Chapter 100: Harley – Summary & Analysis

Spoiler Warning: This summary and analysis includes detailed discussion of events in Chapter 100 of My Beloved. If you haven't read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Harley finishes restoring the old corncrib at Meadowgate, a project that earns rare compliments from Willie Llewellyn and Lace. Willie remarks it might look better than when it was built, and Lace calls it "masterful." Proud, Harley wants to share his accomplishment with someone. After supper, he goes to the barn to talk to the mule Pedro, with whom he has built a nightly routine. While walking to the barn, Harley recollects his youth as a moonshine runner in the holler. He started serious driving at twelve, trained by his cousin Davy. By thirteen, he was a backup driver, and at fourteen he drove for Hoke Taylor, a one-eyed moonshiner who feared driving. Harley drove a Ford Model A with a V-8 engine, hauling shine in fender tanks or up to 130 gallons in the trunk. Many of the Welch family boys—Ralph with a Dodge Coronet, Wayne with an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, Davy with a modified Ford—were paid runners. Harley tells Pedro these stories, feeling it does the mule good.

But when he reaches the barn, Pedro is not in his corner. Harley finds Willie soldering a cow bell and learns that Dooley instructed Willie to move Pedro to a good home. Willie moved him to Johnny Stokes's farm, claiming Johnny has a decent run-in shed and will give Pedro a pretty good home. Harley is disturbed; he has seen Johnny's animals and cannot tell if they are half-starved or half-fed. He chooses not to argue, but inwardly he understands that "pretty good" is not good enough.

Key Events

• Harley's corncrib restoration earns high praise from Willie and Lace.
• He goes to the barn to share his pride with Pedro, recalling his moonshine-running past.
• Pedro is missing; Willie reports that Pedro was moved to Johnny Stokes's on Dooley's orders.
• Harley silently questions the quality of care Johnny provides and reflects on the difference between "pretty good" and truly good.

Character Development

Harley: This chapter reveals Harley's hidden history as a teenage moonshine runner, giving depth to his character. His pride in his craftwork and his need to share it with Pedro shows his loneliness and his capacity for attachment. His distress over Pedro's removal highlights his deep empathy for animals and his unwillingness to settle for mediocre care, even if it means avoiding conflict.

Willie: Willie acts pragmatically, seeing Johnny's farm as acceptable. He does not share Harley's emotional connection to Pedro and is content with a functional solution.

Dooley: Though absent, Dooley's decision to move Pedro comes from a desire to find the mule a home. The chapter does not reveal his motivations, but his authority is respected.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Memory and Storytelling: Harley's detailed memories of his driving days serve as a way to connect with Pedro and to validate his own worth. His past, filled with risk and skill, contrasts with his current quieter life.

The Value of Craftsmanship: The corncrib restoration represents Harley's ability to do masterful work, giving him pride and a sense of purpose.

The Meaning of "Good": The central conflict of the chapter is the gap between what Willie calls "a pretty good home" and what Harley considers acceptable. For Harley, the treatment of animals demands excellence, not adequacy.

The Silent Bond: Pedro is not just a mule but a confidant. His absence leaves a void, emphasizing the importance of non-human companionship in Harley's life.

Why This Chapter Matters

"Harley" is a turning point for one of the quieter characters in My Beloved. It provides biographical context that humanizes Harley and explains his fidelity to his work and his animals. The chapter also introduces a potential future conflict with Johnny Stokes over animal welfare. It deepens the novel's concern with stewardship and the moral weight of decisions made for others who cannot speak for themselves. Readers gain a richer understanding of Mitford's community dynamics and the quiet struggles of its members.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Harley feel compelled to talk to Pedro about his moonshine-running days?
   Answer: Pedro has become a nonjudgmental listener. Harley has no one else to share his pride in the corncrib with, and telling Pedro about his past allows him to relive a time when he was skilled and respected. The nightly routine of checking the mule's water bucket has built a bond.

2. What does "pretty good ain't no good a'tall" reveal about Harley's values?
   Answer: It shows that Harley holds himself and others to a high standard, especially concerning the care of living things. He believes that when it comes to a creature's wellbeing, mediocrity is a failure. This phrase underscores his disappointment with Willie's decision and his own passive acceptance.

3. How does Dooley's decision to move Pedro affect Harley's relationship with the people at Meadowgate?
   Answer: Harley does not argue or protest, indicating his respect for Dooley's authority and his fear of causing trouble. However, the event creates a quiet rift; Harley now knows that his standards differ from those of the community. It may affect his sense of belonging and trust going forward.

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