, but he does what was expected during his time (sadly, no dragons are involved).
There are several different types of men presented in the novel. There are the troublemakers like Chick Hannaberry, Nob Dolan, and the Flanchers. There's the occasional drunkard and glutton—also to be avoided. And as far as positive models of masculinity, we've got the skilled and knowledgeable: Birdy, Mr. Hook, Ox Hubbard, and Billy-Bob Baxter.
Questions About Men and Masculinity
- Birdy, Mr. Hook, and Ox are very different from each other, but they are all presented as positive male role models for Tom. Do they have any qualities in common that help us understand the book's messages about positive masculinity?
- How does the book use food and alcohol to reflect on masculinity?
- Are there qualities that transcend gender? Is Polly Ann masculine in some ways?
- If Chick Hannaberry was such a reckless man, why do some characters remember him with good humor?
Chew on This
The novel makes it very easy to determine what types of men are good and what types of men are bad.
By the end of the book, Tom displays all the ideal qualities of a "real man."